Carmel Deanery Meeting held at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Shivamogga 

Shivamogga, December 5, 2025: The meeting of all the Priests of the Carmel Deanery was held on Monday 01 Dec, 2025, at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Shimoga. The meeting began at 6.00 pm with the invocation of God’s presence through a meaningful Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. The Blessed Sacrament was reverently exposed, and a half-hour adoration was led by Deacon Anthony Rosario, MSFS. The assembled priests offered their gratitude to God and prayed for the diocese.

Fr. Stephen Maxi Albuquerque welcomed the gathering. Msgr Stany D’Souza, the Dean of the Deanery, presided over the meeting. The report from the previous meeting was read out by Fr Jostro MSFS and was passed with a minor correction. There were 18 priests and 2 deacons present for the meeting.

Agenda of the meeting as follows: 

1. Evaluation of Christ the King Feast – 2025: The main agenda was the evaluation of the celebration of the Christ the King Feast – 2025, held on November 23, 2025. The celebration was well-organized, and a good number of people participated in the Eucharistic Procession.

2. Deanery Commission Members and Parish Feasts – 2026: Msgr Stany D’Souza updated the list of Deanery Commission Members with the consent of the Deanery Fathers. The dates of Parish Feasts – 2026 were finalized.

3. Deanery Meetings – 2026: The dates and places for the Deanery meetings in 2026 were decided.

4. Christmas Penitential Services: The Sacrament of Reconciliation (confessions) for parishioners before Christmas will be conducted at the respective parishes, and specific dates will be decided according to the convenience of the parishes.

5. Information from Commissions: 

– Fr Franklin D’Souza shared information about the YUVA-2025 Christmas gathering on December 7, 2025.

– Fr Santhosh Vincent D’Almeda shared about the upcoming catechetical and moral science examination.

– Fr Pius D’Souza shared about the Christmas celebration and Sneha Koota on December 14, 2025.

– Fr Arun Venil D’Silva shared about the Pre-Cana Course.

– Fr Simon Pinto shared about the interreligious gathering on December 18, 2025.

Fr Franklin D’Souza shared the joy of Christmas wishes by quoting an extract from Pope Francis and urged us to live our lives. Thereafter all joined together around the crib, singing the carols and sharing the Christmas greetings and advanced New Year wishes for 2026. And he also wished and prayed for Fr Jostro MSFS, who celebrated his birthday on 30 November 2025.

Fr Robert D MSFS, thanked everyone for their valuable presence and for making the meeting a fruitful one. He expressed his sincere gratitude to all the fathers for their valuable suggestions and cooperation, and thanked Jayamma the cook for delicious dinner. The meeting ended at 8pm with a fellowship meal.