There is so much to celebrate

Dear Rev. Fathers, Brothers, Sisters and Lay faithful,

Greetings in the precious name of Jesus!

We are going to enter into the 50th year of the creation of our diocese on 9 September 2022. The diocese of Palayamkottai was erected by His Holiness Pope Paul VI, with the bull "Romani Pontifices" dated 17 May 1973.Palayamkottai, one of the vicariates of the Archdiocese of Madurai, became the separate 13thdiocese in Tamilnadu Region. His Grace Most Rev. Dr.P. Justin Diraviam, the then Archbishop of Madurai, in virtue of powers delegated to him, gave effect to the terms of the Bull on 9 September 1973. The nominated first Bishop of Palayamkottai, Rev. Msgr. S. Iruthayaraj took canonical possession of the diocese on 9 September 1973, and was consecrated as the first Bishop of Palayamkottai on 12September 1973 at Palayamkottai by Archbishop P. Justin Diraviam of Madurai Archdiocese. Rt. Rev. Dr. S. Iruthayaraj, being the first bishop of the diocese of Palayamkottai, becomes the foundation of this particular church. He started his episcopal ministry with the motto "to preach the Good news" and thus took up the work of the mission of the new diocese. At his retirement on 15 July 1999 Rev. Msgr M. Susai Marian was elected by the college of the consultors as the Administrator of the diocese till the arrival of the new bishop in the person of Rt. Rev. A. Jude Paul Raj who was consecrated as the second bishop of the diocese on 8 December 2000. He shephered the diocse with the motto "in your name to serve and sacrifice" for eighteen years. On the completion of his episcopal ministry at his age of seventy-five years, the Holy Father Pope Francis appointed on June 2018 the Most Rev. Dr.AnotnyPappusamy, archbishop of Madurai as the apostolic administrator of the diocese. He took care of and lead the diocese till my appointment and consecration as the third bishop of Palayamkottai diocese on 15 December 2019.

The word Jubilee deriving from the French jubilé, the Latin jubilaus and the Hebrew Yobel stands for a season of great joy. It is indeed true as we are entering into the same season of joy from this month. The golden chimes that peal the skies above the diocese of Palaymkottai resonate with a saga of success, fruitfulness, gratitude and joy. Fifty glorious years form a significant milestone in the history of the diocese of Palayamkottai. A tiny seed that was sown in 9 September 1973 has grown into a mighty tree with more than one lakh and thirty thousand people of God. Half a century of honest striving in God’s mission and fifty years of commitment to Christian vocation sums up the secret of excellence that our diocese breathes today. The historical mark of our 50th Anniversary Celebration is about appreciating the past, celebrating the present and inspiring the future. This Golden Jubilee is an occasion to be celebrated in order to recall the marvellous ways in which our diocese has fulfilled its mission of proclaiming the Word of God and building up the people of God always discerning the will of God. The jubilee year provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the past achievements of the diocese as well as introspect on the preparations to meet the challenges that lie ahead with a new vision. So it is a time for renewal in all the spectrums of our life.

From very humble beginnings in 1973, the diocese of Palaymkottai has grown leaps and bounds, and now stands tall and proud with impressive progress and development. When we honour the past, we energize the future and the present becomes a celebration. I think jubilee time is a time for reflection and celebration, and a time for gratefulness, gratefulness not only for our priests and religious sisters and brothers but also for our laity. For it is you, the laity, who we serve, and you who support us in the vocation that we follow in Christ’s Church for your benefit. I have all appreciation for the great work of our priests, men and women religious and lay faithful with a sense of commitment and dedication.

When I turn back the pages of this diocese we realize how much those responsible have contributed to this diocese from its humble beginnings to its present progress and achievements of proud record. With deep gratitude to God, I recall the pioneers who with undaunted courage and optimism braved every difficulty and nurtured the sapling, called the diocese of Palaymkottai fifty years ago. It is an opportune time to pause to praise and thank God, the giver of all good gifts for all the good our Diocese has accomplished.

All through these years, it has stood as a beacon of light dispelling darkness and instilling in the hearts of the faithful the faith and Gospel values, love, justice, truth and service. As I look back over the milestone of a half-century that the diocese has traversed, we recognize in it the sign of God’s tremendous love, His faithfulness and providence. We thank God for His immense blessings on our diocese. From the humble beginning of a small diocese, the height and strength our diocese has gained today is there for all to see.

The festivities will include a plethora of exciting celebrations and events spread over the year from September 2022 to September 2023, with the theme "e«ã¡ifnahL e‰brŒâ gÂah‰w" making it one of the most festive and memorable periods in the history of the diocese. We have a solemn inauguration of the golend jubilee Mass on Sunday 21 August 2022 at St Francis Xavier Cathedral with the presence of representatives from all the parishes. The Parish Priests will inaugurate the jubilee in their respective parishes on Sunday 11 September after conducting an Eucharistic Adoration on 9 September, the day our diocese was born. To renew and reinvigorate the faith of the people various activities will be organized at the parish, vicariate and diocesan levels throughout the jubilee year. Let this year of jubilee be a time of grace and enable us to dedicate ourselves once again to building up of the body of Chrsit that is the Church present in this portion of the People of God.

May Blessed Virgin Mary, our Mother and St Francis Xavier, our diocesan Patron guide us in this holy endeavour. With my cordial wishes and blessings.

Yours devotedly in Our Lord,

+ Most.Rev. S. Antonysamy
Bishop of Palayamkottai