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Udupi : The Bishop of Udupi diocese Most Rev Dr. Gerald Isaac Lobo administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to 47 candidates of Milagres Cathedral, Kallianpur near here during the Solemn mass celebrating the feast of Holy Trinity on Sunday, 11^th June, 2017.

Prior to the mass, the Bishop along with ten priests and Confirmation candidates came in procession to main alter of the Cathedral. After the reading of the Holy Gospel, Very Rev Fr. Stany B. Lobo Rector of Milagres Cathedral vouched before the Bishop about the eligibility of the all candidates to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation affirming that the candidates have received proper training in fundamental catechism and formation of faith.

In his homily Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo pointed out the importance of the family quoting from the letter of Pope Francis in Synod, titled as ‘Amoris Laetitia’ (The Joy of Love). In his homily, the Bishop said that human beings cannot live in isolation. They have to live in society of which family is basis unit. God himself laid the foundation of the family when he created, first Adam and the Eve and blessing them to multiply and fill the world. God the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit represent the Divine Family. To have an ideal family, there should be love, bond of unity, cooperation and support. Bishop made a reference to the canonization of Louis Martin and Marie Azelie Guerin by Pope Francis on 18^th October 2015 that marked the first time a married couple were declared Saints. They were chosen to highlight the key role parents in the spiritual and human upbringing of their children. Pope Francis praised the couple for practicing Christian service in the family, creating day by day an environment of faith and love which nurtured the vocations of their daughters. They had nine children, four of whom died in childbirth, the five surviving girls all became nuns and one was St Theresa of Lisieux who died of tuberculosis in 1897 at the age of 24. Popularly known as “The Little Flower”, the nun of Carmelite order achieved a worldwide following with the publication after her death of The Story of Soul, a collection of her thoughts on faith and simplicity.

Bishop Gerald Lobo said that Pope Francis has given four guidelines for building an ideal Christian Family. First, Recognizing the presence of God in the family, Second, accepting Christ as the Centre of the Family, Third, Making family a temple of  Prayer and Finaly, Family should be the witness to Faith.

Bishop expressing the concern about the upbringing of the children, said that it is the duty of the parents to keep a watch on their children and correct them whenever they go astray or else a day will come when they will regret for negligent their primary duty when their children adopt wrong path and ruin their future. The Bishop also reminded the basic three words that Pope Francis wanted the parents to teach their children, namely, ‘Please’, ‘Thank you’, and ‘Sorry’.

After the homily, Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo administered the Holy Sacrament of Confirmation to 62 candidates. Majority of the candidates’ God Father and God Mother were present along with their God Child and Dr. Nery Cornelio Vice President of PPC and Secretary Felcy Lewis acted as God parents to the candidates receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation.

At the end of the mass as usual Very Rev Fr. Stany B. Lobo placed the weekly announcements and also thanked Bishop for his official pastoral visit to the Cathedral and also the all ten priests who participated during the Eucharistic celebrations.

Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo at the end addressing the parishioners stressed upon the need for them to participate in various activities in the society and political sphere. The government providing various facilities through its various schemes to the minorities which we should make use of facilities and benefits from the government.

Large number of parishioners as well as ten priests alaong with Bishop were participated in the Eucharistic celebration of Chrism and Holy Trinity feast.