From Offering to Renewal: Walking Toward Easter

Dear Rev. Fathers, Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

The month of February draws our attention to two decisive movements of the Christian life: offering and conversion. In the Presentation of the Lord and in the beginning of Lent, the Church teaches us how faith matures - by placing our lives in God’s hands and by allowing our hearts to bereshaped by grace.

2 February: The Presentation of the Lord and the Witness of Consecrated Life. Mary and Joseph bring the Child Jesus to the Temple, acknowledging that He belongs entirely to God. This gesture of offering sheds light on every vocation in the Church. Christ is first offered to the Father so that all of usmay learn themeaning of self-giving love.

On this same day, we celebrate the Feast of Consecrated Life. I warmly greet all our religious sisters and brothers and thank you for the silent and faithful witness you offer each day. Your lives, shaped by the evangelical counsels, remind the Church that the Gospel can be lived radically and joyfully. I encourage you to remain rooted in prayer, united in community, and courageous in mission. Your presence in parishes, schools, hospitals, and social ministries is a precious gift that continues to nurture faith and hope in our Diocese.

18 February:AshWednesday –ACall to BeginAgain

Ash Wednesday marks the threshold of Lent, a season that invites us to begin again with God. The sign of ashes is simple yet profound: it tells us the truth about our human weakness and at the same time, opens us to God’s mercy. Lent is a privileged time to examine our lives and to realign our priorities with the Gospel.

The Church places before us three pathways of renewal: fasting, almsgiving, and prayer. Fasting trains our hearts to resist selfishness and excess. Almsgiving educates us in compassion and justice. Prayer draws us back into an honest and trusting relationship with the Lord. I urge all the faithful to observe these practices not as routine obligations, but as genuine acts of conversion.

Parishes as Schools of Prayer and Devotion

I encourage our parishes to make Lent a visible and shared journey. Popular devotions such as the Stations of the Cross, penitential liturgies, Lenten retreats, and moments of silent adoration provide accessible and meaningful ways for people to deepen their faith. When these devotions are celebrated with care and participation, they help the faithful encounter Christ in a personal and transformative manner.

Dear sisters and brothers, February reminds us that renewal begins with offering and is sustained by perseverance. May the Lord who was presented in the Temple receive our lives a new and may this Lenten season lead us toward a more authentic and compassionate discipleship.

With mercy and hope,

+Ambrose Pitchaimuthu
Bishop of Vellore