"With Mary and the Word,
at the Foot of the Cross”

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Grace and peace to you all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

As we journey through September, the Church offers us a path of contemplation and commitment - through the motherhood of Mary, the triumph of theCross, the sorrowful heart of Our Lady, and the treasure of the Word of God. These feasts are not simply liturgical commemorations; they are windows into the heart of our faith and mirrors that challenge our Christian living in society.

Let us walk together through these moments of grace and draw inspiration for our diocesan life.

1. The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (8 September) – Girl Children’s Day

We celebrate 8 September as the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary - a dawn of joy for the world. In India, this feast has also become a moment to affirm the dignity and worth of girl children in our families, communities, and nation. Mary, born into simplicity and raised in grace, reminds us that every girl child carries within her the seed of hope and holiness.

Yet, we cannot ignore the persistent gender-based discrimination and injustice in our society - female foeticide, educational neglect, trafficking, and unequal access to opportunities. As a Church, we are called not only to honour Mary but to protect, educate, empower, and celebrate every girl child.

I urge our parishes, schools, and families to observe this day meaningfully - with special blessings for girls, awareness programs, and renewed commitment to fostering equal rights and opportunities for all daughters of God.

The right attitude towards girl children will enable us to give equal importance and percentage to our women in all our pastoral structures for our synodal life and treat all our women religious with respect as collaborators in God’s mission.

2. The Exaltation of the Holy Cross (14 September)

The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross invites us to gaze upon the cross not as a symbol of suffering alone, but as a sign of victory, healing, and love. In a world that often associates strength with power and success, the cross reveals the paradox of divine strength made perfect in weakness.

As a diocese that bears many wounds, we are reminded that through the cross, Christ transforms suffering into redemption. Let us never tire of proclaiming the cross, carrying it with patience, and embracing it with love.

May our people find in the cross of Christ the courage to persevere, the grace to forgive, and the strength to love radically. Let us promote devotion to the Holy Cross among our Faithful and encourage them to place the Holy Cross in their homes.

3. Our Lady of Sorrows (15 September)

The day after the Exaltation, we stand silently with Our Lady of Sorrows, whose heart was pierced by the sword of grief. Mary did not run away from suffering; she remained at the foot of the Cross. She is the mother who walks with every parent who has lost a child, every woman who bears unspoken pain, every family shattered by injustice.

Our Lady of Sorrows teaches us that faith does not remove suffering, but transforms it into compassion. As a diocese, let us accompany the suffering with tenderness. Let us console the afflicted, support the bereaved, and uphold the dignity of the vulnerable.

This feast invites all of us—especially religious women and pastoral workers - to embrace a spirituality of compassion and solidarity, drawing strength from Mary’s silent fidelity.

4. Bible Sunday in the Light of Saint Jerome (30 September)

As we approach the Feast of Saint Jerome on 30 September, we are reminded of his famous words: “Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.” This day is celebrated as Bible Sunday, inviting the whole Church to renew our love for the Word of God.

In preparation for Jubilee 2025, Pope Francis has asked the universal Church to return to the essentials of faith - Scripture being central. Let every parish make the Bible more visible, more read, more lived. I encourage Bible enthronement, group readings, youth and children’s Bible camps, scriptural catechesis, and family prayer around the Word.

May our Diocese of Vellore be rooted in the Word, so that every action we take springs from divine wisdom and every home becomes a school of the Gospel.

Dear friends, September gives us Mary’s presence, the Cross of Christ, and the Word of God - three pillars on which we can build a more compassionate, courageous, and Christ-centred Church.

Let us especially remember and uplift the girl children in our communities, carry the crosses of the poor with dignity, stand with those who grieve, and deepen our love for God’s Word.

Yours in the Lord’s service,

With mercy and hope,

+ Ambrose Pitchaimuthu
Bishop of Vellore