My dear Derebail Parishioners, my blessings to you all. May the Holy Redeemer abide with you and bless you in full measure.

We all experienced the bountiful graces of the Lord in the month of February. May His holy name be praised. The Catechism Day of our children was celebrated with great joy, colour, and a profound spiritual message. I congratulate all our children for their wonderful performances. I gratefully acknowledge the dedicated service of our Catechism Coordinator and teachers for their tireless commitment in guiding our children on their journey of faith. My appreciation also goes to all the parents for their continued support and involvement in the faith formation of their children. May the Lord bless them abundantly.

The house blessings are progressing very joyfully. I deeply appreciate your warm welcome and generous hospitality during my visits to your homes. I also extend my heartfelt thanks to Fr. Kevin for his generous assistance in helping us bless our families. May the Lord bless him and his ministry.

The Lenten Retreat

Our parish Lenten Retreat will be held on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th of March from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The retreat will be animated by Fr. Anil D’Souza, Parish Priest of St. Jude’s Shrine, Pakshikere. This retreat is a moment of grace for our parish and our families—a time of healing for our wounded selves. Let us come in large numbers and make this spiritual event a moment of joy, renewal, and abundant blessings.

Lenten Practices

We have begun the ward-wise Way of the Cross every evening. I kindly request more parishioners from each ward to participate in this meaningful devotion.

The 24 Hours of Adoration will be another significant moment of our consecration to the Lord. Let us participate joyfully and generously in the one hour allotted to our wards. I am confident that these 24 hours will bring a shower of spiritual blessings upon all of us.

Request from the Bishop of Gulbarga

The Bishop of Gulbarga, Most Rev. Robert Miranda, has appealed to us for generous support for his mission diocese. Gulbarga has many mission stations where priests, religious sisters, and catechists carry out dedicated missionary work. The local community, though economically poor, is rich in faith. They are our spiritual brothers and sisters. As their resources are limited, let us extend our kindness and generosity towards them. The Bishop will be in our parish for a mission appeal on the 28th and 29th of April. Let us contribute wholeheartedly to this mission.

As we journey through this holy season of Lent, let us make it a time of grace, blessing, sacrifice, and sharing. Let us remember: A Lenten sacrifice is not loss — it is love made visible.

Let us live this season with gratitude, silence, and resilience. And let us not forget the words of Fulton J. Sheen: “Unless there is Good Friday in your life, there can be no Easter Sunday.”

Pope’s Intention for March

For disarmament and peace. Let us pray that nations move toward effective disarmament, particularly nuclear disarmament, and that world leaders choose the path of dialogue and diplomacy instead of violence.

Rev. Fr Joseph Martis

Parish Priest