Council of Priests (23 July): The first Council of Priests’ meeting of the year will bring together both returning and newly appointed members. As the Church enters the Year of

Implementation of the Synod on Synodality, particular attention will be given to fostering co-responsibility and active participation in parish life. The method of “Conversation in the Spirit,” successfully employed during the Synods of 2023 and 2024, should increasingly guide our pastoral councils and synodal structures. Learning this method will enable us to teach it in our PPCs and PFCs.
 World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly (26 July): Celebrated on the Feast of Saints Joachim and Anne, this year’s theme, “I Will Never Forget You” (Isa 49:15), reminds us of

God’s unfailing love for the elderly. Pope Leo XIV encourages us to value, accompany, and honour grandparents and older persons, whose wisdom and faith enrich our families and

communities. Pope Leo writes in his message for the day: “God’s love, which forgets no one, offers itself as an act of justice and a response to the anonymity in which human life all too often ends up lost. The lives of many elderly people, in particular, seem to be covered by a veil that blurs the features of their faces and shrouds them in oblivion. This is what happens in homes where loneliness reigns and also in those care facilities where each person’s  uniqueness risks being reduced to a bed number or an illness.” Their vulnerability is not a burden but a gift that invites deeper compassion, solidarity, and peace. Let us cherish and

care for them with gratitude and love.
Diocesan Pastoral Council (30 July): The first meeting of the Diocesan Pastoral Council will gather representatives from parish pastoral councils, Religious Heads and Heads of Associations. The discussions and decisions of the DPC should inspire unity of vision and practice across the diocese. Ongoing formation of council members remains essential so that they may effectively share responsibility in the Church’s mission. Parish priests are requested to ensure the participation of all members.
Music and Rhythm in the Liturgy: The active participation of parish choirs is a source of joy and enrichment for our liturgical celebrations. At the same time, liturgical music must always

serve prayer and worship. Musical instruments and rhythms should support congregational singing rather than dominate it. Excessive volume or performance-oriented styles can distract from the sacred character of the liturgy. Let all musical ministry be marked  by reverence, simplicity, and a spirit of worship. Even the choice of options in the electronic key boards must be suitable for prayer. Organ or stringed instruments are more preferable. Piano, saxophone, trumpet and other similar ones must be avoided. The purpose of the liturgical music is to give glory of God and to the sanctification of faithful (cf. SC 112). The Pastors of souls must promote community singing animated by the choir (cf. SC 113), and solo singing must be avoided.

Year of Implementation of the Synod on Synodality: The year 2026 has been designated for the implementation of the Final Document of the Synod on Synodality, with evaluation phases extending through 2028. The process seeks to foster synodal conversion, deepen communion, strengthen participation, and enhance the Church’s mission of evangelization. Diocesan structures, including the Presbyteral Council, Pastoral Council, Finance Council, and Synodal Team, are called to animate and guide this journey. Let us walk together with the universal Church in bringing the fruits of the Synod to life.

Magnifica Humanitas – Pope Leo XIV’s First Encyclical: Signed on 15 May 2026, Magnifica Humanitas (“Magnificent Humanity”) addresses the dignity of the human person in the age

of artificial intelligence. Applying the principles of Catholic Social Teaching, Pope Leo emphasizes that technology must serve humanity and the common good. He calls for ethical discernment, solidarity, justice, and the protection of the vulnerable amid rapid technological advancement. The encyclical is a timely reminder that humanity, created in God’s image, must remain at the centre of all technological progress. May its teachings inspire us to uphold the dignity of every human person and foster a culture of life and responsibility.