Diocese of Mangalore: The Year of Children 2026

ಭುರ್ಗ್ಯಾಂಚೆಂ ವರಸ್

On January 4, 2026, during the Solemnity of the Epiphany, the Diocese of Mangalore officially inaugurated 2026 as the “Year of Children”. Unveiled by Bishop Most Rev. Dr Peter Paul Saldanha during the Diocesan Eucharistic Procession, the initiative is centred on the theme: “Amchim bhurgimballam, Devachya Razachim follam” — “Our children are the fruits of God’s Kingdom”

This year serves as a pastoral call to prioritize the holistic development of children under eighteen, focusing on their spiritual, human, and academic growth.

Resources

The Official Logo

The logo for the Year of Children 2026 is designed as the “visual heartbeat” of the diocesan mission, bridging Mangalorean identity with the universal Church.

ಅಧಿಕೃತ್ ಲಾಂಛನಾಚಿ ಪರ್ಗಟ್ಣಿ- Meaning of the Logo

2026 ವರ‍್ಸಾಂತ್ ದಿಯೆಸೆಜಿಚೆಂ ಮಿಸಾಂವ್ ನದ್ರೆಕ್ ಹಾಡುಂಕ್ ಹೊ ಲಾಂಛನ್ ಆಕರ‍್ಲಾ. ಆಮ್ಚಿ ಥಳಾವಿ ಮಂಗ್ಳುರ್ ಅಸ್ಮಿತಾಯ್ ವಿಶ್ವ್ ಪವಿತ್ರ್ ಸಭೆ ಸಂಗಿಂ ಸಂಬಂಧ್ ರಚಿಶೆಂ, ಚಡ್ ಕರುನ್ ಭಾಗೆವಂತ್ ಬಾಪಾನ್ ಭುರ್ಗ್ಯಾಂಚೊ ವಿಶ್ವ ದೀಸ್ ಪಾಳ್ಳೊ ತಾಚ್ಯೆ ಸಂಗಿಂ ಜಳ್ತಾ ತಶೆಂ ತೆಂ ಆಸಾ.

ವಿಶಯ್ ಆನಿ ದೇವ್ ಶಾಸ್ರೀಯ್ ಬುನ್ಯಾದ್

“ಲ್ಹಾನ್ ಭುರ್ಗ್ಯಾಂಕ್ ಮ್ಹಜ್ಯೆ ಸರ್ಶಿಂ ಯೆಂವ್ಕ್ ಸೊಡಾ” (ಮಾತೆವ್ 19:14).

ಭುರ್ಗಿಂ ಪವಿತ್ರ್ ಸಭೆಚೊ “ಫುಡಾರ್” ಮಾತ್ರ್ ನ್ಹಯ್, ಪೂಣ್ “ಆತಾಂ” ಮ್ಹಳ್ಳ್ಯಾ ಪವಿತ್ರ್ ಪುಸ್ತಕಾಚ್ಯಾ ಆದೇಶಾಚೆರ್ ಲಾಂಛನಾಚಿಂ ಪಾಳಾಂ ರೊಂಬ್ಲಲಿಂ ಆಸಾತ್. ಸಾಂಗಾತ್ಪಣ್, ರಾಕ್ವಲ್ ಆನಿ ಆನಂದ್ಭರಿತ್ ಶಿಸ್‌ಪಣ್ ಹಿ ಗೊವ್ಳಿಕ್ ನದರ್ ಲಾಂಛನ್ ಪರ್ಜಳಾಯ್ತಾ.

ಗುರ್ತಾರುಪಾಚ್ಯೊ ಸಂಗ್ತಿ ಆನಿ ತಾಂಚೊ ಅರ್ಥ್

ಉಜ್ವಾಡಾಚ್ಯೆ ಪಾಟ್ ಭುಂಯೆಂತ್ಲಿ ಆಕೃತಿ : ಭಾವಾಡ್ತಾಚೆಂ ಪಯ್ಣ್

ಲಾಂಛನಾಚ್ಯಾ ಕೇಂದ್ರಾಂತ್ ತೆಗಾಂ ಭುರ್ಗಿಂ ಆಸಾತ್. ಹೆಂ ಜೆಜುಚ್ಯಾ ಭೊವ್ ಲ್ಹಾನ್ ಶಿಸಾಂಚಿ ತಾಂಕ್, ಆನಂದ್ ಆನಿ ಚಲ್ಚಿ ದಾಕಯ್ತಾ. ತಿಂ ಥಾಂಬ್ಲಲಿಂ ನಾಂತ್, ತಿಂ ಫುಡೆಂ ಚಮ್ಕತಾತ್. ಭುರ್ಗಿಂ ಕ್ರಿಸ್ತಾ ಸಂಗಿಂ ಆಪ್ಲೆಂ ಜಿವಿತಾಚೆಂ ಪಯ್ಣ್ ಸುರು ಕರ‍್ತಾನಾ ತಾಂಕಾಂ ಸಾಂಗಾತ್ ದಿಂವ್ಚೆಂ ಪವಿತ್ರ್ ಸಭೆಚೆಂ ಮಿಸಾಂವ್ ಹಾಂತುಂ ದಿಸ್ತಾ.

ಮಾಡಾಚ್ಯಾ ತಾಳಿಯಾಂಚೊ ಖುರಿಸ್: ಕುರ್ಪೆಚ್ಯಾ ಮಾಂತಾಂತ್ ಆಸಾ

ಖುರಿಸ್ ಖೆರಿತ್ಪಣಿಂ ಪಾಚ್ವ್ಯಾ ತಾಳಿಯೆ ಸಂಗಿಂ ಮೆಳಯ್ಲಲೊ ಆಸಾ.

* ಥಳಾವಿ ಅಸ್ಮಿತಾಯ್ : ಮಾಡ್ ಕರಾವಳಿಂತ್ಲೆ ಮಂಗ್ಳುರ್ ದಿಯೆಸೆಜಿಚಿ ಗುರ್ತಾಚಿ ಕುರು.

* ದಯ್ವಿಕ್ ರಾಕ್ವಲ್ : ಬಾಗ್ವಲ್ಲೊ ತಾಳಿಯೊ ಪಾಕ್ಯಾ ಬರಿಂ ಆಸುನ್ ಆಮ್ಚಿಂ ಭುರ್ಗಿಂ ಪವಿತ್ರ್ ಸಭೆಚ್ಯಾ ಜಿವಿತಾಂತ್ ವಾಡ್ತಾನಾ ದೆವಾಚಿ ಕುರ್ಪಾ ತಾಂಕಾಂ ಆಸ್ರೊ ದಿತಾ. ತಾಂಕಾಂ ಭದೃತಿ ಆನಿ ಅತ್ಮಿಕ್ ಪೋಶಣ್ ದಿಂವ್ಚಿ ಜವಾಬ್ದರಿ ಜಲ್ಮ್ ದಾತಾರಾಂಕ್, ಲಾಯಿಕ್ ಭಾವಾಡ್ತ್ಯಾಂಕ್, ಕ್ಲೆರಿಕಾಂಕ್ ಆನಿ ಧಾರ್ಮಿಕಾಂಕ್ ಆಸಾ ಮ್ಹಣ್ ಹಾಂತುಂ ಉಗ್ಡಾಸ್ ಕೆಲ್ಲೊ ಆಸಾ.

ನಿಳ್ಶಿಂ ಲ್ಹಾರಾಂ : ಉಚಾಂಬಳ್ ಪರಿಸ್ಥಿತಿಂತ್ ಜಯ್ತ್

ಮುಳಾಂತ್ಲ್ಯೊ ಲ್ಹಾರಾಂ ಬರಿಂ ಆಸ್ಚ್ಯೊ ನಿಳ್ಶೊ ರಂಗ್ ದೊಡೊ ಇರಾದೊ ಆಟಾಪ್ತಾತ್:

* ಸಂಸಾರಾಚಿಂ ಪಂಥಾಹ್ವಾನಾಂ : ಚಡ್ ಕರುನ್ ಉಚಾಂಬಳಿತ್ ಆಸ್ಚ್ಯಾ ಆಧುನಿಕ್ ಸಂಸಾರಾಚೊ ಗುರ್ತ್ – ಲೌಕಿಕತಾ, ಡಿಜಿಟಲ್ ಅಪಾಯ್, ಆನಿ ಸಾಮಾಜಿಕ್ ದಬಾವ್ ಹಾಂತ್ಲ್ಯಾನ್ ಆಮ್ಚ್ಯಾ ಭುರ್ಗ್ಯಾಂನಿ ಚಮ್ಕುಂಕ್ ಆಸಾ.

* ಕುರ್ಪೆಚೆಂ ಮಾಂತ್ : ನಿಳ್ ರಂಗ್ ಕ್ರಿಸ್ತಾಚಿ ಕುರ್ಪಾ ಆನಿ ಮರಿಯೆ ಮಾಯೆಚಿ ರಾಕ್ವಲ್ ದಾಕಯ್ತಾ. ಕ್ರಿಸ್ತ್ ಆಪ್ಲೊ ‘ತಾಂಡೆಲಿ’ ಕಸೊ ಆಸುನ್ ಆಮ್ಚ್ಯಾ ಭುರ್ಗ್ಯಾಂನಿ ಧಯ್ರಾನ್ ಹ್ಯಾ ಉದ್ಕಾಂತ್ ವಿಶ್ವಾಸಾನ್ ಪಯ್ಣ್ ಕರ‍್ಯೆತ್ ಮ್ಹಣ್ ಸುಚಯ್ತಾ.

ಹಾತಾಂಚಿ ಆರ್ಕ್ : ಅನನ್ಯತೆಚೊ ಸಂಭ್ರಮ್

ಲಾಂಛನಾಚಿ ವಯ್ಲಿ ಕೂಸ್ ಹಾತಾಚ್ಯಾ ರುಪ್ಣ್ಯಾಂಚಿ ಆರ್ಕ್ ಆಸುನ್ ತಾಂತುನ್ ರಂಗಾಳ್ ಹಾತ್ ಆಸಾತ್.

* ವಯುಕ್ತಿಕ್ ತಾಲೆಂತಾಂ : ಹರೆಕ್ ಹಾತಾಚೆಂ ರುಪ್ಣೆಂ ವೆಗ್ಳೆಂ ಆಸುನ್ ಆಮ್ಚ್ಯಾ ಫಿರ್ಗಜಾಂನಿ ಆಸ್ಚ್ಯಾ ಹರೆಕ್ ಭುರ್ಗ್ಯಾಂಚಿ ಅನನ್ಯತಾ ಆನಿ ತಾಲೆಂತಾಚಿ ವಿವಿಧತಾ ಸಂಭ್ರಮ್ತಾ.

* ವೆವೆಗ್ಳೆಪಣಾಂತ್ ಎಕ್ತಾರ್ : ಸಾಂಗಾತಾಂತ್ ತಿಂ “ಭಾಸಾವ್ಣೆನ್ ಭರ‍್ಲಲೆಂ ಧೊಣು” ಆಸಾ ಕರ‍್ತಾತ್, ಹರೆಕ್ ಭುರ್ಗೆಂ ಏಕ್ ಅನನ್ಯ್ ದೆಣೆಂ ಆಸುನ್ ತಿಂ ಸಗ್ಳಿಂ ಸಾಂ. ಜುಜೆ ಆಮ್ಚ್ಯಾ ಪಾತ್ರೊನಾಚ್ಯಾ ಬೊಂದೆರಾಖಾಲ್ ಎಕ್ತಾರಾಂತ್ ಆಸಾತ್ ಮ್ಹಣ್ ದಾಕಯ್ತಾತ್.

ವರ್ತುಲಾಭರಿತ್ ಪ್ರತಿರೂಪ್ : ಭಾವಾಡ್ತಾಚಿ ವಾಟ್

ಉತ್ರಾಂ ಎಕಾ ವರ್ತುಲಾಂತ್ ವ್ಹಾಳ್ತಾತ್, ಅಶೆಂ ದೆವಾಚ್ಯಾ ಮೊಗಾಚಿ ಅಪರಿಮಿತಾಯ್ ಆನಿ ಎಕಾ ಜನಾಂಗಾ ಥಾವ್ನ್ ದುಸ್ರ್ಯಾಂಕ್ ದಿಲ್ಲೊ ಭಾವಾಡ್ತ್ ಪ್ರತಿನಿಧಿತ್ವ್ ಕರ‍್ತಾ. “ಆಮ್ಚಿಂ ಭುರ್ಗಿಂ ಬಾಳಾಂ, ದೆವಾಚ್ಯಾ ರಾಜಾಚಿಂ ಫಳಾಂ” ಹಿಂ ಉತ್ರಾಂ ಆಮ್ಚಿಂ ಭುರ್ಗಿಂ “ದೆವಾಚ್ಯಾ ರಾಜಾಚಿಂ ಮೊಲಾಧಿಕ್ ಫಳಾಂ” ಮ್ಹಣ್ ಆಮ್ಕಾಂ ಉಗ್ಡಾಸ್ ಕರ‍್ತಾತ್.

ಸೊಂಪ್ಣಿ : ಹೆಂ ಲಾಂಛನ್ ಫಕತ್ತ್ ಏಕ್ ಚಿತ್ರ್ ನ್ಹಯ್, ಹೆಂ ಏಕ್ ಗೊವ್ಳಿಕ್ ನದರ್. ಹೆಂ ಮಂಗ್ಳುರ‍್ಚೆ ಪವಿತ್ರ್ ಸಭೆನ್ ಏಕ್ ಮಾಂತ್ (ಪಾಚ್ವಿ ತಾಳಿ), ಕಷ್ಟಾಂನಿ ವಾಟ್ ದಾಕೊವ್ಚಿ (ನಿಳೆಂ ಉದಕ್), ಆನಿ ಹರೆಕಾ ಭುರ್ಗ್ಯಾಚಿ ಅಸ್ಮಿತಾಯ್ ವಳ್ಕತಾತ್ ತಿ ಸುವಾತ್ (ರಂಗಾಳ್ ಹಾತ್) ಕಶಿ ಆಸುನ್ ಭುರ್ಗೆಂ ದೆವಾಚ್ಯಾ ಸಾರ್ಕ್ಯಾಚೆಂ ಆನಿ ರುಪಾಚೆಂ ಪ್ರತಿರೂಪ್ ಮ್ಹಣ್ ವಳ್ಕುಂಕ್ ಉಲೊ ದಿತಾ.

This logo has been designed to serve as the visual heartbeat of our diocesan mission in 2026. It bridges our local Mangalorean identity with the universal call of the Church, particularly aligning with the 2nd World Day of Children celebrated by the Holy Father.

Theme & Theological Foundation

“Let the little children come to me.” (Matthew 19:14)

The logo is rooted in the biblical mandate that children are not merely the “future” of the Church, but the “present”. It reflects a pastoral vision of accompaniment, protection, and joyful discipleship.

Symbolic Elements & Their Meaning

The Central Silhouettes: The Journey of Faith

At the heart of the logo are three children in mid-stride. This represents the energy, joy, and movement of the youngest disciples of Jesus. They are not static; they are walking forward. This visualises the Church’s mission to accompany children as they begin their lifelong journey with Christ.

The Palm-Cross: Sheltered by Grace

The Cross is uniquely integrated into a vibrant green palm leaf.

Local Identity: The palm is the iconic symbol of our coastal Diocese of Mangalore.
Divine Protection: The curve of the leaf acts as a canopy, signifying that God’s grace shelters our children as they grow within the life of the Church. It reminds the lay faithful, clergy and religious, along with parents, of their duty to provide a “shade” of safety and spiritual nourishment.

The Blue Waves: Victory over Troubled Waters

The wavy blue lines at the base serve a dual purpose:

The World’s Challenges: They symbolise the often-troubled waters of the modern world-secularism, digital dangers, and social pressure-that our children must navigate.
The Mantle of Grace: The blue also represents the mantle of Christ’s grace and the protection of Mother Mary. It signifies that with Christ as their “navigator,” our children can walk over these waters with confidence.

The Arch of Handprints: Celebrating Uniqueness

Surrounding the top of the logo is an arch of colourful handprints.

Individual Talents: Each handprint is different, celebrating the uniqueness and diverse talents of every child in our parishes.
Unity in Diversity: Together, they form a “rainbow of promise,” showing that while every child is a unique gift, they are all united under the one banner under the patronage of St Joseph, our patron.

The Circular Typography: The Path of Faith

The text flows in a circle, representing the eternity of God’s love and the cycle of faith passed from one generation to the next. The inclusion of our Konkani couplet— “ಆಮ್ಚಿಂ ಭುರ್ಗಿಂಬಾಳಾಂ, ದೆವಾಚ್ಯಾ ರಾಜಾಚಿo ಫಳಾಂ” (Amchim bhurgimballam, Devachya Razachim follam)—reminds us that our children are the “precious fruits of God’s Kingdom”.

Conclusion: This logo is not merely a graphic; it is a Pastoral Vision. It calls the Church of God in Mangalore to be a sanctuary (the Green Leaf), a guide through trials (the Blue Waters), and a place where every child’s unique identity (the Colourful Hands) is recognised as a reflection of the Image and likeness of God.

Official Theme Song:

Year of Children 2026 | Melwyn Peris ಆಮ್ಚಿಂ ಭುರ್ಗಿಂಬಾಳಾಂ, ದೆವಾಚ್ಯಾ ರಾಜಾಚಿo ಫಳಾಂ

ಭುರ್ಗ್ಯಾಂಚ್ಯಾ ವರ‍್ಸಾಕ್ ಮಾಗ್ಣೆಂ

Prayer for Children

Loving Father in heaven,

“Our children—the fruits of God’s Kingdom,”

Keeping this truth in mind, we thank You for the gift of the Year of Children, which You have given us to celebrate.

Pour out Your loving and gracious blessings upon all children.

Grant them the grace to become like Jesus, to live lives pleasing to You, to honor and respect their parents, and never to cause them sorrow.

As they grow in age, fill them with the gifts and the fruits of the Holy Spirit.

May they shine in virtues, be vibrant in spiritual matters, grow wise in their studies, and be blessed with a good and hopeful future.

Protect them from all dangers.

Help them to choose the right vocation, and grant perseverance and grace to those who have already chosen their path in life.

Father, bless all parents with hearts full of love for their children.

Help them to understand their responsibilities wisely and grant them the wisdom to raise their children according to the teachings of the Church.

Father, protect and care for all children.

Go before them and show them the right path.

Walk beside them and accompany them always.

Stay behind them and protect them.

Remain above them and shower them with Your blessings.

We make this prayer through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

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