Mangalore Diocese Clergy Retreat Concludes at Shanthi Kiran
The first batch of the Annual Clergy Retreat 2026 of the Diocese of Mangalore concluded on Friday, July 10, at the Shanthi Kiran Pastoral Centre, Bajjodi, after six days of prayer, reflection and spiritual renewal. Held from July 5 to 10, the retreat brought together Most Rev. Peter Paul Saldanha, Bishop of Mangalore, Msgr Maxim L. Noronha, Vicar General, and around 85 diocesan Priests, who stepped away from their pastoral responsibilities to dedicate time to silence, prayer, fraternity and spiritual rejuvenation.
The retreat was animated by renowned biblical scholar Rev. Dr Naveen Rebello, SVD (Niddodi), a faculty member at Jnana-Deepa, Pune. He is the first Indian SVD to earn a Doctorate in Sacred Scripture (SSD) with Summa cum Laude honours from the prestigious Pontifical Biblical Institute, Rome. Reflecting on the theme, “Joy of being a Priest,” Rev. Dr Naveen Rebello led the participants through enriching scriptural reflections, emphasising that the joy of priesthood flows from a deep relationship with Christ. He highlighted the priest’s vocation as a servant of the Word and the Eucharist, called to proclaim the Gospel with love and conviction. His conferences also explored key aspects of priestly life, including priestly relationships, woundedness, authentic service and the need for evangelical creativity in ministry.
Echoing the message of Most Rev. Peter Paul Saldanha, the retreat offered the clergy a privileged time of grace, prayer, renewal and self-reflection. Through silence, meditation and spiritual guidance, the participants were encouraged to deepen their relationship with God and renew their commitment to their priestly mission. The daily programme featured Morning and Evening Prayer, silent meditation, spiritual conferences, celebration of the Holy Eucharist, Eucharistic Adoration, fraternal sharing and personal reflection, creating an atmosphere conducive to spiritual growth and priestly fellowship.
The retreat was coordinated by Rev. Fr Santhosh Rodrigues, Director of the Pastoral Centre, with the dedicated support of the Shanthi Kiran team, ensuring a prayerful environment and the smooth conduct of the programme. The retreat concluded with Rev. Fr Paul Sequeira (Balkunje) sharing his personal testimony, describing the retreat as a profound experience of God’s grace, renewal and spiritual transformation.
The second batch of the Annual Clergy Retreat 2026 is scheduled to be held during the first week of December 2026, as part of the Diocese’s spiritual preparations for the Advent season.
News and Photos:
Rev. Fr Anil Ivan Fernandes
Director, Canara Communication Centre, Mangalore Diocese
