Devotional News

Chitradurga, February 10, 2025: The Yesusparsha Team, led by Fr. Franklin D'Souza, conducted a two-day retreat at Holy Family Church, Chitradurga, Diocese of Shimoga, on February 8th and 9th, 2025. Prolife Manjula Joy and Bro. Kishan (Music) were also part of the team.

The retreat was organized as part of the preparations for the parish's annual feast, to be held on Sunday, February 16th, 2025.

Retreat began on February 8, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. with a Rosary led by Fr. Franklin D'Souza, Prolife Manjula Joy, and Bro. Kishan. Then Fr. Franklin D'Souza and Bro. Kishan led the praise and worship. At 11 a.m., Prolife Manjula Joy shared her testimony of God's love. At 12 p.m., Bro. Kishan and Fr. Franklin D'Souza led the worship, then Fr. Franklin D'Souza continued his talk on prayer based on James 4:1-10.

Lunch break was at 1:30 p.m. The retreat resumed at 2:30 p.m. with praise and worship led by Brother Kishan and Prolife Manjula Joy. From 3:00 p.m. onwards, Prolife Manjula Joy spoke on "Hope in the Lord Jesus." At 4:00 p.m., Fr. Franklin D'Souza led the healing adoration based on Mark 8:1-4. He then celebrated the Holy Eucharist. The retreat concluded at 6:00 p.m.

On February 9, 2025, the retreat began at 9:00 a.m. with the Rosary, led by Prolife Manjula Joy and Bro. Kishan. At 9:45 a.m., Fr. Franklin D'Souza and Brother Kishan led praise and worship. At 10:30 a.m., Prolife Manjula Joy spoke on "Life and its Importance," basing her teaching on John 10:10 and 1 Corinthians 3:16-17. Then, Fr. Franklin D'Souza led worship and spoke on sin, repentance, and reconciliation, preparing the faithful for confession.

After the lunch break, the retreat resumed at 2:30 p.m. Bro. Kishan and Manjula Joy led the preparations for confessions. At 3:00 p.m., the Blessed Sacrament was exposed, and seven priests helped in the confessionals. Manjula Joy and Kishan led the adoration and a session on forgiveness.

At 4 pm, Fr. Franklin D'Souza led the anointing and healing service. He specially prayed for children, youth, married couples, widows and widowers, priests, and religious. At 5 pm, he celebrated the Holy Eucharist and preached on "call and our response," based on the readings of the Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time. At the end of Mass, Parish Priest Fr. Clarence Dias thanked the retreat team. Parishioners felicitated Fr. Franklin D'Souza as he celebrated his sacerdotal silver jubilee.

There was a good response from the faithful. The retreat concluded at 6:30 p.m.