Mangaluru, Apr 10: In a spirit of Unum Presbyterium and shared pastoral responsibility, over 225 priests—both diocesan and religious—serving in various parishes and institutions of the Diocese of Mangalore gathered for the annual Pastoral Consultation held on April 9 and 10 at St Antony’s Charity Institutes, Jeppu. This two-day gathering served as a significant moment of communion and collaboration among the clergy, offering an opportunity to deliberate on important pastoral concerns impacting the faithful of the diocese.

Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, Bishop of Mangalore, who presided over the event, set the tone for the consultation by emphasising the importance of unity in mission. In his inaugural address, he said, “This gathering is a celebration of coming together of priests who have a shared mission of the Church. It is a day to meet and greet every priest of the diocese, share experiences, and address pastoral challenges. This consultation will guide all of us to collaborate and participate within the diocese for a more fruitful ministry.” The consultation centred around the theme ‘Pastoral Issues’, with each session focusing on specific areas of concern raised by the various deaneries of the diocese.