The festive cheer of Christmas filled the air as Dr. Gerald Isaac Lobo, the Bishop of the Udupi Diocese, hosted a delightful “Christmas Get-together” for local media personnel at the Bishop’s House on Thursday, December 19. The annual event, designed to foster goodwill and camaraderie, strengthened the bond between the church and the media community during this joyous time of year.
The gathering began with a warm welcome from Bishop Lobo, who expressed his gratitude to the esteemed guests and media representatives in attendance. The ceremony was inaugurated by Rev. Hemachandra Kumar, Bishop of the CSI Southern Diocese. Along with notable figures such as Dr. Chandrashekar, Director of Adarsha Hospital Udupi; B Manjunath, Information Officer of Udupi District; Rajesh Shetty Alevoor, President of the Udupi District Working Journalists Association (UDWJA); and Mosgr Ferdinand Gonsalves, Vicar General, the Bishop and other dignitaries cut the ceremonial Christmas cake, symbolizing community spirit and sharing.
Dr. Chandrashekar, in his address, praised the Christian community’s festive celebrations and disciplined lifestyle, noting how their joy and unity inspire all. He described Udupi as a hub of brotherhood and mutual respect.
Bishop Lobo, in his presidential message, reflected on Christmas as a celebration of life, love, peace, and joy, urging everyone to embody these values in daily life to create a positive societal impact.
Rev. Hemachandra Kumar echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the importance of humility, love, and peace, in line with Jesus Christ’s teachings. He encouraged the gathering to embrace Christmas’ true spirit of unity.
The evening ended with a vote of thanks by Michael Rodrigues, Media Coordinator of Udupi Diocese, and heartfelt messages from local dignitaries. The event left everyone with a renewed sense of hope and commitment to spreading goodwill and peace throughout the community.