Cardinal Filipe Neri Urges Compassionate Christian Witness at Resurrection Church Golden Jubilee, Bengaluru

Bengaluru, February 9, 2026: Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão called on Christians to live their faith through concrete acts of compassion that restore dignity and hope, reminding them that authentic discipleship is expressed not merely in words, but in action.

The Cardinal was preaching during the Golden Jubilee Inauguration Mass of Resurrection Church, Bangalore. The solemn Eucharistic celebration was attended by a large gathering of the faithful and clergy, with Cardinal Poola Anthony joining Cardinal Filipe, along with several bishops and priests, as concelebrants.

In his homily, Cardinal Filipe stressed that Christian witness must shine especially in places of darkness, where people feel forgotten, wounded, or abandoned. To illustrate this, he recounted a moving episode from the life of Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

During a visit to Melbourne, Australia, Mother Teresa encountered an elderly man living alone in a dark and neglected basement. Bitter and isolated, the man questioned the value of light in a life overwhelmed by despair. Mother Teresa and her sisters cleaned the room and discovered a lamp buried under rubbish. After lighting it, she promised that the sisters would return regularly and asked the man to keep the lamp burning. When they visited him again later, the man shared that the light was burning not only in his room, but also in his life.

Through this example, Cardinal Filipe said that even simple acts of love can rekindle hope in those who feel abandoned. Compassion, he noted, becomes the channel through which the light of Christ reaches wounded lives.

Reflecting on the readings of the day, the Cardinal drew attention to the prophet Isaiah’s call to live faith through concrete actions—feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, welcoming the homeless, and rejecting injustice. Such deeds, he said, allow one’s light to shine and draw people closer to God and to one another.

Turning to the Gospel, he reminded the faithful of Jesus’ call to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Salt, he explained, symbolises purity, preservation from moral decay, and the ability to give meaning to life, while light must be visible, guide others in darkness, and warn against danger.

Acknowledging that living this calling is challenging, Cardinal Filipe echoed Saint Paul’s reminder that Christian witness does not rely on human wisdom or eloquence, but on the power of God’sd Spirit. That divine strength, he said, enables believers to become true pilgrims of hope in a wounded world.

Towards the end of liturgy, the Golden Jubilee logo of Resurrection Church was formally unveiled by Cardinal Filipe Neri and Cardinal Poola Anthony, marking a significant milestone in the parish’s history.

The entire liturgical celebration and jubilee inauguration were organised and conducted by the parish priest, Fr. Amarnath Dinesh Roy, along with the assistant parish priest, Fr. Pavan Anthony, with active participation from the parish community.

Cardinal Filipe concluded by urging the faithful to renew their commitment to be visible signs of love, mercy, and hope, so that the light of Christ may continue to shine through them wherever darkness persists.

By Catholic Connect Reporter

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