Mangalore Priests Complete Annual Retreat Led by Theologian Fr Gilbert D’Lima

Mangalore, July 12, 2025 : The Diocese of Mangalore concluded the first batch of its Annual Clergy Retreat 2025 on July 11 at the Shanthi Kiran Pastoral Centre in Bajjodi. Held from 6 to 11 July, the retreat offered a sacred pause for diocesan priests, inviting them to step away from pastoral duties and enter deeper communion with the Lord through silence, prayer, and spiritual renewal. Around 86 priests took part.

Dr. Gilbert D’Lima, a distinguished theologian and spiritual director, led the retreat. Currently Rector of St. Pius X College, Goregaon (Mumbai), Fr. Gilbert was ordained on 16 April 1983. He holds a Doctorate in Systematic Theology from the Pontifical Urban University in Rome, specialising in the theology of the Kingdom of God through the local Church and Basic Christian Communities. With over 34 years of teaching in major seminaries and ecclesial institutions both in India and abroad, his guidance brought theological depth and spiritual clarity to the retreat.

Throughout the week, Fr. Gilbert offered scriptural meditations, celebrated daily Eucharist, led guided reflections, and encouraged moments of personal contemplation. His talks focused on priestly identity, the call to holiness, and the Church’s mission today, blending pastoral sensitivity with intellectual rigour.

“The retreat is a time to savour the loving presence of the Lord,” Bishop Peter Paul Saldanha told the priests during his concluding address.

“A retreat is a sacred time to encounter the Lord and to rediscover ourselves in His presence. This divine experience not only renews our interior life but also prepares us to encounter God in the people we serve. It rekindles the fire of our pastoral ministry and deepens our compassion for the holy people entrusted to our care,” the Bishop said.

The retreat’s structure offered a balanced rhythm of prayer, adoration, silence, fraternal sharing, and rest, fostering spiritual nourishment and priestly fraternity. Many priests shared a sense of deep communion and expressed gratitude for the serene environment at Shanthi Kiran, which supported quiet reflection.

Fr. Santhosh Rodrigues, Director of the Pastoral Centre, coordinated the retreat with support from the Shanthi Kiran team, ensuring a prayerful atmosphere and smooth logistics throughout the week.

Fr. Paul Sequeira (Balkunje) delivered a vote of thanks, expressing appreciation to the Bishop, preacher, and the organising team. Fr. Naveen Pinto described the retreat as a time of grace, divine encounter, personal reflection, and restoration.

The second batch of the Annual Clergy Retreat is scheduled for the first week of December 2025, ahead of the Advent season.

By Fr. Anil Fernandes, CCC

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