Vellore bishop calls for healing amid social divisions

VELLORE, Tamil Nadu (Indian Catholic News) — The Catholic Church must become a source of healing in a world marked by anger, division and indifference, Bishop Ambrose Pitchaimuthu of Vellore said in a pastoral message for the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

In his June 2026 pastoral message, titled “A Diocese Formed by the Heart of Jesus,” the bishop reflected on the approaching Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and appealed to priests, religious, students, educators and families to renew their commitment to Christian service and unity.

The bishop said the feast of the Sacred Heart “is not only a devotion of the Church; it is a doorway into the very mystery of Christ.”

He described the Heart of Jesus as the visible expression of God’s love, noting that it is “the Heart that welcomed sinners, healed the sick, blessed children, wept for friends, forgave enemies, and was pierced on the Cross for the life of the world.”

The Feast of the Sacred Heart, which in 2026 falls on June 12, is celebrated by the Catholic Church on the Friday immediately following the Feast of Corpus Christi.

Church called to heal wounded society

Bishop Pitchaimuthu said the message of the Sacred Heart is particularly relevant in contemporary society, where many people struggle with personal and social challenges.

“Today, many people carry wounded hearts. Families experience tension. Young people face anxiety about the future. The poor struggle for dignity. The elderly often feel lonely,” he said.

He added that “society is often marked by anger, division and indifference” and stressed that the Church must respond by becoming “a sign of the Heart of Jesus.”

“Our Diocese of Vellore is called to be a diocesan family with a heart: a heart that listens, welcomes, serves, forgives and heals,” he said.

Quoting Jesus’ words, “Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart,” the bishop said these virtues should guide Christian life and ministry.

“Gentleness is not weakness. Humility is not fear. Mercy is not compromise. Love is not sentiment alone,” he wrote.

Encouragement for priests and religious

Addressing priests at the beginning of a new pastoral year, the bishop urged them to deepen their prayer life and pastoral commitment.

“The people of God need priests who are shepherds after the Heart of Jesus: priests who are close to the people, rooted in prayer, faithful to the Gospel and generous in service,” he said.

Bishop Pitchaimuthu also referred to recent guidance from Pope Leo XIV, saying the pope had reminded priests that ministry begins with prayer and should be carried out in union with Christ.

“A priest is not merely a functionary of the Church. He is called to be a living sign of the Good Shepherd,” the bishop said.

He also offered encouragement to men and women religious beginning new assignments, describing transfers as “moments of surrender” that require trust and openness to God’s will.

“Wherever you are sent, may you carry the tenderness of Christ,” he said.

Families and schools urged to form hearts

The bishop devoted part of his message to students, teachers and families, emphasizing the role of Catholic education and Christian homes in shaping future generations.

To students, he said, “Education is not only preparation for employment; it is formation for life.”

He urged Catholic institutions to remain places of “respect, encouragement, fairness, discipline, and care,” while calling on families to make prayer and forgiveness central to daily life.

“As we celebrate the Sacred Heart, let us examine our own hearts,” he said, adding that “devotion to the Sacred Heart is not complete unless it becomes visible in our behaviour.”

Bishop Pitchaimuthu concluded by inviting every parish, institution, religious community and family in the Diocese of Vellore to renew its dedication to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and become “a living witness of His love.”

Read the full pastoral message.