Bishop invokes St. Thomas to renew families’ faith

BELTHANGADY, Karnataka (Indian Catholic News) — A Syro Malabar bishop in southern India has urged families to draw inspiration from St. Thomas the Apostle by deepening their faith through prayer, Scripture and Christian witness, saying the home remains the primary place where faith is nurtured.

Recalling St. Thomas who brought Christianity to India in 52 AD, Bishop James Patteril of Belthangady said the annual July 3 feast is more than a commemoration of the nation’s patron saint. He described it as an invitation for Catholics to renew their own faith by following Thomas’ journey from doubt to conviction.

Just as the apostle encountered the risen Christ and proclaimed, “My Lord and my God,” the bishop said believers today are called to deepen their personal relationship with Jesus and become courageous witnesses to the Gospel.

In a pastoral circular issued ahead of parish observances but read during liturgical celebrations marking the Feast of St. Thomas, Bishop Patteril said families should become places where God’s presence is experienced daily through prayer, mutual love and faithful living.

“The family is the first seminary of faith,” the bishop wrote, urging parents to take responsibility for handing on the Gospel to their children.

Families as the first school of faith

Bishop Patteril said faith formation begins at home long before it takes place in churches or schools. Parents, he said, are the primary educators of their children in Christian life and have a unique responsibility to cultivate a relationship with God within the family.

He encouraged families to pray together every day, read and reflect on the Bible, and participate regularly in the sacraments. These practices, he said, strengthen family bonds while helping children grow spiritually.

The circular also highlights the example of the Holy Family as a model for Christian households. Families are encouraged to foster forgiveness, patience and mutual service, especially amid the pressures of modern life.

Quoting Scripture, the bishop reminded Catholics that Christians are called to become “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world,” urging believers to bear witness through their daily lives.

Witness through everyday life

Bishop Patteril warned that rapid social change, materialism and secular influences can weaken family relationships and religious practice if left unchallenged.

Rather than allowing these pressures to define family life, he encouraged Catholics to build homes rooted in prayer, love and trust in God.

He stressed that Christian witness begins within the household before extending into society, saying authentic faith is expressed through compassion, reconciliation and service to others.

The bishop also encouraged parish communities to support families through pastoral initiatives and faith formation programs, particularly those helping parents pass on Christian values to younger generations.

Faith grows through prayer and Scripture

The circular places particular emphasis on regular family prayer and meditation on Scripture as essential means of spiritual renewal.

The bishop wrote that families should set aside time each day to pray together and reflect on God’s word, allowing faith to shape decisions and relationships.

He said participation in the Eucharist and parish life should naturally flow from a vibrant domestic prayer life, strengthening communion within both the family and the wider Church.

Referring to the challenges confronting modern households, he encouraged Catholics not to lose hope but to trust that God continues to guide families who remain faithful to him.

Building stronger Christian homes

The bishop concluded by inviting every Catholic family in the diocese to recommit itself to becoming a domestic church where faith is lived joyfully and shared generously.

He called on parents, children and grandparents alike to contribute to building homes marked by prayer, love and Christian service.

“As a family united in prayer,” he wrote, “let us grow together in faith and become witnesses to Christ in our homes and society.”

Full pastoral circular available: original Malayalam and AI‑generated English translation.