As we know, the Redemptorists province of Bangalore has ventured into a new mission at Mysore, Karnataka, India. We had the privilege to serve at St. Philomena’s shrine, Mysore (St. Joseph’s Cathedral) for the past three years until this June 2025. There are several pastoral initiatives that we could highlight this ministry. Of the many, I would like to highlight the structural establishment of the Icon of the Mother of Perpetual Help and the Jubilee Museum at the campus. The new MPH structure that has been established inside the Cathedral has the additional feature of the explanation of the icon in two Languages, in English and Kannada. The icon and the explanation are of the latest LED frame design which gives a graceful presence of our Mother of Perpetual Help. The icon with this added lighting is the Centre of attraction drawing the pilgrims and the tourists to come and pray. The icon will be visited and venerated by thousands of people from India and abroad.
Another structural establishment that I would like to highlight is the foundation of the new Jubilee Bible Museum at the campus. The Jubilee museum was established in honor of the Jubilee year, 2025 with the theme “Pilgrims of Hope Bible Museum” in collaboration with the parish Clergy at St. Joseph’s Cathedral. The highlight of the Jubilee is the statue of “Jesus the Hope for the wounded World.” This is the Centre of attraction at the Museum where we have the scene of Jesus healing the Leper under which the Redemptorist title “Jesus is the hope for the wounded world” is inscribed.
The Museum begins with the scene of the creation of Adam and Eve and ends with the New Testament scene of the Resurrection of Jesus. Each scene at the Museum depicts the hope that God has offered in the entire Bible. The theme begins with the creation in Genesis, then the prophets and ends with the New Testament of which Jesus as the Centre of Hope. The museum also has an explanation of the meaning of Jubilee and other details of the Jubilee year, 2025. The Jubilee museum ends with the images of the modern people who have lived the life of Hope. Some of the images are of St. Theresa of Kolkata, Sir. Nelson Mandela, Nick Vujicic, and others. The museum ends inviting the people to spread Hope in this modern world.
The Museum was blessed and inaugurated by the Apostolic Administrator, his grace, Most Rev. Dr. Bernard Moras, the arch bishop emeritus, of the Diocese of Mysore and in the presence of the then Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Staney D Almeda, and many other priests, Religious and the lay faithful. The Jubilee Museum is our humble attempt to use the beauty and Art in Evangelization. The shrine has thousands of non-Christians as visitors, and this museum is indeed a unique way of preaching the Gospel to those who have not heard the Gospel. This Jubilee Bible Museum is a sincere effort to proclaim that “Jesus is the Hope for the wounded world” and we are called to be the Missionaries of Hope in the footsteps of the Redeemer. Jesus be praised.
Fr. Peter. B. C.Ss.R.
