Integral Ecology Lecture and Christmas Celebration Held at University of Mysore

Mysuru, 18 December 2025 — Academic reflection on environmental responsibility and a spirit of Christmas celebration came together at the University of Mysore, where the Mysore Diocesan Chair in Christianity, in collaboration with the Department of Studies in Christianity, Manasagangotri, organised a special lecture on “Integral Ecology: Bridging the Environmental and Social Crisis”, followed by Christmas celebrations at the B. M. Shree Auditorium 

The programme was presided over by Bishop Francis Serrao of Mysore and coordinated by Valindin Rajendra Kumar, Chairman of the Department of Studies in Christianity, along with Joseph Marie, Visiting Professor of the Mysore Diocesan Chair in Christianity. Faculty members, students, clergy, religious, and invited guests attended the event, which sought to link academic discourse with social and ethical responsibility.

The keynote lecture was delivered by Wilfred Rodrigues, Dean of Studies at Pushpashrama and the Institute of Philosophy. Addressing the gathering, he highlighted the deep interconnection between environmental degradation and social injustice, stressing that ecological crises cannot be separated from issues of human dignity and inequality. He called for a holistic response that integrates ethical responsibility, sustainability, and shared accountability, particularly within faith-inspired and educational contexts.

Following the academic session, the programme transitioned into Christmas celebrations, creating a seamless blend of reflection and festivity. Cultural performances by children from Jeevodaya Children Home set a joyful tone, while Christmas carols rendered by the Bethany Sisters of Bogadi and St. Mary’s Seminary, Mysuru, filled the auditorium with a spirit of peace and celebration.

In his presidential address, Bishop Francis Serrao underlined the contemporary relevance of integral ecology, urging universities and faith communities to work collaboratively in addressing environmental and social challenges. He noted that care for creation, justice, and peace must go hand in hand, and observed that celebrating Christmas in such a setting offered a meaningful reminder of shared responsibility towards society and the environment.

By Fr. Arul Selva Kumar