Reported By : Richard Dsouza
Easter is one of the most important religious festivals for people following Christianity all over the world. The festival commemorates the Resurrection of Lord Jesus Christ, three days after the agonizing Crucifixion.
The Easter Vigil also called Paschal celebrations began at 7pm in front of Milagres Tri-centenary Hall. After the new fire was blessed, the Paschal Candle was lit with formality and was carried into the Cathedral as all those present lit their respective candles from the Paschal Candle when all lights in the Cathedral were turned off.
The Solemn Eucharist mass led by Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo celebrated along with Very Rev Fr. Valerian Mendonca, Rector of the Cathedral, Rev Fr. Joy Andrade Asst. parish priest and Rev Fr. Nithesh D’Souza Vocational Director of Pilar Fathers, Kallianpur.
The liturgy of the Word consisted of three readings from the Old Testament. After singing “Gloria” accompanied by ringing bells and the main church bells, two readings from the New Testament were read.
In his beautiful homily Fr. Valerian Mendonca said that even though there are large numbers of tombs in the world including Mumtaz in Taj Mahal, tomb of Winston Churchil, in Pyramids in Egypt and other leaders in some parts of the world. No person’s dead bodies were missing and neither rose from the tomb. The only Jesus Christ’s rose from the tomb and later Jesus Christ personal appearance to His Disciples and apostles including St. Thomas, Mary Magdalene and others. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the foundation of the Christian faith. Without resurrection, the belief in God’s saving grace through Jesus is destroyed. When Jesus rose from the dead, He confirmed his identity as the Son of God and his work of atonement, redemption, reconciliation and salvation. The resurrection was a real, literal, physical raising of Jesus’s body from the dead.
After homily, the water was blessed, people once again lit their candles as they renewed the Baptismal vows following which the Bishop and priests sprinkled newly blessed Holy Water on the congregation.
At the end of Paschal celebrations, Rector of the Cathedral and Vicar Very Rev Fr. Valerian Mendonca extended Paschal greetings to all concerned and gave gratitude to the Bishop, priests, nuns, choir, media and all concerned. He also placed the weekly announcements at the end. He thanked the main sponsor of the celebrations SuneethaFernandes and other benefactors of the celebrations.
Bishop Gerald also extended his Paschal Easter message to the congregation and appreciated the arrangements done during the celebrations.
There was approximately two hours of heavy rain during the Eucharist celebrations, and for a few minutes the blessing of fire was held in front of Church Hall, there was no rain. After the mass also there was a shower which was disturbed for the congregation. Under the leadership of ICYM, the parish unit members distributed snacks, sweets and malt for a large number of the congregation.
