Reported by : Richard Dsouza
Udupi : Maundy Thursday was observed in Milagres Cathedral, Kallianpur of Udupi diocese with great devotion on Thursday, 1st April, 2021. The Holy Thursday also called Covenant Thursday was concelebrated by Most Rev Dr. Gerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop of Udupi diocese along with Very Rev Fr. Valerian Mendonca, Rector of the Cathedral and Vicar of the parish, Rev Fr. Canute Noronha, Asst. parish priest, Rev Fr. Jossy Mascarenhas Superior and Vocational Director of Pilar Fathers, Kallianpur and Rev Fr. Brian Sequiera of Pilar Fathers.
The evening liturgy started at 6.30pm is beginning of the three day celebrations of Easter which signifies Tridum, remembering the last supper, the Crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ and resurrection to new life.
In his homily Rev Fr. Jossy Mascarenhas emphasized on significance of the Maundy Thursday and the last Super of Christ during which He constituted the priesthood of his Apostles and gave an example of service by washing the feet of the Apostles. He gave them a new commandment to serve and to love one another. Jesus is the Eucharist. Holy Thursday celebrates the institution of the Eucharist as the true body and blood of Jesus and institution of the sacrament of the priesthood. The last Super of the Jesus is the example of love of God. Through Eucharist, God completely loves us. Priest is the mediator between God and us. Priest is selected by the God. To love God we need the priest to mediate and he is the gift of God to us.
He said that the Holy Eucharist gives us not only grace but the Author of all grace, Jesus and a Man. In the Eucharist the sacrifice of Christ becomes also the sacrifice of the members of his Body. The lives of the faithful, their praise, their suffering, their prayers, their work, are united to those of Christ. In as much as it is a sacrifice, the Eucharist is likewise offered for all the faithful, living and dead, in reparation for the sins of all and to obtain spiritual and temporal benefits from God.
Bishop Gerald carried out the ritual of washing the feet of 12 faithful including women. The Maundy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus with Apostles and Jesus washing the feet of his disciples.
At the end, Very Rev Fr. Valerian Mendonca placed some of the important announcements on liturgy timings of Good Friday.
After the mass, the Eucharist has been placed on the altar of repose when Bishop, priests and altar servers proceeded in procession to the altar of repose. The altar of repose decorated with beautiful flowers.
Fr. Canute Noronha led the adoration prayers. Its necessary to instruct the faithful on the meaning of the reposition. It is an austere solemn conservation of Body of Christ in the community of the faithful which takes part in the liturgy of Good Friday and for the viaticum of the confirmed. It is an invitation to silent and prolonged adoration of the wondrous sacrament instituted by Jesus on this day.
On Good Friday, way of the Cross will be held at the Cathedral at sharp 9am. The evening liturgy will be held from 4pm.
