Udupi: Palm Sunday marks the commencement of the Holy Week

By Eugene DSouza, Moodubelle
Bellevision Media Network

St. Lawrence Church, Moodubelle

Udupi/M’belle, 13 April 2014: With the observation of the Palm Sunday in all the churches across the world on 13 April 2014, the solemn Holy Week commenced  in Christian Churches of various denominations.

 

Palm Sunday commemorates the  triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, an event that is mentioned in all four canonical Gospels in the Holy Bible.

 

In many Christian churches, Palm Sunday includes a procession of the worshippers carrying palms, representing the palm branches that were laid out or scattered in front of Jesus as he rode into Jerusalem. According to the Gospels, as Jesus rode into the town on a donkey, exuberant crowds hailed him as the Messiah and spread out palm branches and cloaks in his path.

 

The difficulty of procuring palms in unfavorable climate led to their substitution with branches of native tress that included box, yew, willow, and olive - the fact that gave rise to alternative names to this day, such as Yew Sunday or Branch Sunday among others.

 

In India, especially in the coastal regions coconut palms are used for the Palm Sunday.

 

 

In St. Lawrence Church, Moodubelle, Palm Sunday service began at 8 am. Prior to the service, Parish Pastoral Council members were seen distributing palms to those who entered the church. At 8 am, parishioners went in procession to the Cross carrying palms  in their hands.  Rev. Fr. Joswey Fernandes, parish priest  of Moodubelle along with Rev. Fr. Robert Lasrado (OFM Cap), Superior of Assisi Nilaya blessed the palms  following prayer service and reading from the scriptures. After brief homily, the parishioners went back to the church carrying the blessed palms.

 

The solemn Palm Sunday Mass was jointly offered by Rev. Fr. Joswey Fernandes and Rev. Fr. Robert Lasrado. The Passion Gospel according to St. Mathew was read by Rev. Fr. Robert Lasrado. In his brief homily, Fr. Lasrado highlighted the meaning of the Gospel centered around the sufferings of Christ  and  sufferings of humankind.

 

 

 

Milagres Cathedral, Kallianpur

By Richard DSouza

Kallianpur, 13 April 2014 : Palm Sunday to commemorate Christ’s entry in to Jerusalem for the completion of Paschal Mystery observed at Milagres Cathedral of Udupi Diocese here on Sunday, April 13, 2014 with utmost devotion. Palm Sunday ceremony started at 8am near the entrance of the Cathedral led by the Rector of the Cathedral instead in the absence of Bishop this year. Palm Sunday which beginning of the Holy Week.

 

The prayers led by Rector of the Cathedral Very Rev Fr. Stany B. Lobo held and larger number of devotees seen with palm leaves to mark the occasion. Rev Fr. Ferdinand Gonsalves blessed the Palm leaves and later gave brief homily after the readings of the Gospel. He said we carry palm leaves as a tribute of weaving joy, before Christ, victorious over death and also as a symbol of our wavering fickleness, betraying Christ Unto his death.

 

 

The Palm Sunday huge well disciplined procession started from the entrance of the Cathedral proceeded towards the alter of Cathedral was the beauty of the occasion. The Palm Sunday procession is formed of Christians  who in the fullness of faith make their own gesture of the Jews and endow with its full significance. Following the Jews’ example we proclaim Christ as a Victor. Hosanna to the Son of David. Blessed is He who Comes in the name of Lord.

 

Solemn high mass later celebrated with the main celebrant very Rev Fr. Stany B. Lobo along with Rev Fr. Ferdinand Gonsalves, Rev Fr. Dennis Lobo and Rev Fr. Nelson Furtado of Pilar Fathers. The long Gospel read by the Fr. Stany Lobo when devotees heard tirelessly enables devotees as it were to be eye witnesses of Christ’s Passion and Death, revealing his love “Unto the end”.

 

The devotees were jampacked in the Cathedral during  the observation of the Palm Sunday and it shows the utmost devotion of parishioners. The huge choir group led by Fr. Mahesh D’Souza fuelled grand observation during the mass and organized beautiful liturgy services as well.

 

 

St. John’s Evangelist Parish, Pangla

 By Johncy Digitals

Pangla/Shankerpura, 13 Apr 2014: Palm Sunday observed with great devotion and fervor at St. John Evangelist Church, Pangala on Sunday.  The service began at 7.00am with distribution of palms to the laity by Parish Council members at St. john’s School Ground.

 After a small prayer service, Rev. Fr. Leslie C. D’Souza, Parish Priest along with Rev. Fr. Lawrence Mendoncablessed the palms at school ground and thereafter parishioners went in procession carrying blessed palms  with singing hymns of Hossana, praise to the King of Kings Jesus Christ.   

 

The solemn Palm Sunday Mass was concelebrated by Rev. Fr. Leslie C. D’Souza and Rev. Fr. Lawrence Mendonca. The Passion Gospel according to St. Mathew was read by Rev. Fr. Leslie C. D’Souza and Rev. Fr. Lawrence Mendonca and Sr. Vinny.  Large number of parishioners attended the Palm Sunday Service.