Udupi: Vespers observed on the eve of the Annual Parish Feast of St. Lawrence Church, M’belle

By Dr. Eugene DSouza, Moodubelle
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 07 Jan 2014: In preparation for the Annual Parish Feast, solemn Vespers observed in the evening of Tuesday, 7 January 2014 in St. Lawrence Church, Moodubelle. The chief celebrant of the Vespers was Rev. Fr. Prakash (OFM Cap) from Brhamavara.

 

At the outset, at around 6.30 pm the main celebrant along with altar servers, priests and parishioners went in procession to the Cross Hill accompanied by the brass band. The ICYM members carried the Cherel of St. Lawrence to the Cross Hill. All the processionists were given candles which they lit and stood in reverence as Rev. Fr. Prakash after invocation blessed the Cherel with the statue of St. Lawrence. Thereafter, priests and people came back to the church  in procession  through the main road entering the church premises through the main entrance.

 

 

The liturgy of the Word began thereafter. Rev. Fr. Prakash in his homily narrated in brief the martyrdom of St. Lawrence and elaborated through examples from the Gospel how Jesus Christ himself had to undergo the martyrdom that gave courage to the early Christians like St. Lawrence to sacrifice their lives. He said that in the light of Christ the martyrs became the lamps and we too should become the lamps by following exemplary life walking in the path shown by Jesus.

 

The adoration of the Holy Sacrament followed the prayer of the faithful. Rev. Fr. Praksh led the prayer of dedication of the parish family, Varado and Diocese to Jesus Christ.  Following the adoration and Sacramental Blessing, the parishioners dispersed and gathered in the premises to witness the fireworks.

 

 

Earlier, this reporter had an opportunity to explore the fair. By the evening all the slots for stalls had been occupied and varieties of articles and eatable were displayed in these stalls. There are stalls selling religious articles, sweetmeat shops with different kinds of sweets, flower stalls, stalls selling toys  and other assorted articles were found to extend from the church premises till the end of the road down opposite to the Syndicate Bank. This year, it seems that there are more stalls than last year.

 

 

The solemn Annual Feast Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, 8 January 2014 at `10 am. Earlier at 9.45 am, candles of honour will be distributed to mud-dhoms.