Udupi/M’Belle: Vigil service and solemn feast mass mark the Easter celebration

By Eugene DSouza, Moodubelle
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi/M’Belle, 04 Apr 2015: The solemn Easter Vigil marking the feast of the Glorious Resurrection of Jesus Christ was observed in St. Lawrence Church, Moodubelle on Saturday, 4 April 2015 at 7 pm followed by the solemn Easter Mass.

 

Rev. Fr. Reginald Pinto, Director of ‘Sampada’, Udupi Diocese as the chief celebrant conducted the Easter Vigil and offered the solemn feast mass along with Rev. Fr. Joswey Fernandes, Parish Priest and Rev. Fr. Roshan D’Souza, Assistant Parish Priest.

 

The Easter Vigil was divided into four parts: Service of Light, Liturgy of the Word, Liturgy of Baptism, and Liturgy of the Eucharist.

 

The atmosphere in the church was different. All the lights were put out and people gathered in front of the church. The service began outside the church. A new fire was lit that was blessed by the chief celebrant.

 

The Paschal Candle was prepared with these words while Rev. Fr. Reginald Pinto marked the candle: Christ yesterday and today (vertical arm of the cross),the Beginning and the End (horizontal arm of the cross), the Alpha (alpha above the cross) and the Omega (omega below the cross), All time belongs to him (numeral 2 in upper left corner of cross) and all the ages (numeral 0 in upper right corner of cross), to him be glory and power (numeral 1 in lower left corner), through every age and forever. Amen (numeral 5 in lower right corner)

 

Then,  Rev. Fr. Reginald Pinto inserted five grains of incense into the candle in the form of a cross, meanwhile saying:  By his holy  and glorious wounds, may Christ the Lord  guard us . and protect us. Amen.

 

Thereafter, Rev. Fr. Reginald Pinto lighted the candle from the new fire, saying: May the light of Christ, rising in glory, dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds.

 

 

 

The candle was then processed through the church with the celebrant lifting the candle at three different times singing: ’The Light of Christ’ and the congregation sang in reply: ’Thanks be to God’. All the people inside the church lighted their candles from the Easter Candle and continued in procession until the whole church was alight. The Paschal candle symbolizes Christ, the Light of the World was placed by Rev. Fr. Reginald Pinto on its stand.

 

Next, Rev. Fr. Reginald Pinto sang the Easter song of the Catholic Church: the Exsultet (Easter proclamation). This magnificent hymn, which is remarkable for its lyric beauty and profound symbolism, announces the dignity and meaning of the mystery of Easter. It tells of man’s sin, of God’s mercy and of the great love of the Redeemer for mankind, admonishing us in turn to thank the Trinity for all the graces that have been lavished upon us.

 

During the Easter vigil, five readings-four from the Old Testament and a passage from the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans followed by the Gospel from New Testament were read.

 

In his homily, Rev. Fr. Reginald Pinto highlighted the significance of Easter and the risen Christ.

 

Following the homily, the Easter Water was blessed after the recitation of the Litany of the Saints. Baptismal promises were renewed and the faithful were sprinkled with the newly blessed  water.

 

The solemn  Easter Mass continued and ended by 9.15 pm.

 

Bellevision.com wishes all its readers, supporters, advertisers and well-wishes a Happy and Blessed Easter.