Udupi/M’Belle: Holy Thursday observed with solemnity and devotion

By Eugene DSouza
Bellevision Media Network

Moodubelle, 13 Apr 2017: Holy Thursday also known as Maundy Thursday was observed by Christians with solemnity and devotion on Thursday, 13 April 2017. In St. Lawrence Church, Moodubelle, the Holy Thursday service began at 5 pm. The solemn Maundy Thursday Mass was concelebrated by Fr. William Andrade (OFM Cap), Rector of Assisi Nilaya as the chief celebrant along with Fr. Clement Mascarenhas and Fr. Lawrence Cutinha.

 

In his homily, Fr. William Andrade emphasized on the significance of the Holy Thursday and the last Supper of Christ during which He constituted the priesthood of his Apostles and gave an example of service by washing the feet of his Apostles. He also gave them a new commandment to serve and to love one another.

 

Soon after the homily, Fr. Clement Mascarenhas washed the feet of 12 parishioners, 6 men and 6 women signifying the washing of the feet of the Apostles by Jesus Christ.

 

 

Soon after the mass, the Holy Eucharist was taken in procession to the altar of repose towards the right side of the church. The altar of repose was decorated with Jasmine and ‘abolim’ flowers.

 

As the Blessed Eucharist was taken to the altar of repose, the covering cloth of the main altar was removed and the altar was left bare to signify the mourning of the church in anticipation of the agony, passion and death of Jesus Christ on the Cross.

 

Soon after the transfer of the Holy Eucharist to the altar of repose, sisters from the Loreto Convent, Sr. Irene Viegas, Sr. Agnes Mary, Sr. Teresita and Sr. Lydia conducted the adoration of the  Blessed Sacrament.

 

After the end of the general adoration, people went to their respective homes in silence, while few stayed back to venerate the Holy Sacrament in silence.

 

Significance of Holy Thursday:

Maundy Thursday, also known as “Holy Thursday,” is the Thursday of Passion Week, one day before Good Friday (the Friday before Easter). Maundy Thursday is the name given to the day on which Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples, known as the Last Supper. Two important events are the focus of Maundy Thursday.

 

First, Jesus celebrated the Last Supper with His disciples and thereby instituted the Lord’s Supper, also called Communion (Luke 22:19-20). Some Christian churches observe a special Communion service on Maundy Thursday in memory of Jesus’ Last Supper with His disciples. Second, Jesus washed the disciples’ feet as an act of humility and service, thereby setting an example that we should love and serve one another in humility (John 13:3-17). Some Christian churches observe a foot-washing ceremony on Maundy Thursday to commemorate Jesus’ washing the feet of the disciples.

 

The word Maundy is derived from the Latin word for “command.” The “Maundy” in “Maundy Thursday” refers to the command Jesus gave to the disciples at the Last Supper, that they should love and serve one another.