Udupi: Vespers on the eve of the Annual Feast observed in St. Lawrence Church, Moodub

By Dr. Eugene DSouza
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi/M’Belle, 02 Jan 2018: St. Lawrence Church, Moodubelle as well as the surrounding landmarks, such as the Grotto, Shrine, belfry and the side of the Cross Hill were decked with colourful lights inviting the devotees into the premises of the church with devotion for the celebration of the Vespers on the eve of the Annual Parish Feast. The Vespers was observed on Tuesday, 2 January 2018 from 6.30 pm to 8 pm. Fr. Roy Lobo, native of Moodubelle and presently the Assistant Parish Priest  of Belman was the chief celebrant of the Vespers. 

 

Prior to the main celebration of the Vespers in the church, people and priests went in procession to the top of the Cross Hill, a practice  that has been followed since the foundation of the parish a century ago. The cherel  with the statue of St. Lawrence was carried by ICYM volunteers. Fr. Roy Lobo blessed the cherel with holy water and incense. After prayer service and reading a passage from the Gospel, Fr. Roy Lobo delivered a  brief sermon highlighting the life and martyrdom of St. Lawrence.

 

 

Soon after the prayer service on the top of the Cross Hill, people with lighted candles went back to the church in procession. 

 

The theme of the Vespers was “Let Us Be the Witnesses to the Word of God”. After readings from the Scriptures and  Gospel, Fr. Roy Lobo in his homily said that saints lived and became witnesses to the Word of God. He gave examples of some prominent saints such as St. Francis Xavier, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Augustine and St. Lawrence and pointed out how the Word of God became their guiding principle in life and death and how they became witnesses to the Word of God.  He further said that all the saints were instrumental in spreading the Word of God and living according to it. Fr. Roy also gave many examples in the lives of ordinary people and how they can follow the Word of God under different circumstances and be witness to the Word of God. 

 

Soon after the Prayers of the Faithful Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament was conducted by Fr. Roy Lobo.  The Vespers ended with the Sacramental Blessing.

 

 

Fr. Valerian Mendonca-Parish Priest of  Mother of Sorrows Church, Udupi, Dean of Udupi Deanery and Chancellor of Udupi Diocese, Fr. Stany Tauro-Parish Priest of Our Lady of Health Church, Shirva and Dean of Shirva Deanery, Fr. Chetan Lobo (OFM Cap)-Editor of “Uzwaad”, Fr. Denis D’Sa-PRO of Udupi Diocese, Fr. Reginald Pinto-Director of “Sampada”, Diocese of Udupi, Fr. Jephrine Monis-native of Pamboor, presently serving in Germany, Fr. Henry Alva (OFM Cap)-native of Pamboor and presently Provincial of Central Province in Canada, Fr. Alphonse D’Lima-Rector of Diocesan Minor Seminary, Kattingeri, Capuchin Priests from Assisi Nilaya, other priests from different parishes of Udupi Deanery and other neighbouring parishes  were present  for the Vespers. 

 

The atmosphere in and around the church was filled with festive fervor as a number of stalls with varieties of articles and eatables were tempting enough for the revelers to visit these stalls.

 

 

 

A number of devotees of St. Lawrence were seen praying in front of the Shrine and offering candles and flowers to the saint.