Udupi: Confraternity Sunday Observed in St. Lawrence Church, Moodubelle

By Dr. Eugene DSouza
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi/M’Belle, 03 Jan 2021: In anticipation of the Annual Parish Feast to be celebrated on Wednesday, 6 January 2021, the traditional Confraternity Sunday was observed on Sunday, 3 January 2021 with Holy Mass and Adoration of the Holy Eucharist from 4 pm to 6 pm. However, for the first time in the history of the church, the tradition of grand Eucharistic Procession through the Main Road of the Moodubelle township had to be cancelled due to the restrictions imposed by the Government because of the Covid 19 pandemic.

 

The theme of this year’s Confraternity Sunday was “Eucharist Binds Faithful Parish Community”.

 

The Holy Mass was concelebrated by Fr. Baptist Menezes, Rector of the Diocesan Minor Seminary as the chief celebrant assisted by Fr. Clement Mascarenhas-Parish Priest of St. Lawrence Church, Fr. Jithesh Castelino-Assistant Parish Priest and Dr. Lawrence D’Souza-Resident Priest.

 

In his homily, Fr. Baptist Menezes highlighted the origin and significance of the church and parish communities. He also stressed on the importance of the Holy Eucharist and how it binds the parish community. He further said that the love and service that was preached and practiced by Jesus Christ should be the foundation of the parish community that holds and binds it together.

 

 

Soon after the Holy Mass, Fr. Baptist Menezes conducted the Adoration of the Holy Eucharist.

 

At the end of the Confraternity Service, the Novena prayers in honour of St. Lawrence, the Patron Saint of Moodubelle Parish were recited. 

 

As per the announcement by Fr. Clement Mascarenhas, the Vespers on the eve of the Annual Parish Feast will be held on Tuesday, 5 January at 6.30pm with the blessing of the ‘Cherel’ of St. Lawrence at the Grotto followed by Vespers service in the church.

 

The solemn feast mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, 6 January at 10 am. Candles of honour will be distributed at 9.30 am and there will be an earlier mass at 7.30 am.