Maundy Thursday Service Held in St. Lawrence Parish, Moodubelle

By Dr. Eugene DSouza
Bellevision Media Network

MUdupi/M’Belle, 28 Mar 2024: Maundy Thursday is a solemn day observed by Christians worldwide, which holds great significance in the Christian calendar, particularly during Holy Week. It is a day that commemorates Jesus Christ’s Last Supper with his disciples and reminds us of the importance of humility, selflessness, and service to others.

 

Maundy Thursday is special for two reasons: First, Jesus celebrated the Last Supper with His disciples and thereby instituted the Lord’s Supper, also called Communion or Holy Eucharist. Second, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples as an act of humility and service, thereby setting an example that people should love and serve one another in humility.

 

Some Christian churches observe a foot-washing ceremony on Maundy Thursday to commemorate the washing of the feet of his disciples by Jesus. The word ‘Maundy’ is derived from the Latin word ‘mandamus’ which means ‘command’. Thus, the Maundy Thursday refers to the command Jesus gave to the disciples at the Last Supper, that they should love and serve one another.

 

The Holy Thursday initiates the Easter Triduum, the three days of Friday, Saturday and Sunday that commemorate the passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus. The services on all the three days normally begin in the evening. On Maundy Thursday, the Eucharist is taken to a separate place of repose away from the main altar which is laid bare. Holy Hour devotions are performed at the special place of the repose of the Holy Eucharist.

 

 

The solemnity of the Maundy Thursday was observed with great devotion by the parishioners of St. Lawrence Church, Moodubelle on 28 March 2024 from 04.30 pm to 06.30 pm. The solemn Maundy Thursday Mass was concelebrated by Fr. George D’Souza, Parish Priest of St. Lawrence Church, Moodubelle as the chief celebrants assisted by Fr. Pradeep Cardoza, Assistant Parish Priest, Fr. Charles Furtado (OFM Cap)-Rector of the Assisi Nilaya and Fr. Michael Abhilash Pereira (OFM Cap)-Professor at  Assisi Nilaya.

 

In his meaningful homily, Fr. George D’Souza  narrated the significance of Maundy Thursday with special reference to the institution of priesthood by Jesus. During his Last Supper, Jesus Christ constituted the Sacrament of Eucharist and Priesthood to commemorate the Last Supper that Jesus had with His chosen Apostles. Fr. George D’Souza said that a priest is chosen and anointed by God from among the people and for the people and as such is separated from his family and for the service of the community. He further said that Priesthood is not a profession but vocation for the service of the humanity. Fr. George D’Souza said that there are two types of priesthood-Common Priesthood to which all the faithfull belong and Ministerial Priesthood for which those with vocation undergo a long period of seminary training and are ordained priests by Bishops.

 

Following the homily, Fr. George D’Souza washed the feet of 12 chosen parishioners commemorating the washing of the  feet of the Apostles by Jesus during the Last Supper.

 

Soon after the solemn Mass, the Holy Eucharist was taken in procession to the ‘Altar of Repose’ which was specially prepared with floral decoration towards the right side of the main altar. Meanwhile, the main altar was stripped of the coverings and was left bare in memory of the sufferings and crucifixion of Jesus.

 

Fr. Pradeep Cardoza conducted the adoration service before the Holy Eucharist was taken in procession and kept in the tabernacle in the Altar of Repose.

 

Mrs. Nancy Aranha compered the different stages of the Maundy Thursday Service.