Moodubelle Parishioners Celebrate Titular Feast of their Patron Saint Lawrence

By Dr. Eugene DSouza
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi/M’Belle, 10 Aug 2024: The titular feast of St. Lawrence was celebrated with great devotion and fervor in St. Lawrence Church, Moodubelle on Saturday, 10 August 2023 at 10 am. The morning was free from rain which made the celebration of the feast more convenient to the devotees of St. Lawrence. Parishioners with their best attires made their way to the church in large numbers occupying every seat within and outside the church.

 

Prior to the solemn feast mass,  Rev. Fr. George D’Souza, Parish Priest of Moodubelle distributed the Candles of Honour to all mud-dhoms as well as to those who had donated to the renovation of the Presbytery. Charles Quadros, Secretary of the Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) read out the names. 

 

The solemn feast mass was concelebrated by the former Assistant Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Pradeep Cardoza, presently Assistant Parish Priest of the Milagres Cathedral, Kallianpur as the chief celebrant along with Rev. Fr. George D’Souza-Parish Priest of Moodubelle, Rev. Fr. Rickson Monteiro, Assistant Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Chalres Menezes-Dean of Udupi Deanery, Rev. Fr. Joswey Fernandes-Former Parish Priest of Moodubelle, presentlly Parish Priest of Yermal  and priests from the Udupi Deanery and guest priests. Altogether there were 25 priests.

In his homily, Rev. Fr. Pradeep Cardoza stressed on the theme of service to the church and people; importance of prayer; and living among the people. He pointed out that the life of St. Lawrence clearly manifests these three valuable virtues. St. Lawrence was a man of service who served the church and the people, especially those who were poor and marginalized. He selflessly served the then Pope Sixtus II. He was the custodian of the property and wealth of the church which he eventually distributed to the  poor and destitute. Fr. Pradeep further said that St. Lawrence was a man of prayer who prayed till the end of his life as a martyr who was roasted alive on  gridiron on the orders of the Roman Emperor Valerian. St. Lawrence lived among the people, served them and loved them. Concluding the homily, Rev. Fr. Pradeep Cardoza made an appeal to the parishioners saying that by following the example of St. Lawrence we should serve the church and the people, pray and live among the people.

At the end of the solemn festive Mass Rev. Fr. Charles Menezes, Dean of Udupi Deanery distributed decorated candles of honour to the sponsors of the Titular feast and to those who had donated Rs.50,000 and more to the renovation of the Presbytery.  

 

Rev. Fr. George D’Souza conveyed the greetings of the Titular Feast to all the parishioners and thanked each and every one who had supported and contributed in the celebration of the Titular Feast.

 

Rev. Fr. Charles Menezes, Dean of the Udupi Deanery conveyed the greetings of the titular feast to Rev Fr. George D’Souza, the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Rickson Monteiro-the Assistant Parish Priest and all the parishioners.