Moodubelle: Christmas celebrated with traditional fervor and devotion

By Dr. Eugene DSouza, Moodubelle
Bellevision Media Network

Moodubelle, 24 Dec 2013: As every year, Christmas was celebrated with traditional fervor and  devotion in St. Lawrence Church, Moodubelle in the evening  from 7 pm on 24 December 2013. As one entered the church premises, he or she could view the façade of the church decorated with colourful lights. The other attraction was the Crib with all the details put together by the YCS under the direction of Assistant Spiritual Director-Fr. Robert Lasrado (OFM-Cap), John Castelino-animator and under the leadership of Joy Fernandes-President of the YCS along with other members-Rolvin, Leston and Aiden.

 

Carol singing began at 7 pm. The choir sang beautifully  as the children enacted the tableau of the birth of Jesus. The choir was trained by Fr. Paul Sequeira and the tableau was directed by  Sr. Irene Viegas. The choir singing and the presentation of the tableau depicted the spirit of the Christmas.

 

The solemn Christmas Mass began at 7.30 pm. Rev. Fr. Joswey Fernandes led the concelebration of the Christmas Mass along with Fr. Paul Sequeira, Fr. P. Raj, Fr. Robert Lasrado and Fr. William D’Souza. During the ‘Gloria’, Rev. Fr. Joswey Fernandes  unveiled the statue of Infant Jesus and placed it on the specially arranged stand in front of the main altar.

 

 

In his homily Fr. Robert Lasrado (OFM-Cap) said that God could have loved humanity from heaven, but he preferred to come down to earth and become a human being so that He could love humankind and redeem it from sin and death.

 

Rev. Fr. Joswey Fernandes conveyed greetings of Christmas to all the parishioners.

 

After the Mass and the kissing of the statue of Baby Jesus by the faithful, the priests proceeded to the Crib. After a brief introduction, Fr. Paul blessed the Crib.

 

Christmas  joy could be seen in the church premise as the  faithful could be seen greeting each other and spreading the Christmas  message of love and peace.

The ICYM organized the auctioning of the Star shaped Christmas Cake sponsored by John and Dulcin Mendonca of Divy Bakery. After hectic bidding finally the cake was claimed by Sandip and Lavina Fernandes of St. Anne I Ward for an amount of Rs. 22,000/-. The game of Housie was later conducted by the ICYM members.

 

Vinay Kumar Sorake, Urban Development Minister of the Karnataka Government paid a visit to the church and conveyed Christmas Greetings to Rev. Fr. Joswey Fernandes, other priests and those who were present in the church premises. Mrs. Ida Gibba D’Souza, A.G. D’Souza and Alphonse Alva-Vice President of the Parish Pastoral Council were present during the visit of the minister.