Palm Sunday observed in St. Lawrence Parish Moodubelle with devotion

By Dr. Eugene DSouza
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi/M’Belle, 24 Mar 2024: The Palm Sunday liturgy was observed with great devotion in St. Lawrence Church, Moodubelle on Sunday, 24 March 2024 with procession to the Cross Hill at 07.30am followed by prayer service and blessing of palms led by Fr. George D’Souza, Parish Priest of St. Lawrence Church, Moodubelle and accompanied by Fr. Raymond D’Souza-native of Moodubelle prsently serving in Prayag Diocese (UP), Fr. Charles Furtado-Rector of Assisi Nilaya and Fr. Pradeep Cardoza, Assistant Parish Priest.

 

Following the blessing of the palms on the Cross Hill, people retuned to the church as the choir sang the hymn commemorating the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.

 

The Solemn Mass of the Palm Sunday was concelebrated by Fr. George D’Souza as the chief celebrant.

 

The Passion Gospel was read by Fr. George D’Souza, Fr. Pradeep Cardoza and Fr. Raymond D’Souza. Fr. Pradeep Cardoza read the narration, Fr. George D’Souza read the passages uttered by Jesus and Fr. Raymond D’Souza read the passages uttered by other characters in the Holy Gospel.

 

 

The homily of Palm Sunday was delivered by Fr. Pradeep Cardoza. In this homily, Fr. Pradeep stressed on the significance of the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem and the Passion of Jesus as narrated in the Holy Gospel according to St. Mark. Fr. Pradeep compared the significance of the Palm Sunday and the Good Friday. He juxtaposed the events of Palm Sunday and Good Friday. Fr. Pradeep said that on Palm Sunday Jesus was taken in jubilant procession to Jerusalem, but on Good Friday he was taken  away from Jerusalem in humiliation. On Palm Sunday, Jesus was carried by a donkey, but on Good Friday Jesus carried a wooden Cross on his back. On Palm Sunday, the people hailed Jesus with the slogan of ‘Hosanna’, but on Good Friday the same people raised the cry of ‘Crucify Him’.

 

At the end of the mass. Fr. George D’Souza announced the schedule of the service during the Holy Week. The Maundy  Thursday, 28 March and Good Friday, 29 March services will commence at 4.30 pm. There will be Way of the Cross on Friday at 10 am. The Easter Vigil Service will start at 7 pm on Saturday, 30 March followed by solemn Easter Festive Mass. On Easter Sunday, 31 March there will be two Masses- frist at 07.30 am and second at 10 am.