Easter Vigil and Feast Celebrated with devotion and fervour in St. Lawrence Church, Moodubelle
By Dr. Eugene DSouza
Bellevision Media Network
Udupi/M’Belle, 30 Mar 2024: Prior to the solemn Easter Mass, the most important moment of Holy Saturday is the Easter Vigil which is also known as the Paschal Vigil or the Great Vigil of Easter which is usually observed prior to the solemn Easter Mass. The Easter Vigil Liturgy in the Roman Catholic Church is the most beautiful and meaningful.
The Easter Vigil is divided into four parts: Service of Light, Liturgy of the Word, Liturgy of Baptism, and Liturgy of the Eucharist.
The Easter Vigil and solemn feast Mass proclaiming the Resurrection of Jesus Christ was observed in St. Lawrence Church, Moodubelle on Saturday, 30 March 2024 from 07 pm to 09.30 pm. At 07 pm. Prior to the beginning of the Service of the New Light, all lights in the church were put off as the congregation gathered in front of the church. Outside the church, a fire was ignited which was blessed by Fr. Pradeep Cardoza, the Assistant Parish Priest of St. Lawrence Church, Moodubelle along with Fr. George D’Souza, the Parish Priest, Fr. Charles Furtado (OFM Cap)-Rector of Assisi Nilaya and Fr. Michael Abhilash Pereira (OFM Cap)-Professor in Assisi Nilaya. Fr. George D’Souza and Fr. Pradeep Cardoza prepared the Paschal Candle symbolizing the Risen Christ with these words and carvings on the candle.
The Paschal Candle was prepared with these words while Fr. Pradeep Cardoza marked the candle: “Christ yesterday and today (vertical arm of the cross),the Beginning and the End (horizontal arm of the cross), the Alpha (alpha above the cross) and the Omega (omega below the cross), All time belongs to him (numeral 2 in upper left corner of cross) and all the ages (numeral 0 in upper right corner of cross), to him be glory and power (numeral 2 in lower left corner), through every age and forever. Amen (numeral 4 in lower right corner) indicating the year 2024.
Thereafter, Fr. Pradeep Cardoza inserted five grains of incense into the candle in the form of a cross, meanwhile saying: “By his holy and glorious wounds, may Christ the Lord guard us and protect us. Amen”.
Next, Fr. Pradeep Cardoza lighted the candle from the new fire, saying: “May the light of Christ, rising in glory, dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds”.
The lighted Paschal candle was then processed through the church with the celebrant lifting the candle at three different times singing: ’The Light of Christ’ and the congregation sang in reply: ’Thanks be to God’. The Paschal candle symbolizes Christ, the Light of the World was placed on a decorated stand.
Fr. Pradeep Cardoza sang the Easter Song of the Catholic Church: the Exultate (Easter Proclamation). This magnificent hymn, which is remarkable for its lyric beauty and profound symbolism, announces the dignity and meaning of the mystery of Easter. It tells of man’s sin, of God’s mercy and of the great love of the Redeemer for mankind, admonishing us in turn to thank the Trinity for all the graces that have been lavished upon us.
The solemn Easter festive Mass was concelebrated by Fr. George D’Souza as the main celebrant.
During the Easter vigil, five readings-four from the Old Testament and a passage from the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans followed by the Gospel from New Testament were read.
In his homily, Fr. George D’Souza Lobo highlighted the significance of Easter and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ in the background of St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans and the Gospel according to St. Mark..
Following the homily, the Litany of the Saints was recited by Fr. Pradeep Cardoza and blessed the Holy Water. Fr. George D’Souza administered the renewal of the Baptismal Promises to the faithful. Later, the faithful were sprinkled with the newly blessed holy water.
The solemn Easter Mass continued and ended at 09 pm. Fr. George D’Souza conveyed the greetings of Easter to all the parishioners.
While Pritish D’Sa-Vice President of PPC read the general introduction to the Easter Vigil, Vayona Lobo compered the various readings and phases of the Easter Vigil and Festive Mass.