Palm Sunday Observed with great Devotion in Moodubelle

Report and Pictures by Anil Alva
Bellevision Media Network

Moodubelle, 28 March 2010: Palm Sunday, commemorating the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem was observed with great devotion at St. Lawrence Church, Moodubelle on 28th March 2010. At 8am people from the church carrying coconut palm leaves went in procession to the Cross Hill accompanied by the Altar Servers and Fr. Paul Sequeira as the chief celebrant along with Fr. Joswey Fernandes and Fr. Maxim D’Souza who had worn dark red vestments. Fr. Paul blessed the palms. Thereafter, people, the Altar Servers and the priests returned in procession through the main road back to the church singing hymns. The Palm Sunday Mass was also offered by Fr. Paul as the chief celebrant assisted by Fr. Joswey Fernandes and Fr. Maxim D’Souza.

Palm Sunday is observed on Sunday before the Easter Sunday. This liturgical observance reminds the people the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem few days before His passion, death and resurrection. In most of the Christian churches, Palm Sunday is observed by distributing palm leaves. In coastal regions of Karnataka and other parts of India, usually coconut palm leaves are blessed and distributed to the faithful. In Gulf countries date palm leaves are used on this day. In those countries where any kind of palms is not available branches of other native trees are used for the ceremonies. Hence, in some places the Palm Sunday is also known as ‘Branch Sunday’.

According to the Gospels, Jesus sent two disciples to the village to get a donkey on which no one had ridden. Jesus then rode the donkey into Jerusalem. The assembled crowds lining the streets laid down their cloaks in front of him and also laid down small branches of trees singing “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”

In the Roman Catholic Church, as well as many Anglican churches, palm leaves are blessed outside the church building followed by a procession which may include the normal liturgical procession of clergy and acolytes, parish choir, children of the parish or the entire congregation as in the churches of the East.

Usually, the palms are saved in many churches to be burned the following year to prepare ashes to be distributed during the Ash Wednesday services. The Roman Catholic Church considers the palms to be sacramental. The vestments for the day are deep scarlet red, the colour of blood, indicating the supreme redemptive sacrifice Christ was entering the city who welcomed him to fulfil His Passion, death and Resurrection.