Pics: Stany Bantwal

Media Release

Mangaluru, Aug 5: The fifth day Novena prior to the feast of St Lawrence was held at Bondel Church.

The theme of the day was 'The transfiguration of Jesus: The Word of God & the grace of God transforms family'.

Fr Robert D'Souza, principal, Lourdes Central School, Bejai was the main celebrant, and Fr Andrew Leo D'Souza and Fr Lancy D’Souza con-celebrated the mass.

Fr Robert D'Souza called on the devotees of St Lawrence and said, "Today’s feast reminds us that we can also have our own transfiguration experience today. We can transfigure ourselves in Christ.

The four Lessons for today are His Divinity-Jesus has two natures — God and man, a divine nature and a human nature.The union of Christ’s deity and humanity in one person makes it such that we have all that we need in the same Savior, let us make three tents - Peter as one that emanated from a selfless heart. His sole concern at that moment in time was for others. We can appreciate the human reaction of a man setting his own needs and comfort aside, a voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.”- Jesus was confirmed by his Father and had affirmed his role in the salvation story. We can also have our own transfiguration experience today. We can transfigure ourselves in Christ and as they were coming down the mountain - a mountain is a symbol of our journey toward God.The “mountain” we are called to go up is first and foremost prayer. Unless we go up that mountain with our Lord, we will be ill-equipped to fulfill His divine commission. We will be insufficiently prepared to bring His love and mercy to a world in need. We are called to experience the encounter with Christ so that, enlightened by his light, we can take it and make it shine everywhere."

The melodious choir was from Revelations, Bondel under the leadership of Dr Suraj Noronha. Special prayers offered for all the parents of the families.