Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje / Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru/Udupi, Dec 24: Churches in and around the city brimmed with thousands of faithful as Christmas Eve Mass was celebrated with devotion and joy on Saturday December 24.
St Lawrence Church, Bondel
Rosario Cathedral
Bishop's House
With twinkling lights, stars and sparkling decorations, churches everywhere celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ. Bishop's House at Kodialbail too was adorned with cribs and lights.
Carol singing, vibrant cribs and attractive Christmas trees filled the air with much festivity.
Bishop of Mangaluru diocese Dr Aloysius Paul D'Souza celebrated the Mass at Rosario Cathedral.
Delivering the Christmas message, bishop Dr Aloysius Paul D'Souza in his homily said, "The best way to emulate Jesus is by being simple in life. Jesus was born in Bethlehem in an ordinary family though he was the Son of God. He was divine always, yet he chose to be human for the salvation of mankind. That itself explains how simple and humble we should be.
"There is no path to God unless you embrace humility. Christmas is celebration of peace. May the peace Jesus taught prevail in the world and the love he wants us to live with, be passed to all. Let us celebrate this Christmas in a meaningful way," he added.
Rosario parish priest Fr J B Crasta, Fr Vincent D’Souza, Fr Rocky Fernandes and Fr Paul Sebastian D’Souza were concelebrants in the Holy Eucharist.
At St Sebastian Church, Permannur, food and civil supplies minister U T Khader participated in the Christmas festivities and inaugurated the lightings. The overbridge at Thokkottu leading towards the church was decorated with attractive lights, sponsored by Permannur Sports Club.
Udupi
Milagres Cathedral Kallianpur of the Udupi diocese celebrated Christmas Eve with devotion, gaiety and fervour with solemn High Mass concelebrated, in the absence of the bishop, by Fr Rolwin Aranha assistant parish priest of th Cathedral of Udupi diocese, Fr Stany B Lobo, rector of the Cathedral, Fr Prakash Anil Castelino, campus director of Milagres College, Fr Henry Mascarenhas, chaplain of Ozanum Home for the Aged and estate manager of Udupi diocese, Fr Rocky Furtado Capuchin guest priest, Fr Herald Mathias and Fr Nelson Furtado of Pilar Fathers, Kallianpur.
The Christmas Eve celebrations began with the Christmas carols sung by the devoted and experienced choir team of Cathedral. The solemn High Mass began at 7.30 pm.
In his homily, Fr Rolwin Aranha said, "Jesus is with us all the time when we are in difficulty. We can experience love through forgiveness. Our God is forgiveness, peace and love. God became human and lives amongst us. God wants us to live with peace and love."
At the end of Mass, Fr Stany B Lobo expressed words of gratitude on account of Christmas celebrations. He gave the Christmas message to all parishioners.
After the mass, ICYM organized special auction of a beautiful cake for the cause of ICYM social programmes. Housie-housie game was held. Prajoth D’Sa conducted the auction of cake and housie-housie game. Prizes were distributed to the winners of the game. Prior to the auction of the cake, Catholic Sabha of parish unit distributed prizes to the elocution competition winners.
A large number of faithful flocked to the Christmas Eve celebration at Milagres Cathedral with devotion, vigour, gaiety and fervor. ICYM members prepared beautiful crib at the Cathedral campus attracted many.
Diocese of Udupi
Diocese of Mangaluru
- Holy Rosary Church, Alangar
- Our Lady of Dolours Church, Bela
- Sacred Heart Chuch, Suratkal
- Holy Cross Church, Cordel, Kulshekar
- St Joseph the Worker Church, Vamanjoor
- Christ King Church, Kayyar
- Milagres Church
- Holy Saviour Church, Agrar
- St Francis Xavier Church, Bejai
- St Sebastian Church, Permannur