Udupi/M’belle: The Titular Feast of St. Lawrence was celebrated with great fervour and devotion


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By Alphonse Mendonsa
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi/M’belle, 10 Aug 2015:  The Titular Feast of St. Lawrence (Tharikechem Festh) was celebrated with great fervour and devotion by the parishioners of Moodubelle on Wednesday, 10 August 2015 at 10.30 am. Rev. Fr. Lawrence D’Souza, the director of Catholic Education Society of Udupi Diocese, was the chief celebrant of the solemn Feast Mass along with Rev. Fr. Fred Mascarenhas – Deanery Udupi Diocese; Rev. Fr. Valerian Mendonsa – Chancellor – Udupi Diocese, Rev. Fr. Clement Mascarenhas – Parish Priest of Moodubelle Parish and 20 priests from the neighboring parishes concelebrated the mass.


Before the commencement of the solemn Feast Mass, Alphonse Alva, Vice President of the Parish Pastoral Council welcomed the guests, priests and parishioners to the Titular Feast of St. Lawrence, the patron saint of the Moodubelle parish.

 

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In his introductory remarks, Rev Fr Lawrence D’Souza, the chief celebrant of the Feast Mass emphasized the greatness of St. Lawrence in the church and highlighted his virtues and exhorted the parishioners to emulate his example.

 

In his meaningful homily Fr. Lawrence mentioned about three duties St. Lawrence performed with great devotion and dedication. First was St. Lawrence was a deacon and served the pope with great devotion and performed all the duties entitled to him. Secondly, he served the poor as Jesus taught that his goal was to Serv the people and look after the poor and downtrodden. The third was his Martyrdom. Until the last breath of his life he adored Jesus and boldly faced the death. He said the laity should follow these virtues throughout their life. He further said that if St. Lawrence embraced martyrdom, it was chiefly due to the fact that he had great faith in God and love of the church.


A large number of parishioners attended the Titular Feast of their patron saint, St. Lawrence.  Prior to the Feast Mass, candles of honour were distributed from 10 am to 10.25 am by Fr. Clement Mascarenhas, parish priest to all the ‘Murdoms’ (sponsors).


The choir trained by Fr. Paul Sequeira sang all the hymns in melodious tune that raised the spirit of the congregation.


Following the end of the Feast Mass, Fr. Clement Mascarenhas, on behalf of the priests, extended best wishes of the Titular Feast of St. Lawrence to all the parishioners including all those who are working and residing in other parts of India and different countries of the world. He thanked the chief celebrant of the solemn Feast Mass, Rev. Fr. Lawrence D’Souza and for his meaningful homily and all the priests for participating in the Feast Mass. He also thanked the Parish Pastoral Council , Liturgical Committee, choir and all the volunteers.


The special candles were distributed for all the sponsors of the feast.  Also it was the 60th B’day of Ms. Helen Rebello who donated the flowers for the alter decoration and also she has initiated the garden to the church surroundings.  Fr. Clement Mascarenhas thanked her for her generocity and wished her Happy B’day and God’s blessings.


Also on the occasion Rev. Fr. Charles Menezes was honoured as he has been recently elected as the International director of ICYM.  He was honoured by Fr. Fred Mascarenhas – Deanery Udupi Diocese. 


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About St. Lawrence:


The esteem in which the Church holds St. Lawrence is seen in the fact that today’s celebration ranks as a feast. We know very little about his life. He is one of those whose martyrdom made a deep and lasting impression on the early Church and celebration of his feast day spread rapidly.

 

St. Lawrence was a Roman deacon under Pope St. Sixtus II. Four days after this pope was put to death, Lawrence and four clerics suffered martyrdom, probably during the persecution of the Emperor Valerian.

 

Legendary details of his death were known to Damasus, Prudentius, Ambrose and Augustine. The church built over his tomb became one of the seven principal churches in Rome and a favourite place for Roman pilgrimages.

 

A well-known legend has persisted from earliest times. As deacon in Rome, Lawrence was charged with the responsibility for the material goods of the Church, and the distribution of alms to the poor. When Lawrence knew he would be arrested like the pope, he sought out the poor, widows and orphans of Rome and gave them all the money he had on hand, selling even the sacred vessels to increase the sum.When the prefect of Rome heard of this, he imagined that the Christians must have considerable treasure. He sent for Lawrence and said, “You Christians say we are cruel to you, but that is not what I have in mind. I am told that your priests offer in gold, that the sacred blood is received in silver cups, that you have golden candlesticks at your evening services. Now, your doctrine says you must render to Caesar what is his. Bring these treasures—the emperor needs them to maintain his forces. God does not cause money to be counted: He brought none of it into the world with him—only words. Give me the money, therefore, and be rich in words.”

 

Lawrence replied that the Church was indeed rich. “I will show you a valuable part. But give me time to set everything in order and make an inventory.” After three days he gathered a great number of blind, lame, maimed, leprous, orphaned and widowed persons and put them in rows. When the prefect arrived, Lawrence simply said, “These are the treasure of the Church.”

 

The prefect was so angry he told Lawrence that he would indeed have his wish to die—but it would be by inches. He had a great gridiron prepared, with coals beneath it, and had Lawrence’s body placed on it. After the martyr had suffered the pain for a long time, the legend concludes, he made his famous cheerful remark, “It is well done. Turn me over!”

 

 

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Comments on this Article
Lucy Rodrigues, Moodubelle/Mumbai Thu, August-13-2015, 2:12
Thank you for the report and beautiful pics. May our Patron St. Lawrence bless us all.
Vincent Lobo, Moodubellle Wed, August-12-2015, 1:15
First of all i wish my parishioner Happy Feast. I wonder why why there is comments on this report May be people of Belle don t like our church or its officials May be B/V is hiding something?
Valerian, Moodubelle Wed, August-12-2015, 10:46
Thank you Alphonse for the wonderful Pictures and report. keep it up.
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