Udupi: Pangla – Shankarpura parish celebrate Christmas with zeal & fervor

Pics: Johncy Digitals, Shankerpura
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 27 Dec 2015: Christmas Eve was celebrated at St John the Evangelist Church, Pangla Shankerpura in the open air with much devotion and vigor with solemn Mass concelebrated by Fr Wilfred Prakash D’Souza, principal, St Joseph’s College, Jeppu, Mangaluru along with Fr Dr Leslie D’Souza, parish priest of Pangla - Shankerpura; Fr Vincent Coelho, Fr Lawrence Mendonca, Fr Gerald D’Mello and Fr Robert Quadros.

 

The Christmas Eve celebrations started on Thursday December 24 Fat 6.30pm with singing of Christmas carols by the parishioners of different wards.  The solemn festal Mass began at 7.00pm.

 

During the homily, Fr Wilfred Prakash said, ‘The birth of Jesus is the symbol of Mary and God in this world.  Hence, Pope Francis has called on Catholics around the world to use the ongoing Jubilee Year of Mercy to open wide the doors of their hearts to forgive others. He has published a Bull, ‘Misericordiae Vultus’ the face of mercy in this regard.

 

 

Fr Dr Leslie D’Souza thanked the congregation who toiled  behind the success of the Christmas celebration.

 

After the festal Mass, a cake cutting ceremony was held and thereafter parish priest gave the Christmas message and wished the greetings of Christmas to all the parishioners and to all who have come down from abroad on holidays. To add sweetness to the programme cakes were distributed to the faithful gathered.

 

Thereafter, ICYM organized housie housie game as part of the Christmas celebration. The whole Christmas celebration concluded at 9.15pm.