Udupi: 15 children receive First Holy Communion at St. John Evangelist Church Pangla

By Alphonse Mendonsa
Bellevision Media Network

Shankerpura, 03 May 2016: Rev. Fr. Ronald Rodrigues from Pangla now a priest in Luknow Diocese administered First Holy Communion on Sunday the 1st May 2016 at St. John Evangelist Church Pangla.

 

The fifteen children dressed in snow white dress with candles entered the church in procession along with their parents.

 

The Holy Eucharist Mass was concelebrated by Rev. Fr. Vincent Coello, Principal PU College along with Rev. Fr. Ronald Rodrigues and Rev. Fr. Jerald D’Mello.

 

 

In his brief Homily Fr. Vincent Coello highlighted the very famous hymn “ What a friend we have in Jesus “ written by Joseph M. Scriven as a poem in 1855 to comfort his mother who was living in Ireland while he was in Canada. The death of Scriven’s girlfriend brought immense sorrow to Scriven and he lost interest in everything and went into seclusion. However in sorrow he finally found Jesus and wrote this beautiful poem to comfort his mother who was worried about her son which eventually turned out to be the most important hymn of Roman Catholics.

 

Fr. Coello also sang the hymn in konkani (Dulob Mogal Ixta) along with Children of First Holy Communion and requested them to sing this hymn everyday to honour Jesus Chirst.  Link of this beautiful and holy hymn lyrics and musical notations given below.
https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/789

 

Fr. Jerald D’Mello blessed the Rosarys and Scapulars and distributed to the children wherein parents helped them wear.

 

A group photo session was held at the end of the Holy Mass.