Pangla - Shankerpura parish celebrates Christmas Eve
By John Rodrigues
Bellevision Media Network
Udupi, 26 Dec 2016: Christmas Eve was celebrated at St John the Evangelist Church, Pangla - Shankerpura, near here in the open-air with much devotion and vigor on Saturday, December 24.
Fr Dr Augustine Mendonca, clergy from Canada along with Fr Dr Leslie D’Souza, Pangla – Shankerpura parish priest, PU College principal Fr Vincent Coelho, Fr Lawrence Mendonca, and Deacon Roy Lobo celebrated the solemn Holy Mass here on Saturday evening.
The Christmas Eve celebrations started at 6.30pm with Christmas carols sung by the members of the different wards with their melodious voice. The solemn High Mass began at 7.00 pm. Fr Leslie D’Souza expressed words of gratitude to all the parishioners who toiled for the success of the Christmas Celebration.
The newly-elected office bearers of parish council and finance Committee took oath and signed the documents.
After the Holy 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 celebrations. The whole Christmas celebrations came to an end at 9.15pm.