Udupi/M’Belle: Confraternity Sunday observed in preparation for the Annual Parish Feast

By Eugene DSouza
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 02 Jan 2017: Confraternity Sunday in preparation of the Annual Parish Feast was observed with solemn mass, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Eucharistic Procession on Sunday, 1 January 2017 from 4 pm to 6 pm. Fr. Royel Nazareth(Holy Cross), Director of Holy Cross Minor Seminary, Katapadi was the chief celebrant of the holy mass. He also conducted the adoration and carried the Blessed Sacrament on a decorated van.

 

The holy mass was concelebrated by Fr. Royel Nazareth along with Fr. Clement Mascarenhas, Fr. Lawrence Cutinha, Fr. Reginald Pinto, Fr. Naresh Lobo, Fr. William Andrade (OFM Cap), Msgr. Mathew D’Souza, Fr. Edwin D’Souza and Fr. Denis Castelino.

 

In his homily, Fr. Royel Nazareth stressed upon the parish family. Giving the analogy of cooperation and coordination of different parts of the body , Fr. Royel said that all the members of the community should cooperate and work to build a strong and united parish family. Confraternity Sunday is observed as the parish family solidarity Sunday and also an occasion to venerate the Blessed Sacrament and the Eucharistic Procession through the roads of the township.  While there is  a strong need for the unity and solidarity, cooperation and coordination of the parish family, Fr. Royel Nazareth pointed out that nowadays families are not only building walls and creating compounds around their houses, but also build barriers around their hearts preventing them from interacting with one another. This has weakened the bond of unity among the people. Fr. Royel further said that, it is high time that people forget and forgive the minor irritants that have created misunderstanding and hostility among the neighbours and other fellow humans and live in peace and harmony and strengthen the unity and solidarity of the parish community.

 

Soon after the mass Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament was conducted by Fr. Royel Nazareth.

 

 

Following the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, the grand Eucharistic procession  commenced. The brass band playing tunes of various hymns led the procession. The choir sang the Eucharistic hymns throughout the procession both in Konkani and Kannada. The procession passed by the side of the cemetery, took right turn at Syndicate Bank and proceeded to the main road and taking right turn again passed through the main road and entered the church compound through the main gate. Five men and five women in uniform dress carried  colourful canopies preceding the decorated van in which Fr. Royel Nazareth held the Blessed Sacrament. The van was sponsored by Vincent Fernandes, the newly elected Vice President of the Parish Pastoral Council and was decorated by Clement Castelino.

 

The entire route of the procession was decorated with buntings. ICYM members and some members of the Parish Pastoral Council had participated in the decoration of the procession route.

 

After the entire congregation reassembled in the church following the Eucharistic procession, Fr. Royel Nazareth conferred the Sacramental blessing.

 

Fr. Clement Mascarenhas thanked Fr. Royel Nazareth for conducting the liturgy of the Confraternity Sunday. He also conveyed greetings to Fr. Edwin D’Souza  for completing 80 years  and Fr. Denis Castelino for completing 47 years of his ordination on 1 January 2017.