Udupi: Bishop Gerald Isaac led liturgy of Good Friday at Milagres Cathedral

By Richard DSouza
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 4 Apr 2015: Milagres Cathedral of the Udupi Diocese observed Good Friday with devotion and religious fervor on Friday, 4th April, 2015. The Death of Jesus Christ on the Cross meant the salvation of all mankind. Good Friday also called as Holy Friday, Great Friday, Friday of mourning is a day of sadness, day of fasting and prayer. In Milagres Cathedral throughout the day up to 3pm large number of faithful met the Jesus where present at alter of Repose.

From 3.30pm, more than one hour the way of the cross held with much devotion in the Cathedral  and thus reflected upon the sufferings and death of Jesus. This one hour long reflection on the 14 stations of the Way of the Cross was conducted in the Cathedral itself with large faithful participation.

On Good Friday liturgy will be held as reading of the Passion of Christ, reciting a string of prayers, unveiling and veneration of the Cross and communion service. Most Rev Dr. Gerald Isaac Lobo Bishop of Udupi Diocese led the prayers in Milagres Cathedral along with Very Rev Fr. Stany B. Lobo, Rev Fr. Rolwin Joy Aranha, Rev Fr.Mahesh D’Souza and Rev Fr. Dennis Lobo. The reading of the Passion of Christ read by Very Rev Fr. Stany B. Lobo Rector, Rev Fr. Mahesh D’Souza and Prajoth D’Sa.

Rev Fr. Dennis Lobo in his homily reflected the life of Jesus on the wishes God and explained that The cross this day is our signpost, the center of our worship, and for good reason; because we embrace in a profound way its meaning, its power, and even its necessity. The cross in some small way that this instrument of suffering was also the key that unlocked for us our salvation. The cross, we affirm, was a means to an end, not an end itself. Yet for all its sorrow and pain, all its drama and tragedy, this account of Christ’s passion and death offers us something else, something that may seem contradictory. It gives us reason to hope. And it’s there in the words we just heard.

 

Prayers for various intentions followed next held by Bishop and Rector. Thereafter Fr. Stany Lobo carried the Crucifix from main entrance of the cathedral covered with white cloth to the main alter where Bishop gradually unveiled it by reciting the invocation three times. The Crucifix was venerated and first by the Bishop, priests and gathered faithful.

Next the liturgical devotion of Holy Communion followed with religious fervor.  The liturgical devotions compered by Joyce Pinto up to at the end.

The blessings of statue of Jesus Christ held by the Bishop and then proceeded towards in the procession to streets of Kallianpur in large number of devotees. The procession with the statue of Jesus took on the College Road, Kallianpur road to campus of the church to Milagres Cathedral. The arrangements during the procession, the choir throughout the liturgical services in the Cathedral and as a whole all celebration of Good Friday observation was fantastic with utmost devotion and religious fervor.