Udupi: Reverence and Devotion to Christ the King mark the Annual Diocesan Eucharistic Procession

By Dr. Eugene DSouza
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 20 Nov 2016: Thousands of people from different parishes of Udupi Diocese participated in the annual Diocesan Eucharistic Procession on the occasion of the feast of Christ the King on Sunday, 20 November 2016. Prior to the procession at 4.30 pm solemn mass was concelebrated by Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo along with Rev. Msgr. Baptist Menezes-Vicar General of the diocese, Rev. Fr. Fred Mascarenhas-Parish Priest of Mother of Sorrows Church and Dean of Udupi Varado hosting the annual Diocesan Eucharistic Procession and around 70 priests from different parishes and religious congregations of the diocese.

 

The seating arrangement for the mass was made in the premises of Mother of Sorrows Church that was divided into fourteen sectors.

 

The theme of this year’s Diocesan Eucharistic Procession was “Eucharist, Sacrament of Love, Forgiveness and Unity”.

 

Soon after the mass, Rev. Fr. Fred Mascarenhas expressed gratitude to all those who had helped in organizing the Annual Diocesan Eucharistic Procession. Bishop Gerald Lobo honoured those parishes and individuals who had donated Rs.5,000/- and above to organize the procession and those who had made arrangement of the decorated vehicle  in which the Bishop would hold the Blessed Sacrament during the procession.

 

Rev. Fr. Royson Fernandes-Assistant Parish Priest of Udupi conducted brief adoration prior to the grand Diocesan Procession.

 

The Eucharistic Procession commenced at 6.10pm as the people moved out of the premises holding lighted candles distributed by volunteers and singing hymns. Meanwhile, the choir continued singing Eucharistic hymns till the end of the procession.  The entire procession took around one hour twenty minutes.

 

The entire route of the procession was decorated by buntings and banners by the volunteers from Udupi, Kuntalnagar, Udyavar and Moodubelle. Around 200 volunteers from different parishes trained by Prof. Vincent Alva of Pamboor and Vincent Fernandes from Moodubelle were posted at different intervals en route of the procession.

 

Around 200 altar servers from different parishes, priests and Sixty volunteers from nine parishes of Udupi Varado holding colourful umbrellas preceded the vehicle carrying the Bishop with the Blessed Sacrament. The procession was accompanied by brass bands from St. Joseph’s School, Belman and St. Francis Xavier School, Udyavar.

 

Rev. Fr. Denis D’Sa-Parish Priest of Kuntalnagar and PRO of the Udupi Diocese compered the entire proceedings right from the solemn mass to the end of the procession narrating the importance of the feast of the Christ the King and the significance of the Annual Diocesan Eucharistic Procession.

 

Prayer of dedication of the faithful of the diocese was recited collectively by the entire congregation led by the Bishop.

 

 

Those parishes which have collected highest Mission Sunday donations were honoured by the Bishop. These parishes include: Highest total collection-St. Lawrence Church, Moodubelle (First),  Mother of Sorrows Church, Udupi (Second),  Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Kanajar(Third),, St. Lawrence Mnor basilica, Attur (Fourth), St. John the Evangelist Church, Pangala (Fifth). Among the parishes that had maximum per head collection included: St. Antony Church, Kuntalnagar(First), Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Nakre (Second), Mother of Sorrows Chruch, Udupi(Third), Our lady of Lourdes Church, Kanajar(Fourth) and St. Lawrence Minor Basilica, Attur (Fifth).

 

In concluding remarks Bishop Gerald Lobo said that the Year of Mercy has come to a conclusion. However, the spirit of the Year of the Mercy should continue. He appreciated the enormous and enthusiastic response of the people, priests and religious of the diocese to the Annual Eucharistic Procession.

 

Reverence and devotion marked the Annual Eucharistic Procession. There was perfect discipline during and after the mass as well as during the entire procession. Excellent arrangements were made to provide all kinds of facilities to the people including drinking water and refreshments at the end of the entire programme that lasted till 8 pm. People from different parishes had come in large numbers through their own private vehicles as well as busses arranged by the parishes.