Moodubelle: In spite of heavy rains, Belleans celebrate the Feast of St. Lawrence with great enthus

By Dr. Eugene DSouza, Moodubelle
Pictures by Anil Alva
Bellevision Media Network

Moodubelle, 10 Aug 2012: Taking advantage of the respite from the incessant rains, Belleans thronged the church to participate in the solemn  Mass on the occasion of the celebration of  the feast of their Patron Saint, St. Lawrence on Friday, August 10, 2012.

 

Prior to the feast Mass, Rev. Fr. Joswey Fernandes, Parish Priest of Moodueblle distributed candles to the Murdoms as the Secretary of the Parish Pastoral Council, Mrs. Jacintha D’Souza read out the names of the sponsorers.

 

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The feast mass began at 10.15 am with the procession of the Altar Servers followed by the priests, Rev. Fr. Alban D’Souza, Parish priest of Kalmady being the chief celebrant.  As the procession entered the church, Alphonse K. Alva, Vice President of the Parish Pastoral Council in his introduction welcomed  the chief celebrant and the guest priests from the Udupi Varado as well as other parishes.

 

In a powerful homily, Rev. Fr. Alban D’Souza narrated the episodes from the Old Testament especially from the Book of Maccabees and the lives of  the early martyrs of the church including St. Lawrence, the Patron Saint of Belle emphasizing the need of strong faith.  He said that the martyrs of the early church gave witness to their faith through shedding their blood.

 

 

Rev. Fr. Alban D’Souza  said that we are grateful not only to the martyrs of the church for being witnesses of strong faith but also our ancestors who had kept our faith alive and passed it to us. It is our responsibility to transmit this faith to our children and their children. Continuing further, Fr. Alban said that there are many dangers to our faith due to the complexities of the modern technological and competitive world. There has been signs of the youth becoming more and more directionless and increasing instances of divorces breaking marriages and creating tensions in the families. He stressed upon the need to strengthen our faith and bear witness to Christ.

 

The choir ably trained by  Fr. Paul Sequeira, led by Mrs. Matilda Quadros and conducted by Christopher D’Souza rendered all the hymns in melodious voice that lifted the spirit of the faithful and enhanced the solemnity of the feast. The ICYM volunteers in their uniform helped in maintaining vehicular discipline outside and  ushered the priests to the respective Communion distributing points.

 

At the end of the Mass, Rev. Fr. Joswey Fernandes conveyed the greetings of the feast to all parishioners in Belle as well as abroad. He thanked Rev. Fr. Alban D’Souza for being the chief celebrant and giving a powerful and meaningful homily. He also thanked  the office bearers and members of the Parish Pastoral Council, the Choir for their excellent singing,  ICYM  for their work, all Murdoms and sponsorers and the parishioners.

 

Devotees of St. Lawrence were also seen offering candles in front of the shrine for receiving favours from the saint.

 

As the feast Mass was in progress there was rain which continued even after the end of the feast Mass. While those who had their vehicles could return home without much trouble to  have social celebration of the feast, others had to depend on buses or rickshaws  to make their way home and celebrate the feast at home.