Seminar on active participation in liturgical service

By Eugene Moodubelle
Bellevision Media Network

Moodubelle, 20 September 2010: On the occasion of the Udupi Varado level meeting of the Catholic Sabha, the Moodubelle Unit of the Catholic Sabha organised a seminar on active participation in liturgical services on Sunday, 19th September 2010 at 3.30 pm in the Parish Hall. Fr. Ronald Serrao, former Director of Mangala Jyothi and presently professor in St. Joseph’s Seminary, Mangalore and an expert in liturgical studies was the resource person. The seminar was presided over by Fr. Joswey Fernandes, parish Priest of Moodubelle.

 

In his enlightening discourse Fr. Ronald Serrao said that in order to be an active participant in any liturgical service, one should understand the meaning and purpose behind every feast and celebration. Everyone has the right to participate in liturgy according to one’s own merit and need of the occasion. Further, Fr. Ronald said that religion, like politics and economics is part and parcel of our lives.

 

There has been attempts by the church to make the liturgical service more meaningful and understandable to the common people. The Second Vatican Council brought drastic changes in the liturgical service by permitting the local churches to adopt vernacular languages in liturgy. Each one has a distinct role to play in various liturgical services. Fr. Ronald pointed out that though external material aspects such as flowers and decorations are important, they are not essential in liturgical services. He also said that there has been increasingly indifference on the part of the people in liturgical services due to lack of proper understanding of the meaning and significance of these services.

 

Fr. Ronald Serrao answered many queries from the inquisitive audience and cleared many doubts about certain aspects of the liturgical service. By various anecdotes and examples Fr. Ronald kept the audience of around 250 people in rapt attention. The audience comprised of the Gurkars, representatives and volunteers from all the 22 wards.

 

 

Fr. Joswey Fernandes said that this seminar is part of the centenary programmes by which an attempt is being made to bring to the knowledge of the parishioners the importance of their active participation in the liturgical services.

 

Besides Fr. Joswey, the seminar was attended by Fr. Paul Sequeira, Fr. Lancy Saldnaha, and the office bearers of the Catholic Sabha of the Udupi Varado-Sanjay Andrade, President, Ronald D’Almeida, Vice President and Mary D’Souza, Secretary.

 

Hilda D’Souza compeered the programme, Monthu Castelino, President Moodubelle Unit of the catholic Sabha welcomed the guests, Charles Quadros introduced the resource person-Fr. Ronald Serrao, Wilma Rodrigues-Secretary of the Moodubelle Unit of the Catholic Sabha proposed the vote of thanks.