M’belle: Jesu Rai Ward celebrates the Feast of Christ the King

By Eugene Moodubelle
Bellevision Media Network

Moodubelle, 20 November 2011: On the occasion of the Feast of Christ the King, the Jesu Rai Ward celebrated the Ward Feast on Sunday, November 20, 2011 at 12.15 pm at the residence of Andrew Gilbert  and Mrs. Ida D’Souza who sponsored the Ward get-together.

After the prayer service, a brief stage programme was organised which was presided over by Rev. Fr. Jowey Fernandes, parish priest of Belle. On this occasion, Fr. Maximmm Pinto (OFM-Cap), Sr. Vineetha-Superior of the Loreto Convent and Alphonse K Alva-vice president of the Parish Pastoral Council extended their warm greetings to the members of the Jesu Rai Ward on the occasion of the Feast of Christ the King.

 

 

In his message, Fr. Joswey Fernandes traced the origin of the Feast of Christ the King and emphasised oon its significance in the modern day church.

 

Pope Pius XI instituted the Feast of Christ the King in 1925, in response to growing nationalism and secularism. The title of the feast was ’Our Lord Jesus Christ the King’, and the feast was celebrated on the last Sunday of the month of October - the Sunday, that is, which immediately precedes the Feast of All Saints.

 

In Pope John XXIII’s 1960 revision of the Calendar, the date and title remained the same and in the new simpler ranking of feasts, it was classified as a feast of the first class.

 

In 1969, Pope Paul VI gave the celebration a new title: ’Our Lord Jesus Christ King of the Universe’. He also gave it a new date: the last Sunday in the liturgical year, before a new year begins with the First Sunday in Advent. 

 

As A.G. D’Souza and Mrs. Ida Gibba D’Souza, both belonging to the ward were elected as members of the Belle Grama Panchayat and Udupi Zilla Panchayat respectively, they were felicitated by Fr. Joswey Fernandes and Fr. Maxim Pinto respectively.

 

Johnson Miranda conducted few games t entertain the gathering. Mrs. Lilly Lobo compeered the programme and welcomed the guests. Immanuel Cornelio proposed the vote of thanks. Mrs. Jacinta Lobo, Gurkarn of the Jesu Rai Ward was on the dais along with the guests.