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Udupi : Good Friday commemorating the passion and crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary was observed with great devotion by huge faithful at Milagres Cathedral, Kallianpur of Udupi Diocese on Friday, 30^th March, 2018.

The Good Friday service and liturgy is divided into four parts. The first part comprised of the reading from Scriptures including the Passion of the Lord according to the Gospel of St. John, Prayers for the Intentions of the Church, Veneration of the Cross and the Holy Communion.

At the outset, Bishop Most Rev Dr. Gerald Isaac Lobo, Very Rev Fr. Stany B. Lobo Rector of the Cathedral, Rev Fr. Rolwin Aranha, Rev Fr. Henry Mascarenhas, Rev Fr. Herald Mathias and Rev Fr. Nelson Furtado came in procession at the start of the liturgy and prostrated in front of the bare alter for a minute.

Following the initial scripture readings, the passion of the Christ was animated from the Gospel of St. John by Rev Fr. Rolwin Aranha as the narrator, Rev Fr. Stany B. Lobo as Jesus and Nelson Lewis as other characters in the Gospel and as crowd.

In his Good Friday homily, Rev Fr. Herald Mathias pointed out regarding the meaning of Cross and importance of Cross. The Cross is something important. We should truly believe that the Cross should mean life and not just death, hope and not just fear, engagement and not withdrawal. Cross is the sign of Hope and Cross is sign of Love and is the ladder to heaven.

Soon after the homily, Bishop Gerald and Fr Stany recited prayers for the various intentions of the Church.

The General Intercessions conclude the Liturgy of the Word. The ten intercessions cover these areas:

For the Church

For the Pope

For the clergy and laity of the Church

For those preparing for Baptism

For the unity of Christians

For the Jewish people

For those who do not believe in Christ

For those who do not believe in God

For all in public office

For those in special need.

As the third part of the Good Friday, Rev Fr. Rolwin Aranha brought the shrouded Crucifix to the main alter where Bishop unveiled it in three phases and paid respect through kneeling and kissing the Crucifix. This was followed by paying respect to the Crucifix by the priests and huge faithful.

The General Intercessions conclude the Liturgy of the Word. The ten intercessions cover these areas:

For the Church

For the Pope

For the clergy and laity of the Church

For those preparing for Baptism

For the unity of Christians

For the Jewish people

For those who do not believe in Christ

For those who do not believe in God

For all in public office

For those in special need.

As the third part of the Good Friday, Rev Fr. Rolwin Aranha brought the shrouded Crucifix to the main alter where Bishop unveiled it in three phases and paid respect through kneeling and kissing the Crucifix. This was followed by paying respect to the Crucifix by the priests and huge faithful.

As the last part of the service, Holy Communion was distributed by six priests, two nuns and two layman. Good Friday is an important event in the Christianity which represents the sacrifices and suffering of Jesus life. The Crucifixion was culmination of a number of events in the Holy Week including Jesus triumphal return to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, Jesus washing his disciples’ feet and Jesus last supper on Maundy Thursday.

After the mass the solemn procession with the statue of Jesus around street of College Road and Kallianpur main raod held with participation of large number of faithful. With the completion of Good Friday, Christians prepare to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday which Easter Vagil begins on Saturday at 7 pm at Milagres Cathedral, Kallianpur.

Christians all over the world, observed during the Holy Week as part of the Paschal Tridum on the Friday proceeding Easter Sunday. Good Friday is also known as Holy Friday, Great Friday, Black Friday or Easter Friday.