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Udupi : Milagres Cathedral, Kallianpur of Udupi diocese celebrated Easter Vigil on Saturday, April 8, 2023 with great devotion and gaiety.

Easter is one of the most important religious festivals for people following Christianity all over the world. The festival commemorates the Resurrection of Lord Christ, three days after the agonizing Crucifixion.

The Easter Vigil also called Paschal celebrations began at 7pm at front of Milagres Tri-centenary Hall. After the new fire was blessed, the Paschal candle was lit with formality and was carried into the Cathedral as all those present lit their respective candles from the Paschal Candle when all lights in the Cathedral put off.

The Solemn High Eucharist mass led by Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo con-celebrated with Very Rev Fr. Valerian Mendonca, Rector of the Cathedral, Rev Fr. Joy Andrade, Asst. parish priest, Very Rev Fr. Denzil Martin, Superior and Vocational Director of Pilar Fathers and Rev Fr. Nithesh D’Souza, Vocational Director of Pilar Fathers, Kallianpur.

The liturgy of the Word comprised of three readings from the Old Testament. After singing “Gloria” accompanied by ringing bells and the main church bells, two readings from the  New Testament were read.

In his homily, Bishop Gerald said that to underscore of importance of the Paschal mystery, the compendium of the Catechism of the Church states that the Paschal mystery of Jesus, which comprises His Passion, death, resurrection, and glorification, stands at the center of Christian faith because God’s saving plan was accomplished once for all. The resurrection of Jesus means that God the Father will give His Holy Spirit to continue His work on earth. This means that Christ’s earthly ministry continues today through His people, in whom He dwells by the Holy Spirit.

Bishop said that Christianity teaches that Christ was resurrected into eternal life for making the ultimate sacrifice for mankind. The resurrection of Jesus shows that Jesus defeated death, and it is considered by many Christians to be proof of life after death. Many Christians also think of Jesus’ resurrection as evidence of God’s omnipotent and omnibenevolent nature. Jesus became a powerful symbol of death, resurrection and immortality.

When Jesus rose from the dead, Jesus confirmed His identity as the Son of God and His work of atonement, redemption, reconciliation and salvation. The resurrection was a real, literal, physical raising of Jesus’s body from the dead, Bishop said.

After homily, the water was blessed; people once again lit their candles as they renewed the Baptismal vows following which the Bishop and priests sprinkled newly blessed Holy water on the congregation.

At the end of Paschal celebrations, Rector of the Cathedral Very Rev Fr. Valerian Mendonca extended Paschal greetings to all concerned and gave gratitude to Bishop, priests, nuns, media and all concerned. He also placed the weekly announcements at the end. He thanked the main  sponsor of the celebrations Suneetha Fernandes and other benefactors of the celebrations.

Meanwhile, Bishop distributed prizes for the winners of Bible Quiz competition in Milarchi Laram church letter.

Bishop Gerald extended his Paschal Easter wishes to the congregation and appreciated the arrangements during the tridum celebrations. He called to the congregation that our diocese suffering from acute shortage of priests. He asked to pray in favour of getting new priests for the diocese.

Under the leadership of ICYM of the parish unit members were distributed snacks for the large number of congregation.