2020 Diocese Eucharistic procession; Pro life year declared

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Jan 06, 2020:  The first Sunday as per annual practice was again marked by Mangalore Catholic diocese in it’s unique manner and held the 53rd annual Eucharistic Procession and Inauguration of the ’Year 2020 as the Year of Pro-Life’ with solemn declaration.  The diocesan level procession, from Milagres church to Rosario Cathedral   on January 5, Sunday. Thousands of  Catholics, a good part the youth, about 230 priests of several congregations, large number of nuns participated in a devout manner praying and singing in honour of the Eucharistic Christ. Bishop Rev Dr. Peter Paul Saldanha gave the lead as head of the diocese of Mangalore,  emeritus Bishop Rev Dr.Aloysius P D’Souza, walked the entire route and participated in spite of his age along with the fervent participants.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The solemn occasion commenced with Eucharistic Celebration, Bishop Rev Peter Paul Saldanha presided over with former bishop Rev A P D’Souza and more than 200 priests held at Milagres Church in the afternoon. Thereafter the Eucharistic Procession set out  to Rosario Cathedral was an orderly and prayerful walk  in which thousands of faithful of Mangalore Diocese disposal their dedication and devotion in a edifying manner.

At the solemn mass in Milagres Church delivering an official homily, the bishop said, "We will today declare the year 2020 as the Year for Life - ’Pro Life’  in our diocese. Jesus Christ taught us to love one another as our selves, every human life is a special plan of God and has its individual vital importance. It is our duty to value and respect human lives fully. Killing humans, especially infants due to gender discrimination, is very common. We are becoming inhuman anti-life and merciless to our fellow humans. The need for immediate transformation is urgent.  Right to life, pro-life is universal as per God’d teaching and plan."

Further the bishop stressed on the need to protect nature and that without nature life is impossible. All for our lives comes from nature. It is our duty and bounden responsibility to protect the nature and environment around us. Deforestation will only cause havoc and negativity in our life. Nature, plants, trees  also have life proved sufficiently by science too. We must care for plants as our own because our life is supported by nature. Jesus Christ gave us salvation from a wooden cross prepared from a tree , and that is also a matter to consider in our Catholic life and we have to protect them with greatest consideration.

"Internationally, this year 2020 is marked in favour of  nurses and doctors. Nurses play an important role in saving the lives of humans, especially infants. They are the image of God on earth as are older people. They deserve all value respect and prayers. We have to remember them in action and prayers," he added.

Over to Rosario cathedral : 

The hour long procession from Milagres wended it’s way soon after the mass to Rosario Cathedral, along Nehru maidaan road in a devout and orderly manner. Around 5000 peoplee walked in frount of the all central Blessed Eucharist carried in a sun like monstrance on a flower bedecked jeep by  Bishop  of Mangalore Rev Dr. Peter Paul Saldanha flanked by priests and leaders  present.

’Araadhana’ , adoration, was conducted at the over crowded front yard of the Rosario Cathedral commencing at 6 PM on a decorated platform, after all participants reached there on foot.  The main banner had the words " The Fruit of the Holy Eucharist, Strength for Human Dignity,"  This session commenced with a reflection talk by Rev Wilfred Rodrigues, a well known Carmalite and director of Infant Jesus Shrine Bikarnakatte. 

Fr. Wilfred in a stirring reflection to pin drop silence pointed to the Pope’s recent general letter on the Eucharist  in which His Holiness pointed out that Christ the Lord was born - God made Man - and laid in a lowly manger from which cattle eat their food. The Babe God was laid in such manger, to become the sustenance of man from eternal damnation and be saved. Thus HE is the human food that saved human kind, He gives himself for  people. We must only look at all humans and life around us thorough the eyes of Jesus Christ in total harmony in peace and humility with complete equality. - that is the "Bhandutva " we here aim for, by virtue of our God. Care, Love all others around as your self - that is the essence of Christ’s teaching. It is not words that count but actions.

As the new year is set out to "protect and promote Life" we need to use all the human senses towards this end. Our food must be clean and in our own traditions, partaken in harmony with our own family and folk with love and full attention and togetherness. The old values are being lost due to new innovations and lack of depth - while we adopt good things we must never forget our roots and ancestral culture in all forms. More simple the understanding more the knowledge and blessings.  More the basic senses are involved in day to day doings for more benefit and progress with the help of the supreme. Every human must protect and promote life in it’s fullness every where.  This reflection was followed by a sacramental benediction bestowed on all by the Bishop, who later expressed his gratitude and thanks to all present.

The Logo of Pro-life was un-veiled  and explained in action which ended the formal part of the day’s solemn observance for 2020; advance of life is life giver to all humans.