Devotees throng churches for Easter marked by solemn rituals, devout participation

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Apr 16, 2017: Hordes Devotees across the twin district marked  the resurrection of Lord Jesus Christ, three days after the agonising crucifixion, in various churches on April 15, Saturday late evening with the solemn vigil mass and rituals.

 

Mangalore diocese Bishop Rev Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza celebrated the Easter Mass at Rosario Cathedral and Udupi diocesan Bishop Rev Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo celebrated the Easter Mass at Milagres Cathedral in Kallianpur.  In the city here we see Rosario, Milagres, St.Aloysius Chapel, Bijey, Urwa, Bendur, Ashok Nagar, Derebail, Casia, Angelore, Infant Jesus, Cloistered Chapel, Retreat house, Jeppu........and so on.

The celebrations started with the Easter Vigil at the grounds of respective churches. Fire, blessed by the priests from which the Paschal candle was lit, was carried inside the respective churches. It was followed by the chanting the Exsultet, also called the "Easter Proclamation". It was followed by the readings from Old Testament as well as the New Testament.

The priests also blessed the water (the same holy water is used for all rituals in respective churches till the next Easter). Devotees also renewed the Baptismal Vows and the priests sprinkled newly blessed Holy Water on the congregation.

Though most of the churches were celebrating Easter mass at midnight earlier, hardly a few celebrate it at midnight since a decade.

Most of the churches started Easter celebrations in both Mangalore as well as Udupi diocese around 7 pm.

In Mangaluru, most of the churches - Milagres Church, Holy Cross Church at Kulshekar, St Francis Xavier Church at Bejai, St Sebastian Church at Bendoor and Urwa Church among others celebrated the mass at 7 pm.

In Udupi too, most of the churches had the holy mass at 7 pm.

Some churches had organised entertainment programmes soon after the mass for the parishioners.