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, 14th April, 2017.

Prior to the evening liturgy of the day, way of the cross was conducted inside the church at 11 am. The Covered Cross was carried through all fourteen Stations of the Cross by alter boy and two altar servers holding candles. Indeed the narration, meditation, lent hymns, prayers for each of the fourteen stations were superb and most sensitive were read by Rev Fr. Rolwin Aranha and nuns. The sceneries’ on the TV’s all over the church which fueled hard and tears of water in the eyes of the faithful. For about 74 minutes, the Way of the Cross in the church was observed and which shown the faithful the  exact suffering of our  Lord Jesus.

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

The Good Friday service and liturgy is divided into four parts. The first part comprised of the reading from the 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 His Lordship Most Rev Dr. Gerald Isaac Lobo, Very Rev Fr. Stany B. Lobo Rector of the cathedral, Rev Fr. Rolwin Aranha, Rev Fr. Prakash Anil Castelino, Rev Fr. Henry Mascarenhas, Rev Fr. Herald Mathias and Rev Fr. Nelson Furtado came in procession and prostrated in front of the bare altar 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 Prajoth D’Sa as other characters in the Gospel and as crowd.

Rev Fr. Henry Mascarenhas pointed out that God earlier spoke with the prophets and other people in order to save from sin by His people and the salvation of the people. Later, God in the form of human, God became man to the salvation of God. Jesus tried the work of God that changing attitude of the people. Jesus died with the intention for the people’s salvation.

He said Jesus knew that He will die on the cross and He told three times to his disciples about His Death. Jesus carried the Cross for us and falls under the heavy Cross. Jesus suffered severely for us with the intention to salvation of our sins. Jesus brings us survival in our life, Cross is the sign of Hope and Cross is the sign of Love. Cross 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

Bishop also put prayers for the intention to get water for the people who suffers due to drought situation.

As the third part of the Good Friday, Rev Fr. Prakash Anil Castelino brought the shrouded Crucifix to the main altar 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 seven priests and four nuns. Good Friday is an important event in the Christianity which represents the sacrifices and suffering of Jesus life. The Crucifixion was the 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.

The liturgy was compered by Felciana Lewis, Secretary of Parish Pastoral Council.

After the mass the solemn procession with the statue of Jesus around street of College road and Kallianpur Road held with the participation of large number of people. 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 7pm at Milagres Cathedral. The main celebrant will be Bishop of Udupi Diocese.