Udupi : Maundy Thursday was observed in Milagres Cathedral, Kallianpur of Udupi Diocese with great devotion on Thursday, 29th March, 2018. The Holy Thursday also called Covenant Thursday was concelebrated by Most Rev Dr. Gerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop of Udupi Diocese and also the Vicar of the Cathedral along with Very Rev Fr. Stany B. Lobo, Rector of Cathedral, Rev Fr. Rolwin Aranha Asst Parish priest, Rev Fr. Henry Mascarenhas, Chaplain of Ozanum Home and Estate Manager of Udupi Diocese, Rev Fr Herald Mathias, Superior of Pilar Fathers in Kallianpur and Rev Fr. Nelson Furtado, Vocational Director of Pilar Fathers, Kallianpur.

The evening liturgy of Maundy Thursday began at 6 pm which is the beginning of the three day celebrations of the Easter. It signifies Tridum, remembering the last Supper, the Crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ and resurrection to new life.

In his beautiful homily, Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo emphasized on the significance of the Holy Thursday and the Holy Eucharist. He said the Covenant Thursday celebrated all over the world with remembering the last Supper of Jesus Christ with His Apostles and founded the Holy Eucharist.

Bishop pointed out the importance of Holy Eucharist. The celebration of Eucharist is the culture of Love. Love means Sacrifice. Jesus sacrificed His life for the love of the people. Jesus sacrificed his life for the sinners. He given his life to sinners and shown his love towards others. Love is the sacrifice which Jesus shown us through his last Supper with his Apostles. Jesus sacrificed his life for the people and the sinners. Secondly, the celebration of Eucharist is the culture of forgiveness. Forgiveness is the secret of Christians. Forgiveness is the secret of love of God. Thirdly, the celebration of Eucharist is the culture of Unity. We are all one with God almighty that we should live with unity. With the faith in God, we should are live with unity. Anyone who is against the unity with God, they are against the principles of God.

After the beautiful homily in regard to the importance of Eucharist celebration, Bishop carried out the ritual of washing the feet of 12 faithful including women, men, aged and younger chosen from the Cathedral. The Maundy Thursday commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with Apostles and Jesus washing the foots’ of his twelve disciples.

At the end Fr. Stany placed some of the important announcements and later, after the mass, the Holy Eucharist has been placed on the altar of repose, and most churches are open for silent adoration, to answer Christ’s invitation “Could you not, then, watch one hour with me?”.

Its necessary to instruct the faithful on the meaning of the reposition. It is an austere solemn conservation of Body of Christ in the community of the faithful, which takes part in the liturgy of Good Friday and for the viaticum of the confirmed. It is an invitation to silent and prolonged adoration of the wondrous sacrament instituted by Jesus on this day.

After midnight on Holy Thursday, the adoration should conclude without Solemnity, since the day of the Lord’s Passion has already begun.

The evening service ended with the Adoration of the Holy Sacrament conducted beautifully by Rev Fr. Nelson Furtado. The all liturgy compered by Jacintha Lobo. This year the way of the cross will be held at 10.30 am on Good Friday instead of the evening prior to the evening liturgy. The evening Good Friday liturgy will be held at 4pm, followed by procession of Jesus Christ’s relic in the Cathedral Campus through main road of Kallianpur.