Udupi: Palm Sunday to commemorate Christ’s entry into Jerusalem for the completion of the Paschal Mystery observed at Milagres Cathedral, Kallianpur of Udupi Diocese near here on Sunday, 9th April, 2017.

The ceremony on Palm Sunday, which the beginning of Holy Week began at 8 am at a Milagres High School near the Cathedral entrance. Rev Fr. Nelson Furtado, Vocational Director of Pilar Fathers conducted the prayers and he blessed the Palm leaves that large number of devotees seen with the Palm Leaves mark the occasion. Fr. Nelson gave the brief homily after the readings of the Gospel. Fr. Nelson said in his homily that we carry palm leaves as a tribute of weaving joy, before Christ, victorious over death and also as a symbol of our wavering fickleness, betraying Christ unto his death. Very Rev Fr. Stany B. Lobo Rector of Cathedral, Rev Fr. Rolwin Aranha Asst Parish Priest and Rev Fr. Prakash Anil Castelino Asst. The parish priest was present during the starting Palm Sunday ceremony at the entrance of the Cathedral.

After the prayers the huge well disciplined procession with carrying Palm leaves started and proceeded towards the Cathedral. The Palm Sunday procession is formed by Christians who in the fullness of faith make their own gesture of the Jews and endow with its full significance. Following the Jews’ example, we proclaim Christ as Victor. Hosanna to the Son of David. Blessed is He who Comes in the name of the Lord.

The Palm Sunday solemn Eucharistic celebrated by Rev Fr. Nelson Furtado along with Rev Fr. Stany B. Lobo, Rev Fr. Rolwin Aranha and Rev Fr. Prakash Anil Castelino. The long Palm Sunday Gospel reading by Fr. Nelson Furtado when devotees listened tirelessly enables devotees as it were to be eyewitnesses of Christ’s Passion and Death, revealing his love “Unto the End”.

At the end the Vicar Fr. Stany placed the weekly announcements and gave gratitude to all concerned for the devotional observation on Palm Sunday.

Christians mark their Holy Week starts from Palm Sunday and concluding on Easter Sunday, which celebrates the resurrection of Christ on the third day after his death on the cross. Palm Sunday showcases the kingship of Christ and commemorates his triumphant riding into Jerusalem sitting on an ass. The Biblical narrative of this event is brief. As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took his 12 disciples aside, and one the way he said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and (He) will be delivered to the chief priest and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death”.