Udupi: Udupi Deanery level for the fourth successive years Way of the Cross was held with devotion and gaiety at St. Anthony’s Church, Kuntalnagar in the evening of Sunday, 13th March, 2016.

The evening began with preparation for the Sacrament of Reconciliation and confessions from 3 pm to 4.30 pm. followed by the Eucharistic celebrations which was concelebrated by Most Rev Dr. Albert D’Souza, Archbishop of Agra, North India, along with Msgr. Baptist Menezes, Vicar General of Udupi Diocese, Very Rev Fr. Fredrick Mascarehnas Dean of Udupi Deanery, Rev Fr. Prakash Lobo OFM Capuchin, Rev Fr. Denis D’Sa, Parish Priest of host parish, deanery priests and other priests.

In his homily, Rev Fr. Prakash Lobo pointed out that Jesus Christ sacrificed his life for the entire humankind for the salvation of us. God’s plan was to save his people by sending his only son Jesus to die for our sins. God’s plan is to let every single person know that he is God and that we can gain eternal life through his son Jesus Christ. He sacrificed his life for the salvation of humankind. It was God’s divine plan of Salvation for humankind through his only Son Jesus Christ.

At the end of the mass, Fr. Denis D’Sa made the weekly parish announcements as usual. He also thanked the concerned faithful on account of deanery level Way of the Cross which was held for the fourth time.

At the end of the mass, the solemn Way of the Cross began in a very systematic manner under the leadership of vicar and parishioners of Kuntalnagar. The Way of Cross led by Rev Fr. Prakash Lobo Capuchin with declaration of the Year of Mercy by Pope Francis. Fr. Prakash Lobo conducted the Way of the Cross with other participants from the parish in a systematic manner where each of the Stations, preliminary invocation, relevant passages from the Holy Scriptures were read out by the parishioners of Kuntalnagar church. During the narration of particular circumstances in our family and the society as well was held sensibly. At each station, Fr. Prakash read out the messages of Pope Francis with devotional meaning.

The environment of the devotional evening at the church premises was extremely held with devotion and gaiety with unity of the Deanery of Udupi.

Rev Msgr Baptist Menezes thanked the faithful for the smooth conduct of the Way of the Cross. He was thanked on behalf of Bishop for the organizers’ for conducting the Way of the Cross meaningfully. Very Rev Fr. Fred Mascarenhas also gave gratitude for the participation of the faithful including priests of deanery.

In other deaneries of the Udupi diocese also the Way of the Cross was held during the Lent season. Under the leadership of Youth Commission of the Diocese Way of the Cross was held at Belman with utmost devotion by the diocesan youth.