Udupi: The Annual Eucharistic procession of Diocese of Udupi on the occasion of feast of Christ the King held with devotion, gaiety and unity on Sunday, 26th November, 2018.

Prior to the Eucharistic procession, The Bishop of Udupi Diocese Most Rev Dr. Gerald Isaac Lobo along with diocesan priests concelebrated Solemn High Eucharistic mass at Mount Rosary Church, Santhekatte, Kallianpur. Monsgr. Dr. Fr. Baptist Menezes, Very Rev Fr. Stany B. Lobo Chancellor of Udupi Diocese, five deanery deans of the diocese and around 55 priests were present.

As soon as the mass concluded, the adoration and Eucharistic huge procession started from Mount Rosary Church to Milagres Cathedral, Kallianpur. The brass band led the procession followed by the Cross, candle bearers and the people holding lighted candles. The Bishop held the Blessed Sacrament that was rested on the pedestal fitted on the decorated vehicle which arranged by Thottam Parish. A captivating tableau was the high light of the procession in which along with Bishop and priests, nuns and large devotees were participated during the procession.

The Blessed Sacrament as soon as arrival at the gate of Milagres Cathedral, along with Rector of the Cathedral, Very Rev Dr. Fr. Lawrence D’Souza and small kids welcomed the Blessed Sacrament and proceeded towards large decorated stage in front of the Cathedral.

In his homily, Rev Fr. Royson Fernandes, Assistant parish priest of St John the Evangelist Church Pangala said that the Eucharist, the centre of Christian life and living is sacrament of in which Jesus left us the living memorial of His Pasch, central event of the history of humanity. The Eucharist is at the center of the life of the Church. In it, Christ offers himself to the Father for us, making us participants of his sacrifice itself, and He gives himself to us as bread of life for our journey on the paths of the world.

The Eucharist as the source and summit of the Christian Life. The structure of the Mass as the guide for successful Christian living. The Eucharist life of sacrificial love as foundation of a happy and stable family life and it values essential to a just, equitable society. Jesus Christ as the answer to every personal and social problem, he said.

At the end of the grand event, the Bishop distributed the trophies to those parishes who had the highest total collection and highest per head collection on Mission Sunday. Fr. Crasta of Nekre parish read out the names of the parishes. Shirva parish received the trophy for maximum collection of Rs. 7,25,000, followed by Moodubelle parish with Rs. 7,20,000 and Udupi parish earned third position with Rs. 6,15,000 collection.

Meanwhile the Kuntalnagar received the trophy for maximum collection per head which total collected Rs 2,95,000 followed by Nakre parish Rs. 2,71,836 and third Udupi Parish collected Rs. 6,15,000.

Bishop Dr. Gerald Isaac Lobo at the end gave gratitude to all concerned for the successful grand procession of Eucharist and feast of Christ the King. Very Rev Fr. Denis D’Sa Dean of Shirva compered the Adoration and later programmes at Milagres Cathedral.

Rev Fr. Dr. Lawrence C D’Souza delivered vote of thanks at the end of grand event of the year. Snacks were distributed to all the participants of the diocese faithful from 52 churches. Around 3,000 faithful people were participated in the Eucharistic celebration at Mount Rosary church, Eucharist Sacrament procession and Adoration at Milagres Cathedral.