Udupi : Milagres Cathedral, Kallianpur of Udupi Diocese celebrated Easter night vigil on Saturday, April 3 with gaiety and devotion.

Easter is one of the most important religious festivals for people following Christianity all over the world. The festival commemorates the Resurrection of Lord Jesus Christ, three days after the agonizing Crucifixion.

The Easter Vigil also called Paschal celebrations began at 7 pm beside the portico of the cathedral. After the new fire was blessed, The Paschal Candle was lit with formality and was carried into the Cathedral as all those present lit their respective candles from the Paschal Candle when all lights in the Cathedral put off.

The Solemn Eucharist mass led by Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo celebrated along with Very Rev Fr. Valerian Mendonca, Rector of the Cathedral, Rev Fr. Canute Noronha Asst. parish priest and Rev Fr. Brian Sequiera Vocational Director of Pilar Fathers, Kallianpur.

The Liturgy of the Word Comprised of three readings from the Old Testament. After singing “Gloria” accompanied by ringing bells and the main church bells, two readings from the New Testament were read.

In his beautiful homily Fr Valerian Mendonca said that even though there are large numbers of tombs in the world including in Pyramids, tomb of Winston Churchil or other leaders, no person’s dead bodies missed neither risen from the tomb. The only Jesus Christ’s risen from the tomb and later Jesus Christ personal appearance to His disciples and apostles including St. Thomas, Mary Magdalene and others. The resurrection of Jesus is the foundation of the Christian faith. Without resurrection, the belief in God’s saving grace through Jesus is destroyed. When Jesus rose from the dead, He confirmed his identity as the Son of God and his work of atonement, redemption, reconciliation and salvation. The resurrection was a real, literal, physical raising of Jesus’ body from the dead.

After homily, the water was blessed, people once again lit their candles as they renewed the Baptismal Vows following which the Bishop and priests sprinkled newly blessed Holy Water on the congregation.

At the end of the Paschal celebrations, Rector of the Cathedral and Vicar Very Rev Fr. Valerian Mendonca extended Paschal greetings to all concerned and gave gratitude to Bishop, priests, nuns, parish council vice president, secretary and all concerned. He also placed the weekly announcements at the end. He thanked the main sponsor of the celebrations Suneetha Fernandes and others.

Bishop Gerald also extended his Paschal Easter message to congregation and appreciated the arrangements done during the celebrations.

Under the leadership of ICYM of the parish unit members were distributed sweets, snack and ‘payasum’ for large number of congregation. The strict COVID guidelines were followed during the entire celebrations.