Christians observed Good Friday, marking the crucifixion of Jesus Christ with fasting and day-long prayer services at Milagres Cathedral, Kallianpur, on Friday, March 29, 2024.
In the morning at 9:00 am, the “Way of the Cross” was held in the cathedral. The 14 stations on Christ’s journey to Mount Calvary from the Roman governor Pilate’s palace were re-enacted with the worshipers moving to each station, singing hymns as the story of the betrayal, arrest, trial, and crucifixion of Christ was narrated by the priest.
Most Rev. Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop of Udupi Diocese, participated in the religious ceremony along with Msgr. Ferdinand Gonsalves, Vicar General of Udupi Diocese; V. Rev. Fr Valerian Mendonca, Rector of Milagres Cathedral, Kallianpur; Rev. Fr Joy Andrade, Asst. Parish Priest at Milagres Cathedral, Kallianpur; Rev. Fr Nithesh D’Souza, Vocational Director of Pilar Fathers; Rev. Fr Lawrence Rodrigues, Retired Priest at Milagres Home, Kallianpur; and Rev. Fr Lawrence Martis, Retired Priest at Milagres Home, Kallianpur, were present.
The Bishop preached the homily and said, “We should take inspiration from the life of Jesus Christ who sacrificed everything in the path of truth and dedicated his life to the service of humanity. We should also tread on the path of truth.”
The solemn church liturgy on Good Friday included the dramatized reading of the ‘Passion of the Cross’ from the Gospel of St. John, followed by the veneration of the Cross, and finally the distribution of communion.
With the completion of Good Friday, Christians prepare to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday.