Bathed in the soft glow of flickering candles, Milagres Cathedral in Kallianpur welcomed the faithful on Good Friday with an atmosphere of hushed reverence and solemn beauty. As the cool morning air carried the distant toll of the church bell, hundreds of devotees filled the nave, their footsteps echoing like quiet prayers on the polished stone floor.
At the heart of the ceremony stood Most Rev. Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop of the Diocese of Udupi, joined by a distinguished gathering of clergy: Msgr. Ferdinand Gonsalves, Rector of the Cathedral and Vicar General; Rev. Fr Pradeep Cardoza, Assistant Parish Priest; V. Rev. Fr Alberto Napolitano, Secretary to the Apostolic Nuncio to India and Nepal; V. Rev. Fr Ivan Martis, Secretary to the Apostolic Nuncio to Bolivia; and Rev. Fr Ronson D’Souza, Rector of Holy Cross Home, Katapady. Their solemn procession into the sanctuary set the tone for a day of profound reflection.
The liturgy unfolded with a stirring, dramatized reading of the Passion from St. John’s Gospel, each verse brought to life by the priest’s measured cadence. Golden rays of late-afternoon sun filtered through the stained‑glass windows, painting the altar in jewel‑tone hues of ruby and sapphire as the story of Christ’s suffering unfolded. When the congregation knelt for the Veneration of the Cross, a palpable hush fell—broken only by the soft rustle of prayer books and the occasional sniffle of moved worshippers.
Rev. Fr Pradeep’s homily resonated with both compassion and challenge. “On this sacred day, we stand at the foot of the Cross,” he intoned, voice gentle yet unwavering. “Here, love was poured out for every soul. In the shadow of Calvary, we discover that forgiveness and mercy are stronger than sin and death.” He went on to remind the assembly that Christ’s sacrifice remains “a beacon of hope in our fractured world,” urging all to “carry His light into lives darkened by hatred or despair.”
As organ chords rose and fell like a solemn heartbeat, the Ritual of Holy Communion offered a moment of intimate grace. Parishioners, young and old, approached with bowed heads as the Host was placed into their hands—a silent testament to unity in brokenness and a shared promise of renewal.
When the service drew to a close, the faithful lingered in the lingering hush, reluctant to leave the sacred space. Outside, a gentle breeze stirred palm fronds overhead, as if nature itself reverenced the day. With hearts illumined by the Cross, the community departed in quiet procession, already carrying within them the promise of Easter’s joyful dawn.
