Mumbai: The fasting season of Lent entered its final countdown as Holy Week began on Palm Sunday April 13. A series of rituals and prayers will mark the run-up to Easter Sunday, the most significant festival of the Christian calendar, which falls April 20.
Fr Nigel Barrett, spokesperson for the archdiocese of Bombay, said, “The most solemn period of our faith, Holy Week, began on Palm Sunday. Maundy Thursday is the day that we celebrate the institution of both the priesthood and the holy eucharist. Jesus Christ washes the feet of his disciples and says, if I your lord and master, have bent down and washed your feet, you are called to do the same. The mass of the Lord’s Supper will be celebrated by archbishop John Rodrigues at Holy Name Cathedral, Colaba, at 7pm April 17.”
Churches are conducting Confession till Wednesday, including Mt Mary Basilica in Bandra, which is undergoing restoration and has built a shamiana nearby for its liturgical services, said Rev. Sunder Albuquerque. Gloria Church, Byculla, will conduct Maundy Thursday services as well as Good Friday rallies in Konkani and English, said parish priest Fr Dennis Gonsalves.
Masses for the sick and ailing are scheduled on Thursday. The parish priest of Salvation Church, Dadar, Fr Michael Gonsalves said, “For the annual washing of the feet ceremony we have invited 24 people who promote hope in the parish, including those working for the prison ministry, for migrants, for alcoholics and those promoting inter religious dialogue. On Good Friday there will be a live enactment of the Stations of the Cross on the streets of Dadar from 9am to 1pm.”
The parishioners of St Andrews Church, Bandra, have been earnestly participating in Holy Week activities. Assistant priest Fr Clifford D’Souza said, “On Palm Sunday, we had children dressed up depicting the life and times of Jesus. In the evening we had our traditional weekly Passo service with Veronica singing and a procession. Damian and Augustine are the main people from the Chimbai community who get everyone together and help out during Lent. The youth conducted Taize prayer service.”
Good Friday, April 18, will witness big and small processions citywide depicting the Way of the Cross. St Pius X Church, Mulund, has a full calendar of events and prayers in various languages including Konkani, Tamil and Malayalam, beginning 8am, said parish priest Fr George Athaide. Here, archbishop John Rodrigues will preside over the celebration of the Passion at 6.30pm on Good Friday. IC Church, Borivli, will lead the Way of the Cross rallies in Konkani, Marathi and English.
Mumbai: The fasting season of Lent entered its final countdown as Holy Week began on Palm Sunday April 13. A series of rituals and prayers will mark the run-up to Easter Sunday, the most significant festival of the Christian calendar, which falls April 20.
Fr Nigel Barrett, spokesperson for the archdiocese of Bombay, said, “The most solemn period of our faith, Holy Week, began on Palm Sunday. Maundy Thursday is the day that we celebrate the institution of both the priesthood and the holy eucharist. Jesus Christ washes the feet of his disciples and says, if I your lord and master, have bent down and washed your feet, you are called to do the same. The mass of the Lord’s Supper will be celebrated by archbishop John Rodrigues at Holy Name Cathedral, Colaba, at 7pm April 17.”
Churches are conducting Confession till Wednesday, including Mt Mary Basilica in Bandra, which is undergoing restoration and has built a shamiana nearby for its liturgical services, said Rev. Sunder Albuquerque. Gloria Church, Byculla, will conduct Maundy Thursday services as well as Good Friday rallies in Konkani and English, said parish priest Fr Dennis Gonsalves.
Masses for the sick and ailing are scheduled on Thursday. The parish priest of Salvation Church, Dadar, Fr Michael Gonsalves said, “For the annual washing of the feet ceremony we have invited 24 people who promote hope in the parish, including those working for the prison ministry, for migrants, for alcoholics and those promoting inter religious dialogue. On Good Friday there will be a live enactment of the Stations of the Cross on the streets of Dadar from 9am to 1pm.”
The parishioners of St Andrews Church, Bandra, have been earnestly participating in Holy Week activities. Assistant priest Fr Clifford D’Souza said, “On Palm Sunday, we had children dressed up depicting the life and times of Jesus. In the evening we had our traditional weekly Passo service with Veronica singing and a procession. Damian and Augustine are the main people from the Chimbai community who get everyone together and help out during Lent. The youth conducted Taize prayer service.”
Good Friday, April 18, will witness big and small processions citywide depicting the Way of the Cross. St Pius X Church, Mulund, has a full calendar of events and prayers in various languages including Konkani, Tamil and Malayalam, beginning 8am, said parish priest Fr George Athaide. Here, archbishop John Rodrigues will preside over the celebration of the Passion at 6.30pm on Good Friday. IC Church, Borivli, will lead the Way of the Cross rallies in Konkani, Marathi and English.
