Good Friday Observed with Prayers and Fasting in Udupi District
Udupi: Christians observed Good Friday, marking the crucifixion of Jesus Christ with fasting and day-long prayer services at churches in the Udupi district on Friday, April 29.
Devotees congregated in large numbers in churches of various denominations across the district. Among the key religious ceremonies listed for the day in churches is the “Way of the Cross”. The 14 stations on Christ’s Journey to Mount Calvary from the Roman governor Pilate’s palace are re-enacted with the worshipers moving to each station singing hymns as the story of the betrayal, arrest, trial, and crucifixion of Christ is narrated by the priest.
Good Friday in the district started with the ‘Way of the Cross’ in all the churches. Some of the churches held solemn processions, where, they took a life-size statue of Jesus in prayerful worship.
Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop of Udupi Diocese, participated in the religious ceremony at the Milagres Cathedral, Kallianpur. Mosgr Ferdinand Gonsalves Vicar General of the Diocese, Fr Valerian Mendonca Rector, Fr Joy Andrade Asst Parish Priest, Fr Nithesh D’Souza, Vocational Director of Pilar Fathers, Fr Lawrence Rodrigues and Fr Lawrence Martis (Retired Priests) were present.
In his message, the bishop 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.
