Christians Celebrate Christmas with Traditional Fervor and Devotion
Udupi: Most of the churches held the grand Christmas mass at 7:30 pm. Bishop of Udupi Diocese, Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo concelebrated the festival mass at Our Lady of Health Church Shirva.
Mother of Sorrows Church in Udupi Celebrated the mass at midnight while the Christmas festival mass was celebrated in Milagres Cathedral Kallianpur under the leadership of Fr Stany B Lobo Rector of the Cathedral.
The Churches were decorated with glowing stars and other decorating lights. Cultural programmes by the youth members of the parishes also added spice to the Christmas celebrations.
In St. Antony’s Church Sastan Fr Anil D’Costa (Principal Trinity Central School Perampalli) concelebrated the Christmas mass along with Fr John Walter Mendonca (parish Priest of the Church.
In his homily, Fr Anil said that God could have loved humanity from heaven, but he preferred to come down to earth and become a human being so that He could love humankind and redeem us from sin and death. He made an appeal to the congregation to follow the spirit of Christmas by sharing and caring.
Cribs were laid out at churches and at homes, depicting the birth of Christ and the joy that prevailed with his birth.
Various churches in the district, like the UBM Church mission compound, St Lawrence Church Moodubelle, Holy Rosary Church Kundapur, SMS Syrian Cathedral Brahmavar and other churches were decorated with colourful lights and festooned with stars.
The district wore a festive look as non-Christians also joined the celebrations in large numbers and wished their Christian brethren on this occasion.
Pics By Flavin D’Souza and Prasanna Kodavoor
