‘Love’ is the message of the Cross – Good Friday

The entire Good Friday ceremonies were held meaningfully at St Francis Xavier Church, Udyavara. At 11.00 a.m. in the morning the parish family gathered together for the Way of the Cross. Sixteen wards participated in conducting the Way of the Cross. Each station consisted of three parts; Initial invocation and Reading from the Scripture, The clipping from the movie Passion of Christ and Prayers. The prayerful ambience really made the congregation gathered to feel the pain and agony of Christ.

The evening ceremony began at 5.30 p.m. Fr Jason Pais led the service. Initially the priests wearing red vestments knelt before the altar in recalling of the Christ suffering and then rite of the Word of God continued. Fr Jason Pais, Rev. Fr Rollwin Aranha and the Choir group sang the passion narrative from the Gospel of John.

Preaching on the Cross of Christ Fr Jason recalled four aspects of the Cross of Christ. Firstly, he said Cross is a Paradox. Cross was a symbol of humiliation and failure but Jesus made it a symbol of Respect and Love. Secondly Cross is Shameful but Jesus embraced it willingly unlike what happens with us. We do not want to face shame, failures and dejection; thus, we see many suicides around but Jesus teaches us to be humble unto willingly accepting our Crosses. Thirdly Cross is Life, from the cross flows the mercy, love, freedom and forgiveness. Lastly Cross unites the opposites; Cross leads us from darkness to light, sinfulness to forgiven life, from slavery to freedom.

The third part of the liturgy consisted of prayers for various intentions and we raised our heart and minds to God through with the church. Then was the solemn opening of the cross or unveiling of the cross. A huge cross was brought through procession along with two light bearers to the altar and it was unveiled for veneration. The entire congregation came in procession and venerated the cross, the centre of attraction today.  

The last rite was of Communion. Though there is no mass today but the church gives provision that the faithful be fed with the Body of Christ. After the post communion prayer all had a glimpse of the body of Christ kept for veneration in a cradle. It was a devotional site to witness. In silence all departed from the church.