Mangaluru/ Udupi: Christians in the Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts solemnly observed Palm Sunday this week, commemorating Jesus Christ’s entry into Jerusalem. Churches across the region held special services, prayers and processions to mark the beginning of Holy Week.Thousands of Catholic faithful across the Diocese of Mangalore thronged their respective parishes to celebrate the occasion.At Holy Spirit Church, Mukka, in the Surathkal deanery, the main celebrations were led by the Bishop of Mangalore, Most Rev Fr Peter Paul Saldanha. Clad in red vestments symbolising the passion and royalty of Christ, the Bishop blessed the palm leaves and led a procession recreating Jesus’ biblical entry into Jerusalem. Fr Stany Pinto, parish priest of Mukka, and Fr Praveen Dsouza, designate director of ICYM, Mangalore, were concelebrants.In his homily, the Bishop said Palm Sunday was not merely a ritual but a call to walk with Jesus on the path of sacrifice. “As we hold these palms, we signify our readiness to welcome Christ into the ‘Jerusalem’ of our hearts. The Passion narrative we proclaim today reminds us that the path to the Resurrection passes through the Cross,” he said. The liturgy included the chanting of the Passion of the Lord.In Udupi, the Apostolic Administrator of the Udupi Diocese, Rev. Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, led the Palm Sunday service at Milagres Cathedral, Kallianpur, along with parish priest Rev Fr Gonsalves and assistant priest Rev Fr Pradeep Cardoza.Special services were also held at Mother of Sorrows Church, Udupi, led by Rev Fr Charles Menezes; Health of Our Lady Church, Shirva, led by bishop-designate Rev Fr Leslie C D’Souza; St Anne Church, Thottam, where Rev Fr Denis D’Sa conducted the rituals; and Sastan Church, where the observance was led by Rev Fr Sunil D’Silva.Palm Sunday marks the commencement of Holy Week. Holy Thursday will commemorate the Last Supper and the washing of feet, while Good Friday will be observed with fasting and prayer to mark the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The Easter Vigil will be held Saturday, culminating in the celebration of Easter Sunday, which commemorates the Resurrection.
