Good Friday 2022: Derebail Parishioners Mark the Holy Day by Recollecting Jesus' Love for Mankind

Good Friday 2022: Derebail Parishioners Mark the Holy Day by Recollecting Jesus' Love for Mankind

The Good Friday service at Most Holy Redeemer Church Derebail commenced at 5.30 PM. Marked as the day of fasting and penance, Good Friday is a significant day as it commemorates the biggest sacrifice in the history of mankind. It is the day Jesus, God's only begotten son, showed his love for us all through his death on the cross.

The Good Friday service is therefore sombre and consists of three parts: The liturgy of the Word, the Veneration of the Cross, and the Holy Communion.

The Liturgy of the Word comprises of the priests walking up to the altar in complete silence. They then prostrate in front of the altar as a sign of extreme humility and reverence to Christ's sacrifice. Rev. Fr. Lancy Rebello, the main celebrant along with Rev.Fr. Austin Peres, Rev. Fr.Gerald Pinto and Rev.Fr. Walter led the service.

Fr.Lancy Rebello in the homily, compared two important instances from Jesus's life i.e. His birth and His death. He recollected how Jesus on the one hand, was welcomed into this earth by the angels, the three kings and the shepherds. On the other hand , His sufferings on the cross was painful and humiliating. Yet, Jesus's love for us was above all. Instead of being honoured with a crown of jewels Jesus was humiliated with a crown of thorns. All these difficulties that Jesus endured shows His love for mankind. Fr. Lancy Rebello further elaborated that one must not question God for the sufferings and difficulties in one's life. Rather one must pray and gain strength from Jesus's cross.

The Liturgy of the Word concludes with the Solemn Intercessions. The priests along with the congregation pray for various intentions of the Catholic Church and other intentions in general.

This was followed by the second part of the service i.e. the Veneration of the Cross. 

The third and the most important part is the Holy Communion.  Although there's no mass on Good Friday, devotees receive communion as it symbolises the body and blood of Jesus. 

Rev.Fr. Austin Peres thanked Fr.Rebello for conducting the service in a meaningful way. He also thanked all the volunteers and associations that worked hard for the day's service. Above all, the parish priest expressed his joy of seeing so many parishioners together on this day. 

The Statue of Our Lady of Sorrows and of the Lifeless body of Jesus was brought in a procession to the altar. The devotees paid respect and kissed both these statues. 

The service ended at 8PM

Report by: Benedicta Menezes
Pictures: Simon Pereira