Lent 2013 at Siddhpur Mission Parish By Xavier James.

Lent 2013 at Siddhpur Parish

The season of Grace, Lent began with full participation of the faithful in the evening of Ash Wednesday. The faithful handed over their last year’s palms which was burnt and Ash was brought for the Liturgy. After the service the neighbours who always are concerned about the community, enquired about the cross on the forehead and Fr. Xavier James had a chance to evangelize the neighbours. Evangelii nuntiandi no.15 says “Evangelization is inherent in the very nature of the Church” in other words ‘The Church exists to evangelize’ that is why we began the stations of the Cross on Fridays in different homes in order to profess our togetherness and proclaim the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus to the people of other faiths who surprisingly look at us in the locality. On Sunday the liturgy is exuberant with participation and singing and back drop prepared by the sisters. On 5^th March, two priests from Trivandrum Archdiocese came over to Siddhpur and Fr. Fredy Solomon preached the retreat in Malayalam for the faithful. The parishioners from Palanpur were also brought in a bus by Fr. Das and Mr. Alex to benefit from it. Many embraced the Sacrament of Reconciliation and all participated in Latin Malayalam Eucharist. The parishioners are very enthusiastic and are now preparing for the Holy Week. Martin & Philip Fernandes have prepared a new cross to be carried for the way of the cross and candle stand for the Easter candle. Preparation for the Holy Week is going on in full swing. In his first homily, Pope Francis said that we may be walking, building and confessing the crucified Christ. We the faithful of Siddhpur pray that we may be walking, building and confessing Jesus in this unknown vicinity.