Media Release

Mangaluru, May 8: It was on the fifth sunday of easter season on May 7 that 24 Angels with hearts festive, full of joy and gratitude accompanied by their parents, family, godparents and friends along with the parishioners marched with eagerness for the reception of the sacrament of the Eucharist for the first time, dressed in white symbolizing purity and newness.

Fr Anil Canute D'Mello, parish priest presided over the Eucharistic celebration and other guest priests - the relatives and friends of the first communicants concelebrated the Eucharist.

Fr Paul Sebastian D'Souza in his inspirational homily explained the purpose and importance of Holy Communion and ‘Jesus the Bread of Life’ with the narration of stories. He stated the ways in which one could grow in love with the Eucharist. Three readings of the day were sublimely elucidated through incidents. The joy of welcoming Jesus into their lives and renewing their baptismal promises was evident in the cherubic smiles of the children. The momentous occasion was a call to the assembly to realize the significance of their own baptismal commitment and to probe the meaning of Eucharistic sharing.

The liturgy was meticulously prepared by Fr Anil D'Mello in such a way that every child had a part to play in proclaiming the word, sing the Psalm, introduction to the Mass, penitential rite, prayers of the faithful, prayer after communion with utmost clarity and perfection. Certificate of participation in catechism classes, scapular, rosary and New Testament were gifted to the communicants.

The children’s harmonious choir conducted by Arun D'Souza added more exquisiteness to the celebration and applauded by the parish priest and the congregation. At the end of the solemn mass Fr Anil D Mello and the parents thanked Celestine Saldanha - coordinator of Sunday Catechism classes who helped prepare the little ones for a very important milestone in their faith with a memento.