Media Release
Mangaluru, Jan 27: Altar Server’s day was celebrated at Holy Cross Church Cordel with around 135 altar servers taking active part both in the Eucharistic Celebration. The celebration started with Holy Eucharistic liturgy on January 25 at 5 pm. The mass was concelebrated by Fr Victor Machado, parish priest as the main celebrant, Fr Lawrence Cutinha, assistant parish priest, Fr Ashwin Cardoza resident priest and designated director ICYM Mangaluru diocese and deacon Lancy D'Souza.
Fr Victor Machado in his homily emphasized about the patron saint of altar servers. He said that St John Berchmans dedicated his life with prayer and always served as an altar server in his childhood. It is a great opportunity to be an altar server given by God and he called each one of them to do it with devotion and dedication. The altar servers conducted the liturgy and participated in the Holy Eucharistic celebration with discipline and dedication.
On January 26, 2020, at 6.30 pm there was a cultural program put up by the altar servers. The program commenced with the prayer song. Briston Monteiro president of altar servers welcomed the gathering. Ashlin D'Souza presented the report of the year. Richard Alvares, headmaster Raymond High school was the chief guest for the cultural program. He congratulated the altar servers for taking active part both in the liturgy and emphasized the importance of being an altar server. He highlighted the qualities of St John Berchman the patron of altar servers. He emphasized the importance of prayer in every individual’s life and altar servers are more fortunate to be having the opportunity to participate in the Eucharistic celebration more closely.
Fr Victor Machado presided over the program and congratulated and thanked all the altar servers, animators and priests for making the event more successful. He encouraged the altar servers to actively participate and not to miss any opportunity to be part of the Holy Eucharistic celebration and come close to God. Fr Lawrence Cutinha the assistant parish priest congratulated the winners, read out the names of the altar servers who received prizes for various activities and all the dignitaries on the dais gave away the prizes. Michael D'Souza, the vice-president parish council, George D'Souza president of Minority Christian association, Matilda D'Souza the animator, Fr Ashwin Cardoza and Fr Lawrence Cutinha, Briston Mendonsa president of Altar servers, Melroy D'Souza vice-president and Ashlin D'Souza secretary were present on the dais.
The altar servers enthusiastically participated and put forth beautiful and well appreciated cultural program which included dances, Yakshagana, a skit on drug abuse, skit on the life of St John Berchmans. Melroy D'Souza proposed the vote of thanks. The parents of altar servers and well-wishers participated in large numbers and wholeheartedly appreciated the program. The program concluded with the dinner. The event was beautifully compered by Ethan Pinto, Esther Fernandes, Jayden Dsouza and Janice Dsouza.