Christmas Eve was celebrated at St John the Evangelist Church, Pangla Shankarapura in the open air with much devotion and vigor with solemn Mass concelebrated by Rev. Fr Wilfred Prakash D’Souza, Principal, St Joseph College, Jeppu, Mangalore along with Rev. Dr Lesli D’Souza, parish priest; Rev Fr Vincent Coelho, Principal, Rev Fr Lawrence Mendonca, Rev. Fr Jerald D’Mello and Rev. Fr Robert Quadros.
The Christmas Eve celebrations started at 6.30 pm with Christmas carols sung by the members of the different wards with their melodious voice. The solemn High Mass began at 7.00 pm.
During the homily, Fr Wilfred Prakash said , The birth of Jesus is the Symbol of Mary & God in this world .Hence “Pope Francis has called on Catholics around the world to use the ongoing Jubilee Year of Mercy to open wide the doors of their hearts to forgive others. He has published a Bull, ‘Misericordiae Vultus’ the face of mercy in this regard.
At the end of the mass, Fr Lesli D’Souza parish priest expressed words of gratitude to all the parishioners who toiled behind the success of the X’Mas Celebration.
After the mass, a cake cutting ceremony was held and thereafter parish priest gave the Christmas message and wished the greetings of Christmas to all the parishioners and to all who have come down from abroad on holidays. To add sweetness to the programme cakes were distributed to the faithful gathered.
Thereafter, ICYM organized housie housie game as part of the Christmas celebrations. The whole Christmas celebrations came to an end at 9.15 pm.

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