Udupi: Prior to the Solemn High Eucharistic celebrations, Rector of the Cathedral blessed the honor stick (Warmoth) and handed it over to the Phirgent of the parish annual feast Wilson Fernandes, Leena Fernandes and their son. Then, after the brief prayers, High-Volume Low-Speed Fans(HVLS) Jumbo two ceiling fans in the middle of the Cathedral were inaugurated with putting on the two buttons of the fans by Wilson Fernandes and Leena Fernandes.
Followed by the Solemn High Eucharistic celebrations led by Rev Fr. John Fernandes, Capuchin priest of Holy Family Church Brahmavar along with Very Rev Msgr. Ferdinand Gonsalves, Vicar General of Udupi diocese and Rector of Milagres Cathedral, Rev Fr. Pradeep Cardoza, Asst. parish priest, Rev Fr. Manoj Furtado, Superior and Vocational Director of Blessed Fr. Agnel Minor Seminary, Pilar Fathers, Kallianpur and Rev Fr. Ronson D’Souza, parishioner and former superior of Holy Cross, Katapady.
In his beautiful homily, Fr John Fernandes dominated on the theme of the day’s celebration, ‘ The poor: the living flesh of the Eucharist Christ’. Udupi diocesan Bishop declared ‘the year of Poor-2026’ and hence, in his homily Fr. John Fernandes said that the Eucharist commits us to the poor by recognizing Christ in the marginalized, fostering a spirit of self-emptying love and service, and transforming our focus from self-sufficiency to solidarity, compelling us to live out Christ’s presence by sharing our resources and advocating for justice, as Jesus Himself became poor to serve humanity. Receiving the Eucharist inspires a mission to serve others, especially the poor, making our worship a call to action for charity and justice to humanity. He said there is a link between Eucharist and poverty, we must ourselves seek to be in spirit. In this poverty, we open ourselves to truly receive the one who brings healing and new life. God commands us to put our faith and love into action and do something about the needs of the poor. He wants us to feed the hungry, to clothe the needy and to help figure out ways to shelter the homeless in a way that will help them get back on their feet again.
He said that the celebrations of Confraternity Sunday, we also celebrate the feast of brotherhood. The Eucharist and brotherhood are deeply intertwined in Christianity, fostering deep spiritual unity, love and mutual service. The Eucharist must again become visibly the sacrament of brotherhood in order to achieve its full, community-creating power.
At the end of the mass, the weekly announcements were placed by Fr Pradep Cardoza. The Adoration of the Holy Eucharistic Sacrament was performed by the main celebrant Rev Fr. John Fernandes. Followed by Adoration, a huge Eucharistic procession was held with devotion and gaiety. The Eucharistic Holy Sacrament was carried by Fr John Fernandes in a decorated open van.
The huge procession culminated at Ozanam Home for the Aged premises, where short prayers were held and blessings of the Holy sacrament by Fr John Fernandes. The Confraternity Sunday celebrations culminated with brief gratitude words from Rector Msgr. Ferdinand Gonsalves.
Large number of the congregation witnessed the beauty of Confraternity Sunday and Brotherhood day with unity and gaiety. The snacks and cold drink was distributed to all the congregation. The Phirgent of the Fernandes Group, Wilson Fernandes and Leena Fernandes supported and main sponsor of this year’s annual parish feast in grand manner under the banner of‘ Milagres Utsov’ . The main road of Santhekatte to Kallianpur is decorated with lights and banners.
On the part of the Milagres Utsov, under the patronage of Phirgent, the congregation people were transported to Milagres Cathedral campus to attend the musical night by youths of Kallianpur deanery and dinner.