News: Ivy Serrao

Pics: Delroy D’Souza

Moodbidri, May 5: A spirit of reverence and joy filled Corpus Christi Church on Sunday as twelve young children received their first Holy Communion, marking a significant milestone in their spiritual journey. The solemn celebration began with the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament led by Norbert Martis, followed by benediction.

The holy Eucharistic Mass, presided over by Fr Onil D’Souza and concelebrated by five other priests. In a touching procession, five girls and seven boys, all around ten years old and dressed in white, were escorted to the church entrance by the Corpus Christi Church children’s band, accompanied by their parents and clergy.

During the liturgy, the first Holy Communion children took active roles in conducting the proceedings, supported by the harmonious voices of the Corpus Christi Church choir.

In his poignant homily, Fr Pradeep Pinto spoke about the profound importance of receiving Holy Communion and recognizing the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. He also highlighted a Eucharistic miracle that occurred in Italy, inspiring awe and faith among the congregation. Fr Pinto encouraged parents to nurture their children in faith by participating in the Holy Eucharist and instilling Christ-like values in their upbringing.

At the conclusion of the mass, each child was gifted a blessed rosary and scapular, symbols of their ongoing spiritual commitment. Fr Onil D’Souza expressed heartfelt gratitude to Sr Ranitha AC and the catechism teachers for their dedicated preparation of the children.

The celebration concluded with a breakfast, reinforcing the spirit of unity and fellowship among the faithful. The day stood as a blessed and memorable occasion for the entire Corpus Christi Church community.