HERALD NEWS BUREAU
PANJIM, APRIL 10
Religious services were conducted in different parts of the State on Good Friday.
Calangute correspondent adds: Thousands took part in the Good Friday services along the Calangute coastal belt.
Parishioners thronged in large numbers during the over four-hour service at the St Alex Church, Calangute, as they braved the unfavourable weather.
The main celebrant for the Good Friday Service was Fr Manual Dias of the Family Centre in Panjim. Though the Service was held in the Church compound, the enactment of the Crucification of Jesus took place in the Church and it was screened for the Parishioners in the Church compound.
In Saligao, Parish Priest Fr Luciano Fernandes presided over services at the Mae De Deus Church. The entire Service was held in the Church compound.
In the Parish of Holy Trinity Church of Nagoa-Arpora-Baga, Fr Candido Fernandes of Old Goa was the main celebrant and he delivered the homily at the liturgical service.
The entire service was held in the Church with TVs put up in the corridors for those who could not be accommodated inside the Church.
In the Parish of Our Lady of Hope, Candolim, Fr Simon Fernandes was the main celebrant at the service, which was held in the Church compound.
Canacona correspondent adds: Good Friday was observed by parishioners in various churches of Canacona with traditional devotion.
All churches held special services in the evening to mark the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, while parishioners observed fast and abstinence.
In most churches, Good Friday services started at 3 pm, with bible readings, special prayers, homilies on the life and sufferings of Jesus and Mother Mary, and a procession of a life-sized statue of Jesus Mother Mary. The parishioners later lined up to kiss the statues.
In Agonda Church, Assistant Parish Priest Fr Peter Cardoso asked parishioners to be living testimonies of Jesus Christ and paid a special homage to Mother Mary for her pains on helplessly seeing her Son being tormented and crucified before her eyes.
The enactment of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ took place in the church courtyard at Agonda, within was witnessed by hundreds of parishioners.