Belagavi district on Wednesday celebrated the Christmas festival with gaiety and religious fervor.
The celebration began with prayers for peace in churches and Christian homes. Religious organizations have performed under the banner of this year’s slogan ‘Pilgrims of Hope’. The priests spoke about the messages they received from the Vatican.
Minister Satish Jarkiholi participated in the mass function organized at the Methodist Church here. Festivals were celebrated in cities and villages including Hukkeri, Chikkodi, Nippani.
Believers in the region attended a special midnight mass from Tuesday night that culminated in a Christmas Day celebration.
Christians belonging to all denominations participated in the midnight prayer service on Tuesday midnight and Wednesday morning as well, commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ 2024 years ago as Christians are about to enter the year 2025 of Jesus’ birth. Opening worldwide soon.
Apart from exchanging sweets and greetings, the day was also celebrated by distributing sweets to the poor and underprivileged. This year’s Christmas is special as the world celebrates the 2025 birth anniversary of Jesus Christ.
Reverend Derek Fernandes, Bishop of Belgaum Diocese, which heads five districts of North Karnataka and part of Kolhapur district, presided over the Holy Mass at the Fatima Cathedral in the camp here.
He highlighted the real presence of Jesus Christ in the Christmas celebration. “There is a real danger in today’s world that we celebrate Christmas without Christ. The commercialization of this holy season often overshadows its true meaning, which can distract us from the deeper mystery of the Incarnation. Let us resolve to put Christ at the center of our Christmas celebration,” he said.
Special prayer services were also held throughout the day while Christians went door-to-door for the elderly and helpless and gave gifts and traditional sweets to the poor and needy.
Hundreds of Christians also attended midnight services and morning prayer services held in all the churches in the city.
Christmas cribs depicting the birth of Jesus Christ on the Bishop’s House campus, St. Paul’s High School, the Methodist Church and other churches attracted people of all faiths.
Hundreds of people gathered at the camp and other areas to see the lights and Christmas cribs.
Fr Jacques Menezes, Fr. Eusebio Fernandes, Fr. Joe D’Souza, Fr. Simon Fernandes, Fr. Steven Almeida, Fr. Albert D’Souza, Rev. Shantappa Ankalagi, Rev. John Ankalagi and others led prayer services in churches in and around Belagavi.
published – Dec 26, 2024 07:11 pm IST