A Day of Festivities at St Xavier's - by Joseph Puthen SJ
December 2 was a day of festivities for all the faithful of St. Xavier's Shahbad. Joy and blessings permeated the 350 plus gathering as we celebrated the Feast of the patron Saint Francis Xavier, welcomed the spiritual leader of the faithful, Rt. Rev. Vincent Concessao, partook in the Confirmation, joined the first communicants, and celebrated the grace of two of the Arch-diocesan candidates ordained to be Deacons in the service of humanity and the Church. It was a blissful time of celebration of faith animated with heart-elating liturgy, soul-striking melody and the scent of faith and flowers.
The Mahila Sangh welcomed the Archbishop and proceeded to the School quadrangle where he was received ceremoniously. Mandar beat in rhythm and a group of dancers swung in unison expressing the joy of the pastoral visitation of the Shepherd. The candidates for confirmation, the first communicants and the Diaconate-ordinandi were led in procession along with the faithful and the Archbishop to the liturgical hall with another entrance tribal dance. The different celebrations of the day were briefed at the beginning of the Eucharist to solemnize the moment.
We celebrated the outpouring of the Spirit and commissioning of the candidates after the gospel. Fr. George Manimala presented the candidates for the ordination to Diaconate and Bro. Keni Philemon Raj facilitated the ceremony. The Word was celebrated and proclaimed by the faithful as the Shepherd admonished the gathering regarding the meaning and role of sacraments in the life of the Church. The deacons committed themselves to celibacy and obedience in the presence of the Lord and His faithful. Offertory procession and prayers of the faithful were carried out meaningfully. The arati at doxology heightened the spirit of celebration and piety. The Archbishop welcomed the first communicants and they received the Eucharistic Jesus into their hearts for the first time in their life.
Fr. John Ravi represented the Shahbad Jesuit community in felicitating and honouring the dignitaries – Rt. Rev. Vincent Concessao, Fr. John Ariapilly, Fr. George Manimala, newly ordained Deacons Jose Stephen and Peter Emmanuel with bouquets. Fr. Victor Edwin thanked them and all the faithful for the different and personal ways that they made the day memorable. He thanked the many guests, especially the relatives, formators and friends of the communicants and the deacons.
After the soul-nourishing spiritual celebration the faithful found time to congratulate one another and converse as all munched the snacks and sipped the tea. Meanwhile, the Archbishop met the parishioners in different groups – parish council, mahila sangh, choir, youth, etc. There was a short felicitation of the newly ordained deacons through a cultural program performed by the seminarians from Pratiksha Major Seminary and Gurgaon Minor Seminary. It was followed by a sumptuous lunch served at the school premises.
For the many communicants and the confirmed, for all the faithful of Shahbad parish the day was a grace-filled one. The missionary spirit of Xavier and his zeal to ablaze the world with God's love find localized expression in the very way the parishioners care for one another and attempt to make this a community of love proclaiming the presence of Jesus in our midst.
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