We are happy to publish the first blog post of Fr. Pinto, from India, another dearest friend of ours. He is such a wonderful person and very committed and always smiling priest. We often remember him and are grateful to him for great help he gave to us in our pastoral work. We miss him very much but we are happy to see that he is doing well in that great country of India. We are still in Easter time so that sharing this experience of him and his community is still relevant and meaningful.

Fr. Pinto Rockwin

For Christians, Holy Week, starting on Palm Sunday and ending with Easter Sunday (March 27 this year) is considered the source and summit of ecclesiastical and liturgical year. Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday along with Easter Sunday – are called sacred Triduum whereby Christians commemorate the last days of Jesus here on Earth when he expressed his deep most love for His people through his passion, death and resurrection.

Here, I narrate these three-day experiences of a small town called Kulur in the city of Mangalore, India. The parish is dedicated to the patronage of St. Antony of Padova. On Maundy Thursday, reliving the cenacle experience of Jesus, for the first time, women were included in washing of the feet of the disciples as per the Pope’s directive (see photos). Priest who is considered as a an eminent figure in the society here, the washing of the feet communicates a very formidable message of service and humility as intended by our Lord.

On Good Friday, apart from the liturgical service as prescribed by the Liturgy, there is a particular custom in this part of the world. They call it ‘Bringing down Jesus from the Cross’. A group of persons come in with lanterns and climb the ladder first to remove the nails and then, to bring His body down from the cross followed by the procession of the statue of Jesus and Or Lady of Sorrows in the town (See images). Incidentally, this year witnessed the culmination of 25 years to this custom.

Finally, on Holy Saturday, the church filled with the faithful participated in the luminous liturgy of Easter night and renewed their Baptismal vows. People usually abstain from eating meat throughout the Lent season, thereby, day of Easter when the angels sing, ‘Glory’, peoples acclaim, ‘Alleluia’, they enjoy their fellowship meal in their families. Being a Catholic Priest from few months I sincerely experienced the profound significance of these moments which we commemorate every Sunday, on the day of the Lord.