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Princes Town celebrates feast day

Main celebrant AEC General Secretary Fr John Persaud (centre) with parish priest Fr Santhosh Puliyammakkal (right) and visiting priest Fr Shijo Saviour

The banner, “No Cross, No Crown” greeted parishioners and well wishers as they entered the Holy Cross RC, Princes Town on September 17 to celebrate the patronal feast day.

Mass was celebrated by AEC General Secretary, Fr John Persaud, parish priest, Fr Santhosh Puliyammakkal MSFS and visiting priest from India, Fr Shijo Saviour MSFS.

At the beginning of his homily, Fr Persaud explained that although the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross is celebrated on September 14, celebrating the feast day on the Sunday is allowed.

Fr Persaud based his homily on the Sunday’s gospel (Mt 18:21–35). He said that we cannot build a community of disciples without forgiveness and further explained the act of forgiveness by using the example of Peter, asking Jesus, “How many times does one extend forgiveness to another”, to which Jesus replied seventy times seven. “In other words, Jesus is saying forgive infinitely,” remarked Fr Persaud.

Noting forgiveness is not easy for us since it goes against the ‘grain of humanness’, we need to look beyond the injury and build a new moment of friendship. He quoted Pope Francis’, ‘we should build bridges not walls’, thus, together we becoming united in the Eucharistic expression, transformed and empowered to live in the Body of the Lord.

During the Mass, a spiritual dance was executed by the Hardbargain community. The youth choir led the music liturgy and during the singing of Hosanna, it was a joy to see the young children waving red flags embossed with gold-coloured crosses – a gesture demonstrating the triumph of the cross.

Mass was followed by a luncheon at the parish hall. Indeed, it was a fun-filled and fruitful day for our parish. – Annette Lall Singh