Mangalore, Dec 25: Christmas Eve, the night of Dec 24, is extremely significant for Christians as Jesus is believed to have been born at midnight. In the past, the Christmas ceremony used to commence at 11:30 p.m. with the singing of carols, followed by the solemn Eucharistic celebration at 12:00 midnight. A few years back, churches changed the mass timings to 7:30 p.m. or 8:00 p.m. to ensure the protection of the people attending the mass and to enable them to get back home safely.
St Sebastian Church, Bendur
Milagres Church
Rosario Cathedral
St Joseph’s Church, Jeppu
Holy Cross Church, Cordel, Kulshekar
Urwa Church, Ladyhill
Mother Teresa Church, Paldane
Churches all over Mangalore held that Christmas Eve mass sometime between 7:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. Since the churches were overcrowded with people, the chill of winter was hardly felt. The devotees exhibited exemplary discipline, without any rush or jostling around.
The bells rang and carols were sung in various parishes across Mangalore Diocese. The entire city looked resplendent with miniature lights and twinkling stars. Adorned Christmas trees were placed at significant spots, adding to the charm of Christmas. A wide range of cribs, some of them live, illustrated the birth of the Savior.
Mass commenced at 10:00 p.m. at Rosario Cathedral, with Bishop of Mangalore Diocese Dr. Aloysius Paul D’Souza concelebrating. In his address, he said that Jesus Christ was created by God and that he incarnated as a poor human being in order to be among the people and teach them the essence of love, harmony, and peace. The bishop also wished everybody a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
The police department ensured smooth flow of traffic and provided security to the people. A police officer was heard to comment that the disciplined nature of the crowd made police job easier.