Bento D'Souza
BHINGAR, DECEMBER 15, 2011: A large crowd of parishioners from Bhingar and Ahmednagar city congregated outside the residence of the Bhingar Presbytery to celebrate Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and the Rite of Reconciliation in preparation for Christmas. Fr. Michael Bansode animated the entire two hour ceremony with insight, talks, visuals and meditation notes on the reality of forgiveness in the Sacrament of the Church and the presence of Christ in the Eucharistic Sacrament.
The Youth in the Music Ministry accompanied him in song and the online presentation of multi-media visuals and film clips on the projection screen ahead helped the crowd to focus on the sacred experience. The people left the place with a clean heart and no sign of sin after having experiencing the mercy and forgiveness of the compassionate Jesus in the sacrament of Confession.
The people contributed to the event by their support and attendance in large numbers. This is the second time the Maha Aradhana is conducted this year as an anti-dote to those hesitant Catholics who frequent the preaching and evangelism of Protestant Pastors in an effort to poach regular Catholics to other Protestant denominational charismatic meetings in their churches. People find this sort of religiosity appealing and do frequent the sacrament of Penance in large numbers. This kind of prayer also helps Catholics prepare for the major festival of Christmas by frequenting the Sacrament of Penance. If Christ is not born in the heart, then he will not be found beneath the Christmas tree, below the Star or in the strawy Crib.
'Prepare for the birth of the Lord', the theme was aptly communicated.