Oscar Lobo
PUNE, JANUARY 02, 2012: The parishioners of Sacred Heart Parish, Yerwada were fortunate to celebrate the midnight mass at 11.30pm. It was after many years that they were able to conduct a midnight service. Permission was sought and obtained from the Yerwada police, who graciously granted this. The mass at midnight, once again rekindled the spirit of Christmas.
Over three thousand attended the service, which was led by the main celebrant Rev Fr. Walter D'Souza, youth director of the Archdiocese of Mumbai. The concelebrants were Frs. Anton D'Souza, Donald Fernandez, George Miranda, Anthony Goyal, and Ignatius Pandit.
The theme "Be rooted in Jesus Christ," was underscored by the backdrop of the Bethlehem story, and was carried forward in the tri-lingual homily (English-Marathi-Hindi) by the main celebrant, Fr. Walter. That he evoked a rapport with the faithful was evident by the throngs who sought to meet with him later.
On Christmas Day, for the first time in the history of this parish, there were five masses throughout the morning, for the convenience of people who could not make it to the midnight service. For the inmates of the nearby Yerwada jail, a special mass was celebrated inside the jail premises by Fr. George Miranda, sdb.