by Myra D'souza
NORTH ARABIAN VICARIATE, 30 APRIL 2014: April 25, 2014, marked the culmination of eight months of preparation, as, 131 children received their First Holy Communion in St. Therese Church. Hours of practice ensured that the celebration flowed smoothly. The enthusiasm, encouragement and hands-on approach of the Parish Priest, provided all the inspiration, the communion catechists needed, in teaching and preparing our youngsters for their First Holy Communnion.
The Holy Mass was celebrated by Fr. Franco Pereira and concelebrated by Fr. Blany Pinto, Fr. Lionel Braganza and Fr. Francis Kharjia sdb. Fr. Melwin D'cunha OCD, the first Parish Priest of St. Therese Church, was also present. The angelic voices of the children's choir added to the beauty of the celebration.
In his introduction, Fr. Pereira advised the children, to make Jesus their best friend. In his homily, Fr. Pinto urged the children to remember just two points – firstly to go for confession often in order to receive Jesus with a clean heart and secondly to preserve their innocence by attending Mass often. He also encouraged the parents to make daily family prayer and to frequent the Sacraments.
Parents were very appreciative of all the hard work that had gone into making the day a special one for their children. A copy of the Holy Bible, a Rosary and a Scapular was given to each child after the celebration of the Eucharist.