‘Palm Sunday’ celebrated in city with traditional customs

Patna: Christian community in the city celebrated ‘Palm Sunday' with devotion and enthusiasm, marking Jesus Christ's victorious arrival in Jerusalem more than 2,000 years ago. The observance signalled the start of the Holy Week. In accordance with traditional customs, worshippers carried palm leaves during the procession, sang religious hymns, and attended the final Sunday mass preceding Good Friday.
Fr Praveen Lobo, OFM Cap, parish priest of Padri ki Haveli in Patna City, spoke about Christ's final journey to Jerusalem before his death and resurrection. He rode on a donkey's colt while his followers laid palm branches along his path. "Similarly, the devotees carried palm leaves and participated in the procession from Mother Teresa Convent to church premises. Over 200 devotees took part in the morning prayer service, during which the Passion of Christ was read from the Bible," he said.
Fr Lobo added, "The entire week after Palm Sunday is considered as Holy Week, and we started preparation for Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday (Black Saturday), and Easter Day."
During the mass, passages describing Christ's suffering and death were read, followed by special prayer services held at various churches throughout the city. At the Queen of Apostle Church in Kurji, an early morning mass vigil drew approximately 4,000 faithful attendees. Fr Selvin Xavier, SJ, the parish priest, led the procession from St Michael's Primary School grounds to the Kurji church premises.
The church's dais was decorated with red and golden cloth, and palm leaves adorned the premises. The ceremony began under the leadership of the main priest, Fr Roshan Beck, who welcomed all the worshippers and invited them to join in the holy mass with the Lord Jesus. During the first Eucharist, Fr Prakash Anthony delivered an inspiring sermon, stating that ‘the kingdom of Jesus begins from families within'. "When we pray together, we make the Lord the centre of our family," he said and emphasised that serving the elderly and the sick in the family is a true Christian spirit.
In the second Eucharist, the main priest was Fr Josie Gathias, and during the evening mass, Fr Sanjay brought to life the triumphal entry of Christ in Jerusalem through his reading. He mentioned that Jesus is a king who enters not on a horse but as a humble king, symbolising service rather than power.
Fr MV Thomas led the procession at Baptist Union Church near Khetan Market. The prayer service was held at 9am, and the church premises reverberated with ‘Hosana'. Similarly, prayer services and processions were also held at other churches, including St Joseph's Pro Cathedral, Bankipore; St Stephen's Church; Patliputra Church; St Luke's Church and Sacred Heart Church, among others.