“It’s a day you won’t forget” Archbishop tells communicants at newly erected Church

Bengaluru, Oct 30: The newly erected St. Antony’s Church in Munnekola, Maratahalli saw the participation of over 1000 people for the First Holy Communion and Confirmation service presided over by Archbishop Rev.Dr. Bernard Moras at 8.30 am on October 30th.

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The sacraments were administered for the first time since the Church was erected on October 2nd 2016 and its first parish priest Fr. G. Anthony Mahendran (former Secretary to the Archbishop) installed in office.  86 children who were administered the sacraments listened with rapt attention as the Archbishop told them “I am sure this is a great day to remember and you will remember it for the rest of your life because you are the first to receive the Holy Sacraments of Holy Communion and Confirmation in this new Church”.

A fast growing church, St. Anthony’s church presently has approximately 300 families and can accommodate at least 2000 people given the advantage of a balcony. A grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, a shrine of St. Anthony and an adoration Chapel were blessed by the Archbishop on the same day.  After giving the benediction of the Blessed Sacrament at the end of the mass, the Archbishop carried the monstrance to the Adoration chapel in procession.

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In his homily, the Archbishop drew reference to the richness of God’s Mercy in the light of the day’s gospel of Jesus encountering Zaccheus. “Zaccheus was rejected and not loved by anyone.  People hated him and isolated him.  It was a very painful experience for him, but with his meeting with Jesus, he discovers the abundant mercy and forgiveness of God on the face of Jesus.  It is the mercy of God that he experienced that transformed his whole life and made him feel a gush of happiness for the first time in his life.  The Lord Jesus in the same way looks mercifully upon each one of us and invites us to experience what Zacheus experienced”.

Priests from the Neo-catecumunate  community in Maratahalli, Parish Priest Fr. G Anthony Mahendran and Archbishop Secretary Fr. Paneer Selva Kumar con-celebrated with the Archbishop.  The Archbishop was felicitated by the parish priest and congregation after the mass.

St. Anthony’s Church was sub-station to St. Annes Church Maratahalli till October 2nd 2016.