JOY OF CHRISTMAS @ PUSHPASHRAMA
“And Mary’s boy child Jesus Christ was born on Christmas day...”
The feast every Christian household looks forward to, a day that
marks a renewal in Christian life and an occasion that binds all
the children of the most high is Christmas. After intense
spiritual preparation and completing the humongous tasks of
preparing huge Choir bound, Santa themed star and the Crib based
on the Ascent of Mount Carmel, the fathers and brothers prepared
themselves to celebrate the incarnation of our Lord on the 24th
of December at 9: 30 PM in our beautifully illumined Shrine.
Melodious carols were sung by the brothers during this time. The
mass which began at 10:00 PM was presided over by Fr. Oswald
Crasta who preached a meaningful homily based on the symbols we
use in Christmas like the star, gifts, tree etc.
This year, the community decided to celebrate Christmas
differently with the sole intention that the lay faithful should
also participate fully in this feast. Hence a creative
representation of the nativity of Jesus was presented by the
brothers after the penitential rite. Subsequent to the
celebration of the mass, people were entertained with variety of
games like Tambola (Housie- Housie) and Lucky star of
Pushpashrama. Prizes were also distributed to best star and
Christmas tree which were displayed in the shrine campus. The
faithful also shared Christmas joy by savoring coffee and cake
after the mass.
After greeting the people, the fathers and brothers gathered in
the refectory and as one family and wished each other. Kuswar
was relished along with the sip of the home made wine prepared
by Fr. John. The feast also put a solemn end to the three days
of house caroling, wherein brothers with guitars, tambourines
and cymbals spread the Christmas message and also invited them
to the Sadbhavana day.
On the 25th of December, English mass was held at 8: 00 AM which
was celebrated by Fr. Pradeep Pinto. Cake was distributed after
the mass and people went home after appreciating the meaning and
beauty of the Crib and the Star.