LAST HOUR TO FIRST HOUR IN EMPOLI
December 31, 2014 a day of thanking the Lord for the marvelous year and to inaugurate the New Year 2015 with full enthusiasm and eagerness. To mark this event at Santa Maria Church, Empoli, Italy an adoration to the Blessed Sacrament was conducted by Fr Manoj Braganza, Assistant parish priest. During this hour all the faithful on their knees adored the Eucharistic Lord and expressed their gratitude for the year 2014. After which at 6-00pm, thanksgiving Holy Eucharist was presided over by Fr Donath, the parish priest. Fr Roshan Lobo preached a homily explaining the presence of Jesus a midst us and the role of Mary, the Mother of God in the church and in the life of humanity. After the Spiritual celebration all the faithful congregated in the parish hall to share the fellowship dinner of the last hour of 2014 which commenced at 8-00pm. During which Fr Donath invoked the grace of God through prayer and thanked for all those people who were instrumental in organizing this unique event. When the clock knocked the last minute of 2014, the entire gathering with jubilation, celebrated the first moments of the New Year along with the parish community with songs and dance. Thus a warm welcome to the first hour of 2015 was declared.