Bishop Peter Paul Saldanha Leads Solemn Good Friday Ceremony at Risen Saviour Church, Bovikanam

Kasaragod, April 18, 2025: Most Rev. Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, the Bishop of Mangalore, led the solemn Good Friday liturgy at Risen Saviour Church, Bovikanam, Muliyar, in the Kasaragod district, at 3:00 PM on April 18, 2025. The ceremony was hosted by the parish community under the pastoral leadership of Rev. Fr Claudy Stany Vas SAC, the parish priest.

The commemoration of the Passion and Death of Jesus Christ was observed with deep devotion and reverence. The liturgy included the Liturgy of the Word, the Veneration of the Holy Cross, and Holy Communion, marking the second day of the Sacred Paschal Triduum.

In his Good Friday homily, Bishop Peter Paul reflected on the mystery of the Cross and the redeeming love of Christ. “The Cross is not a symbol of defeat, but of hope and victory — a sign of God’s unconditional love for all humanity,” he said, inviting the faithful to live lives rooted in forgiveness, compassion, and self-giving.

Earlier in the day, Way of the Cross services were conducted across all parishes in the Diocese of Mangalore. Devotees of all ages walked in prayerful silence, meditating on the Stations of the Cross, which depict Jesus’ final journey to Calvary. In many parishes, the stations were held outdoors, fostering a communal atmosphere of reflection and devotion.

Rev. Fr Claudy Stany Vas SAC, along with the parish team and volunteers, coordinated the liturgy with prayerful precision and care, ensuring that the congregation could fully participate in the spiritual richness of the day.

As part of the Church’s tradition, the faithful observed the day with fasting and abstinence, spending the evening in quiet prayer, scripture reading, and adoration, in preparation for the joyous celebration of the Resurrection on Easter Sunday.

Fr Anil Ivan Fernandes

Canara Communication Centre