On Sunday, May 3, 2026, during the 4:00 p.m. Solemn Eucharistic Celebration, 43 little angels of St Lawrence Church & Shrine, Bondel Parish, were blessed to receive their First Holy Communion, a sacred moment that beautifully coincided with the Parish Establishment Day. In a prayerful and grace-filled celebration, the children joyfully received Jesus for the first time, marking a beautiful milestone in their journey of faith.

The Holy Mass was solemnly celebrated by Most Rev. Dr Francis Serrao, Bishop of Mysore, along with Rev. Fr Andrew Leo D’Souza, Parish Priest, Rev. Fr Lawrence Cutinha, Assistant Priest, and Rev. Fr Peter Gonsalves, Principal of St Lawrence English Medium School. V. Rev. Fr James D’Souza, Vicar Forane of City Varado; Rev. Fr Vincent Saldanha, Manager of Codialbail Press; Rev. Fr Eugene D’Silva; Rev. Fr Premprakash; and several guest priests were also present. The Eucharistic celebration was further enriched by the presence of these concelebrating priests, adding to the solemnity and spiritual significance of the occasion.

Rev. Fr Prem Prakash D’Souza gave a meaningful homily based on the Gospel of John 14:1–12, highlighting Jesus’ words, “I am the way, the truth, and the life,” and inviting all to follow Him with trust. He encouraged the children to look up to their patron saints, Blessed Imelda Lambertini and St Tarcisius, and to place Jesus at the center of their lives. As they received Jesus for the first time in the Holy Eucharist, he urged them to become like Him in their thoughts, words, and actions. He also reminded them to stay close to Jesus by attending Holy Mass regularly and living a life rooted in prayer and goodness.

The children’s choir, under the gentle guidance of Mrs Jasmine, uplifted the celebration with their melodious and prayerful singing, touching the hearts of the faithful and drawing everyone into a deeper and more active participation in the sacred liturgy.

The Catechism teachers, with great dedication and love, prepared the children spiritually and liturgically, ensuring their meaningful involvement in every part of the Holy Mass—from the introduction and proclamation of the Word of God to the Responsorial Psalm, prayers of the faithful, and thanksgiving. Each moment was carried out with devotion, clarity, and a true spirit of reverence.

Filled with grace and divine joy, the children radiated happiness as they received Jesus for the first time, their shining faces reflecting Christ’s presence within them.

At the end of the Holy Eucharistic Celebration, Rev. Fr Andrew Leo D’Souza expressed his heartfelt thanks to Most Rev. Dr Francis Serrao and the concelebrating priests for their gracious presence and blessings.

He also lovingly acknowledged the dedicated service of the Catechism teachers, whose patient guidance and unwavering commitment helped prepare the children to worthily receive Jesus in the Holy Eucharist.

Fr Andrew expressed his sincere gratitude to all the faithful whose presence made the celebration grace-filled and memorable. As a cherished remembrance, each First Communicant was presented with a rosary and a scapular, symbolizing their ongoing journey of faith with Christ.

Following the grace-filled Eucharistic Celebration, a joyful felicitation program was held on the church premises to honor the First Communicants. First, the parents processed, followed by the children holding lamps, and finally the Bishop and the priests. The children then made their way to the stage with hearts full of joy and gratitude.

Ninisha Monteiro warmly welcomed the gathering, setting a beautiful tone of celebration and thanksgiving for the occasion.

Radiating divine joy, the communicants raised their voices in a heartfelt thanksgiving hymn, followed by a lively action song expressing their happiness in receiving Jesus.

The celebration further enriched by a joyful cake-cutting ceremony with the priests, Vice President, secretary –PPC and the communicants. In a beautiful spiritual gesture, the Bishop joined the children in cutting the cake, symbolizing their unity in Christ and the shared joy of receiving Him in the Holy Eucharist. As a token of love and faith, each child was presented with a Bible and a certificate, encouraging them to grow in God’s Word.

Rev. Fr Andrew Leo D’Souza felicitated Bishop Francis Serrao with a bouquet as a gesture of love and gratitude.

In his message, Bishop Most Rev. Dr Francis Serrao expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Parish Priest for inviting him for the second time to the First Holy Communion celebration. He fondly appreciated Rev. Fr Andrew Leo D’Souza for his dedicated service to the parish and wished him a fruitful ministry in the years ahead. Addressing the children, the Bishop shared a beautiful and meaningful message: Jesus comes into our hearts in a spiritual way, filled with love—not as a physical body that needs space. He reminded them that Jesus draws close to guide, bless, and remain with them always. What Jesus seeks is love; even a small heart, when filled with great love, is big enough to receive Him.

As a cherished memory and to recognize the communicants along with their families, a group photograph was taken together with the priests.

In his message, Rev. Fr Andrew Leo D’Souza congratulated the communicants on receiving their First Holy Communion and encouraged them to grow spiritually by staying close to Jesus. He also urged parents to guide their children in faith, teaching them the importance of the Eucharist and regular participation in Holy Mass. He expressed heartfelt gratitude to all associations, sponsors, volunteers, teachers, and everyone who made the celebration a grand and meaningful occasion.

V. Rev. Fr James D’Souza, Vicar Forane, extended his warm wishes to all the communicants, reminding them that as they received Jesus—the living tabernacle—He now dwells in their hearts and homes. He encouraged them to grow in the love of Jesus and to remain close to Him always, nurturing their faith through His presence. He also appreciated Rev. Fr Andrew Leo D’Souza for his selfless service over the past eight years and wished him God’s blessings and success in his future ministry.

The Catechism teachers—Mrs Lavina Menezes, Mrs Elizabeth Rodrigues, Mrs Lona Alvares, and Mrs Pamela D’Souza—were felicitated in appreciation of their dedicated service in preparing the children for this blessed day. The felicitation program was gracefully compered by Mr Wilfred Alvares.

The celebration concluded with a heartfelt vote of thanks delivered by the communicants, Sweedal and Sohan. The grace before the meal was led by Rev. Fr Lawrence Cutinha, invoking God’s blessings upon all.

A festive meal along with ice cream was then shared by all, strengthening the bonds of community. The cultural programme added joy and vibrancy to the occasion, as children from the parish entertained everyone with lively dance and music.

Photography:Stanly Stanley Bantwal

Report:Meena Serrao Barboza