Christmas celebrated with pomp and gaiety in Udupi

Eucharistic celebrations were held in all churches here on Wednesday evening. Rev. Dr. Gerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop of Udupi Catholic Diocese, conducted the mass at the Milagres Cathedral in Kallianpur at 8 p.m. He conducted the midnight mass at the Mother of Sorrows Church here and delivered his Christmas message.

All the churches in the district were beautifully decorated with electric lamps and glowing stars for Christmas. The cribs depicting the birth of Jesus Christ were the centres of attraction.

Christmas carols were sung. The arrival of Santa Claus and various competitions were other highlights. There were Christmas celebrations at CSI churches and Syrian Catholic churches also.

In his Christmas message, Dr. Lobo expressed concern over increasing incidences of terrorism in the world. Even innocent children and persons were now being targeted by terrorists. The world wanted peace and compassion now more than at any other time.

The wars between some countries showed that human beings had forgotten the path shown by God, he said.

Jesus Christ was born in an ordinary family and gave up his life for the welfare of humanity. “People should follow the message given by Christ to the world and become messengers of peace,” Dr. Lobo said.