Palm Sunday was celebrated in BHSS Dimapur, Kohima cathedral, MGOS church in Dimapur along with the rest of the world on April 9.
BHSS: To signify and celebrate the victory and triumphal entry of Jesus to Jerusalem, Bethesda Higher Secondary School (BHSS) Walford Dimapur unlike the other years organized “Palm Sunday” procession on Sunday.
The procession started from the school premises via Burma Camp-Golaghat Road Point to Deluxe Point, Bata Charali through fly over and back to Walford via Supermarket.
More than thousand students along with the teachers and staff took part in the procession holding palm leaves, placards that reads “Jesus is the king of King”, “Hosanna to the highest” and “Glory to the highest” etc.
Students were seen singing praises of Jesus, the King, beating drums and shouting Hosanna to the King along the roadside spreading the message of Palm Sunday. They were divided into four houses Red, Yellow, Green and Blue. Some students were also seen dressed in their traditional attire as well as dressed like angels.
Later, to encourage the students for their participation, they were awarded on the basis of slogan, dresses, audibility and discipline, wherein girls category Yellow House bagged the first position, Green House in second position, Blue and Red in third position. In boys category Green House, Red House, Blue and Yellow bagged first, second and third positions respectively. (Staff Reporter)
Kohima Cathedral: At the Kohima Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians, bishop of Kohima, Most Rev. Dr. James Thoppil was the main celebrant. Fr. Carolus, vicar general & parish priest of Mary Help of Christians, Cathedral, Frs. Richard, John. P.M., George Punnolil, Jacob Charalel, Thomas, Sunny Joseph and priests from National Vocation Service Centre (NVSC), Pune, concelebrated with the bishop.
Bishop while introducing the Palm Sunday said that the two names for the day – Palm Sunday and Passion Sunday reminded people of two aspects of the celebration, namely the joyful part of proclaiming Christ as the King singing Hosanna and sad part of the passion and death of Christ. During the homily in the church, Bishop said that the triumphant entry of Jesus to Jerusalem and the agonizing passion of Jesus were two aspects of human life.
Over three thousand Catholic faithful participated in the celebration. The liturgy had two parts. For the first part the parishioners gathered at the Junction of Police Headquarter, Kohima where the Bishop prayed and blessed the palm leaves, after which the community proceeded to the Cathedral, singing hymns, with palm leaves in their hands, observing the triumphant entry of Jesus in Jerusalem. In the second part, the liturgy was at the Cathedral Church where Passion narrative from the gospel of Mathew was read and Eucharist celebrated.
Rev. Fr. Carolus Neisalhou, parish priest of the Cathedral, announced to the faithful about the Chrism Mass to be celebrated on April 11 at 3.pm in Cathedral Church during which the bishop along with all the priests working in the diocese would celebrate the priesthood day, thus showing the unity in priesthood and bless the sacred oils.
SXCCK: St Xavier’s Catholic Church Kidima (SXCCK) under diocese of Kohima observed Palm Sunday with administrator of St Joseph’s College, Jakhama, Reverend Father Benny Varghese as main celebrant on Sunday.
Rev. Fr. Benny Varghese addressing in the occasion said Palm Sunday was to recall 2000 years ago where Jesus triumphantly entered Jerusalem. He asked the faithful to keep Jesus in their hearts as the ‘Spiritual King.’
The procession with palm leaf started from Thokhwezu village view to church. Father Benny Varghese also celebrated Holy Mass at Kidima.
MGOS Church: Mar Gregorios Orthodox Syrian (MGOS), Church Midland, Dimapur and Kerala Christian Church, Kohima, celebrated Palm Sunday on April 9.
Morning prayer, holy mass and special Palm Sunday services started at 8 am, followed by procession and blessings on palms and special prayers. Services were conducted in Dimapur by Rev. Fr. Daniel Alexander and at Kohima by Fr. P. S.Varghese. Passion Week special prayers would be conducted in both the Churches.
In a press release Fr. P. S. Varghese, the parish priest informed that every day evening prayer would start at 5.30 p.m and on Maunday Thursday morning prayer would start at 5 a.m followed by morning prayer pass over service, Good Friday morning prayer at 8 a.m followed by Good Friday service and on Holy Saturday morning prayer would start at 8 am with Holy mass. On Easter day, morning prayer would be at 5.30 a.m followed by Easter service.
MGOS church is the only orthodox Syrian church in Nagaland under the diocese of Kolkata. The church is also running MGM Hr Sec School, MGM hostel and MGM college in the city.
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