Liturgy and Lectors Training Programme held at Our Lady of Mercy Church, Manjeshwar
Manjeshwar, June
1, 2025
A special programme on Liturgy and Lectors training
programme was conducted on Sunday, June 1, 2025, at Our Lady of Mercy Church,
Manjeshwar. The resource person for the programme was Rev. Dr. Praveen Leo
Lasrado, Secretary of the Catholic Board of Education, Diocese of Mangalore.
The day began with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist at 8:00 AM, presided
over by Rev. Dr. Praveen Leo Lasrado. Our parish priest, Rev. Fr. Edwin Francis
Pinto, concelebrated the Mass.
During the homily, which lasted about 35 minutes, Fr.
Praveen gave an insightful and enriching talk on the meaning and scope of
liturgy. He explained that liturgy is vast and that the Mass is only one part
of it. Since the Eucharist holds a central place, we often refer to it as
"the liturgy," but in fact, all sacraments are part of the liturgy.
He spoke about the need for prayer and worship, and why our participation in
the Mass is important. He invited the faithful to reflect on their personal
disposition while attending Mass and encouraged attentiveness and active
participation.
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Fr. Praveen gave special emphasis to the ministry of the
Word, explaining how reading during Mass is a sacred act of proclaiming God’s
Word. He clarified that it is not about self-display or showcasing one's
abilities, but about serving others through meaningful and reverent
proclamation. He also highlighted important aspects such as preparation,
interest, faith, proper dress code, and the responsibility that comes with
being a reader. His message was both thought-provoking and spiritually
enriching, and it was well received by the entire congregation.
Following the Mass, light tea and snacks were served. A
special instructional session was then conducted in the Church attended by 76
participants, with 10 representatives invited from each ward. During this
session, Fr. Praveen Leo offered detailed guidance on various aspects of
liturgical participation, including the entrance procession and the role of
proclaimers of the Word. He presented a PowerPoint covering 12 important points
to be remembered by readers. These included proper posture, reverence, voice
modulation, clarity, and the spiritual attitude one must carry while reading.
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To reinforce the instruction, Fr. Praveen gave a practical
demonstration on how to approach the lectern, bow, adjust the microphone, and
read with appropriate pauses and expression. He invited three participants to
read aloud from the lectern and offered live corrections and suggestions for
improvement. A short question-and-answer session followed, during which
participants were able to clarify their doubts.
The session concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by the
Parish Pastoral Parishad Secretary Mrs Christine Dsouza. She expressed
heartfelt gratitude to Rev. Dr. Praveen Leo Lasrado for his valuable guidance,
to our parish priest Fr. Edwin Francis Pinto for organizing and supporting the
entire programme, and to all the participants for their enthusiastic presence.
Both the homily during the Mass and the instructional
session afterward were deeply appreciated and found to be highly informative
and spiritually uplifting. The programme was a meaningful initiative that has
certainly enriched the liturgical understanding and participation of our
parishioners.
Jayashree Monteiro
Secretary, Liturgical Commission
Our Lady of Mercy Church, Manjeshwar
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