For Holy Thursday this year, since we had two priests in the parish, we were able to celebrate “The Mass of The Lord’s Supper” in two churches. Derek celebrated the Mass in the main church, Santo Antõnio and I celebrated the Mass in a nearby community, Santa Rita. The other 28 churches had to organize their own celebration and the presider was most likely one of the locals.
Here this celebration is called “Ceia do Senhor (Supper of The Lord)” or “Lava Pés (Wash Feet)”.
For the Mass in Santa Rita I was surrounded at the altar by twelve local disciples all dressed up and ready to have their feet washed. I could not see that happening at home. It was always difficult to get volunteers to have their feet washed, but to get the good people to dress up as apostles and stand at the altar with me for the whole Mass, that is another kettle of fish!
John 13:13-14 “You address me as ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord’, and fittingly enough, for that is what I am. But if I washed your feet – I whom am Teacher and Lord – then you must wash each other’s feet.”
Here this celebration is called “Ceia do Senhor (Supper of The Lord)” or “Lava Pés (Wash Feet)”.
For the Mass in Santa Rita I was surrounded at the altar by twelve local disciples all dressed up and ready to have their feet washed. I could not see that happening at home. It was always difficult to get volunteers to have their feet washed, but to get the good people to dress up as apostles and stand at the altar with me for the whole Mass, that is another kettle of fish!
John 13:13-14 “You address me as ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord’, and fittingly enough, for that is what I am. But if I washed your feet – I whom am Teacher and Lord – then you must wash each other’s feet.”
At the altar of Santa Rita surrounded by local disciples.
The altar at Santa Rita decorated. Note the bread, grapes and grape juice for everyone after the ceremony.
The altar in Santo Antõnio all decorated.
One of the flower displays. One thing we are not short of here is flowers and greenery to decorate the church with. Flowers that would cost a fortune at home are picked off the side of the road here.
