By Fr Benny Palliparambil –
The Shrine of St Jude Thaddeus at Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh is the first shrine in honour of St Jude Thaddeus in India. The devotion is quiet famous not only in Jhansi but also for the people of various states and mainly from cities such as Mumbai, Goa, Delhi and so on. Bishop Fenech, the first Bishop of Jhansi, was instrumental in building up the devotion to St. Jude here. The annual famous feast in presence of thousands of people is celebrated every year on the 28th October.
This year the preparation for the feast of St Jude Thaddeus commenced at Jhansi today (Tuesday). Rt Rev. Peter Parapullil, Bishop of Jhansi, inaugurated the novena prior to the feast with the blessing and hoisting the flag, followed by the Eucharistic celebration and Novena prayers.
Before Covid-19, thousands of pilgrims used to throng the shrine to take part in the first flag hoisting ceremony that’s presided by Rt Rev. Peter Parapullil, Bishop of Jhansi. The bishop blessed the flag on Tuesday and hoisted it. The hoisting of the flag symbolizes that devotees’ hearts too are to be raised towards the Almighty God with the intervention of St. Jude. The festivities will culminate on October 28.
The occasion is being live-streamed at the diocesan official Youtube channel ‘Jhansi Diocese’. The daily schedule during Novena days goes like this – Rosary followed by Holy Mass in English at 6. 00 am, Holy Mass in Marathi at 8.30 am and Rosary followed by Holy Mass at 4.30 pm.
After each Eucharistic celebration, there is the Novena and Blessing with the relic, due to the pandemic situations. Kissing the relic, which was a custom in the past years, is not allowed due to Covid-19 protocol. On the 28th (the feast day), the Holy Mass in Marathi at 5.45 am, English at 6.45 am, Solemn Eucharistic celebration (Main Mass) in English by Rt. Rev. Peter Parapullil at 9.00 am, Holy Mass in English at 12.00 pm, and at 4.00 pm Holy Mass in Hindi, followed by Holy Hour and Benediction, blessing with the Relic of St Jude Thaddeus.
This year, like the past year, people’s physical presence is restricted due to Covid-19 protocol and arrangements have been made for online services. However, pilgrims with personal experience do throng the venue. Their faith brings the fruition. There are people who experience healing; there are people who experience protection; there are people who experience unexplainable intervention of the divine in their life. In short, their presence even when the option to remain at home and watch online or physically participate, speaks volumes about St Jude Thaddeus’ patronage.
Our collective prayer is the divine experience in everyone’s life through the intercession of St Jude Thaddeus, the patron of the impossible causes.