Passover Meal Celebration

Decked up in their Sunday best, with beaming faces and a warm-hearted approach, many Peterites trooped in.  Occasion : To participate in a Passover Meal.  Venue: The terrace of Kostka House, St. Peter’s Hsg. Colony, beautifully illuminated and tastefully decorated.

First a group of children welcomed Fr. Gerard.  A candle light procession with hymns followed.  Fr. Gerard threw more light on-
The Festival of Passover: Oldest and most important in Judaism, to give grateful thanks to God for delivering the Jews from slavery under the Egyptians and to be back as free people after 400 years.  Only those people who had undergone such a traumatic experience could fully appreciate what freedom was.  Seen here is the Hand of God – caring, merciful, loving.

Washing of the feet: Fr. Gerard washed the feet of the person next to him.  He and others followed till everybody present was taken care of.  Symbolic - Be of service.

Passover Meal: Time for rejoicing and celebration.  A planned and elaborate meal with family and friends.  More so, small or big communities – to show we are God’s community not living in isolation.  The meal consisted of 2 to 3 hours when children played, others told stories of the exodus.  A chair remained empty to take care of a stranger at all times.  In this case a neighbour’s friend filled the gap.

Praise: Fr. Gerard praised all efforts of all those who had contributed in some way or other to make the function a success, more so the efforts of the Core Group animator.

Meal: A sumptuous meal was enjoyed by all.  In between and later, more than a Hi, there was greasing of wheels of social interaction.

Then it was time to say a pleasant Adieu Amigo – Hasta la Vista.

Next year in Jerusalem!

On 16th March 2008, St. Peter’s Colony became the first zone in the parish to celebrate a Passover Meal on its premises. Kostka House Terrace was the venue and saw over 50 enthusiastic participants join in the festivities. We were ably led through the meal by Fr. Gerard who enlightened as well as entertained us through the explanations of the origin and traditions of the Passover Seder.

Did you know that the Passover started out as a pagan festival? It was integrated into Jewish custom and later given a new meaning by Jesus who elevated it to new heights by actually becoming the Passover Lamb.

The meal consisted of Wine
Bitter herbs - symbolizing the bitterness and harshness of the slavery which the Jews endured in Ancient Egypt. (We had lettuce and karela/bitter gourd)
Charoset - A sweet, brown, pebbly mixture, representing the mortar used by the Jewish slaves to build the storehouses of Egypt. (We had date ladoos)
Roasted lamb - symbolizing the korban Pesach or Passover sacrifice (We had mutton stew made by the fabulous chefs at Koinonia)
Beitzah - A roasted egg, symbolizing the korban chagigah (festival sacrifice).

Special thanks to our zone coordinator Vanessa Menezes and also Del DeSouza who organized the event with great attention to detail. We look forward to our next Passover meal… next year in Jerusalem!

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