St. Francis de Sales parish celebrates Mother’s Day

KOHIMA: Along with the rest of the world, St. Francis de Sales (SFS) parish Kohima town celebrated Mother’s Day at the church premises on Sunday.

Delivering his homily as the main celebrant during one of the Eucharistic celebrations, Rev. Fr. Mhabemo Mathew said they were observing the occasion to celebrate for all those innumerable times when “we were rescued by the heart of a loving mother.”

Fr. Mathew made reference to the farewell discourse of Jesus during the Last Supper during which He told the apostles, “If you love me, keep my commandments,” which meant listening to his word and putting into practice.

He narrated that Mother’s Day celebration was the fruit of a mother who protested the killing of World War I. Fr. Mathew recounted how America’s president Woodrow Wilson pronounced the second Sunday in May as Mothers’ Day, “a day dedicated not to honouring mothers, but to honour their wishes that the killing be stopped and let love and peace reign.”

“This aspect of Mother’s Day is too often ignored, even by the church,” the priest said adding that it is not enough to set aside a day to honour mothers. On the contrary, he stated that “We must devote ourselves to rid our social institutions of the violence and killing, which have caused many mothers so much pain and grief.”

While highlighting on the recent violence in neighbouring state of Manipur, Fr. Mathew urged to strive for a society which reflects the nurturing, sacrificing and loving nature of mothers.

During the mass, the faithful showered mothers with love, gifts, tributes, and songs.