Mangaluru: The Christian community across parishes in and around the city flocked to their parish churches to partake in grand con celebrated Eucharistic celebrations on Christmas Eve – Wednesday December 24 to herald the birth of the child Jesus, who Christians the world over, believe to be the Son of God.

Churches all over the city wore a festive look, adorned with twinkling stars, architecturally complex cribs, colorful blinking lights and the hustle and bustle of devotees, decked up in their finest ready to welcome the babe Jesus with open arms and devotion to his mission on earth.

Prayer services began with popular carols sung by candlelight, by choirs that underwent rigorous practice.

Leading the faithful in Christmas Eve mass was Most Rev Aloysius Paul D’Souza, Bishop of Mangalore Diocese at the Rosario Cathedral. The Bishop exhorted the gathered to walk on the path shown by Jesus Christ. “The life of Jesus was all about love, and compassion for the fellow human being and one of sacrifice for the betterment of mankind,” he said.

Christian homes too, across the city were tastefully decorated with bright coloured stars. In pursuance of crib competitions held by various organizations and the parishes, families across the city, put in a lot of effort to create cribs that matched reality with the modernity.

The Eucharistic celebrations were followed by games for the young and old alike.