As Maundy Thursday arrives, it signals the end of the Lenten season for Christians across Goa, bringing into focus the meaning of this sacred day and the traditions that continue to shape faith and community
Maundy Thursday marks the beginning of the Holy Triduum or the Paschal Triduum, the most sacred period in the Christian liturgical calendar. Over three days, the Church reflects on the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, a journey that lies at the very heart of the faith. Across Goa, these days are observed with deep reverence, quiet prayer, and a sense of spiritual anticipation.
The first of these three days is Maundy Thursday, commemorating the Last Supper of Jesus with His disciples. The term “Maundy” is derived from the Latin mandatum, meaning “commandment”, a reference to Christ’s call to love.
Fr Tamatur Cardozo, a Salesian priest from Don Bosco Panaji, explains, “On Maundy Thursday, Jesus gives us a commandment to love. This love has two dimensions, love for God and love for neighbour.” This, he says, is a call that goes beyond words, asking believers to live out that love through humility, service, and a deeper relationship with both God and one another.
Threefold significance: Eucharist, priesthood and the call to serve
At the centre of Maundy Thursday lies a threefold significance: The institution of the Holy Eucharist, the priesthood, and the call to humble service.
“At the Last Supper, Jesus broke bread and offered wine, saying, ‘This is my body, and this is my blood.’ This is the foundation of the Eucharist,” Fr Tamatur explains. “By receiving Jesus during the Holy Eucharist, we become one with Him and are called to be holy. It is during this sacrament of the Holy Eucharist that we experience God’s love for us,” he says.
The day also marks the institution of the priesthood, understood in two ways. “There is the ritual priesthood, those ordained to serve the Church and administer the sacraments,” Fr Tamatur says. “The other type of priesthood refers to those who are called and sent. As Christians, we are called to experience God’s love, and we are sent to be witnesses of this love in whatever vocation we may receive,” he explains.
Washing of feet: A living witness to humility and love
Yet, perhaps the most powerful and visible expression of Maundy Thursday is the washing of feet, a moment that captures the essence of humility.
“Jesus bent down to wash the feet of his disciples at the Last Supper,” says Fr Tamatur. “It is a reminder of humble service to each other.”
During the evening Mass, twelve individuals are chosen to represent the apostles. One by one, their feet are washed and gently wiped, a simple act, yet one that carries profound meaning.
For many, the experience leaves a lasting impression.
“When the priest bent down to wash my feet, it changed something in me,” recalls Macbeth Pereira from Cunchelim-Tivim. “I realised that if a priest serves in this way, why should anything stop us from humbly serving others?”
This experience is often transformative and even life-changing. Joel D’Cunha from Bicholim describes the moment as deeply personal. “When I was chosen, I believed myself to be unworthy,” he shares. “This thought persisted even when the priest was at my feet, and yet in that moment of deep humility, it felt like something divine was unfolding before my eyes,” he says, adding that this experience began to alter his lifestyle. He grew more in awe of the Holy Eucharist, and for him it became a living, holy encounter.
Alongside these traditions, the sharing of hot cross buns adds a quieter, familiar note to the day. These sweet, spiced rolls, marked with a cross, are typically prepared on Maundy Thursday, are distributed at the Holy Mass, and are then eaten on Good Friday.
This marks the end of Lent, while the cross on top symbolises the cross of Christ on which He was crucified. A single hot cross bun received at Church is often shared within a family, by being broken into smaller pieces according to the number of family members.
As Maundy Thursday draws to a close, it remains a call for a renewal of faith. It prepares the Church and her people for the days to come – for the solemnity of Good Friday and the hope of Easter.
