By Joyce DMello for BIS Mumbai

On April 11, 2026, St John Bosco Parish, Borivali, opened its doors for yet another special Mass dedicated to the sick and homebound. The evening shone with grace as the elderly, the infirm, and those confined to their homes arrived in large numbers, to witness the joy of the Resurrection.

Fr Vishal Lopez, our main celebrant, welcomed the parishioners with heartfelt warmth, remembering also those who could not be present. The “Gloria,” sung with passion, filled the church with voices that rang out in joy for the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In his homily, Father spoke of ‘prayer’ as a source of strength and healing. He explained that suffering touches all humanity, not only the sick or homebound, and encouraged the faithful not to feel rejected or lost when faced with the question, “Why, Lord, am I suffering?” Father Lopez emphasized that pain and suffering, though difficult, can be transformed into strength and gain power to fight such suffering with the Lord’s glory. He noted that while many hold firm in their faith, others wrestle with doubt. Sharing the story of a young girl who questioned God’s existence amid the suffering and destruction of war, Father explained that such pain is not caused by God but by humans and their greed. He reassured the faithful that our God is a great healer, and concluded by reminding us, that Jesus Himself endured suffering, with the marks of the nails in His palms as a powerful testimony.

After the homily, Father renewed the Baptismal vows and sprinkled holy water, helping the sick, the homebound, and others present to connect more deeply with the Resurrection of Christ.

The Mass concluded with special blessings, leaving radiant smiles on the faces of the faithful. For many, simply being present in the church and in the Lord’s presence was a sanctified grace of Easter—a truly remarkable gift and achievement.

Following the final blessings, the parish extended the celebration with refreshments for the sick and homebound, creating moments of joy and fellowship. Fr Lopez met each parishioner individually, and wished them “Happy Easter.” His warm gesture lit up their faces with happiness and made them realize that they are not alone and lonely rather Jesus will always be with them as a vital member through the body of Christ.

For the sick and homebound, this was a deeply memorable evening and blessing—despite the sickness; an opportunity to leave their homes and rejoice in the Lord’s presence within His church and forget the pain they undergo from time to time.

Thanks to Fr Lopez, for making this service truly special where many broken souls were made whole again. It is for sure that all the faithful will surely reflect on this grace and resilience of the spirit.