Mount Carmel Celebrates ‘Feast’ with Mass-Spreads Love among Special Children

Mount Carmel Celebrates ‘Feast’ with Mass-Spreads Love among Special Children

Give Thanks To The Lord! Mount Carmel Central School-Mary Hill, Mangaluru Celebrates ‘Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel’ with Mass, and later Spreads Love among Differently-able Children of St Agnes Special school-Bendore, Mangaluru. This year happens to be the Sesquicentennial Jubilee of the Apostolic Carmel Congregation.

Mangaluru: Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary in her role as patroness of the Carmelite Order. Since the 15th century, popular devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel has centered on the Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel also known as the Brown Scapular, a sacramental associated with promises of Mary’s special aid for the salvation of the devoted wearer. Traditionally, Mary is said to have given the Scapular to an early Carmelite named Saint Simon Stock. The liturgical feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is celebrated on July 16.

The Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is known to many Catholic faithful as the “Scapular Feast,” associated with the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, a devotional sacramental signifying the wearer’s consecration to Mary and affiliation with the Carmelite Order. A tradition first attested to in the late 14th century says that Saint Simon Stock, an early prior general of the Carmelite Order, had a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary in which she gave him the Brown Scapular which formed part of the Carmelite habit, promising that those who died wearing the scapular would be saved.

Mount Carmel Central School-Mary Hill here celebrated the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the Patroness of the School on July 13, 2013 (three days earlier than the actual feast day which is on July 16) with a Eucharistic Mass celebrated by Fr Prakash D’cunha OCD, the Director of Infant Jesus Shrine, Bikkaranakatta, Mangaluru. The Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel on the 16th of July commemorates the appearance of Mother Mary on Mount Carmel in Palestine, where she appeared to St. Simon Stock, the Superior General of the Carmelite Order in the year 1251. This day is also celebrated as Foundation day of the Apostolic Carmel Congregation, which was founded by Venerable Mother Veronica, Foundress of the Apostolic Carmel in 1868 at Bayonne, France.

Prior to the commencement of Holy Mass, 150 students including their teachers and parents walked in line with 150 candles and placed them right in front of the Altar, set up inside the Mother Veronica Auditorium. Following the welcome address by Sr Melissa AC-Principal of Mount Carmel Central School, Fr D’cunha began the Eucharistic celebration, and in his homily said, ” Let me reflect on the Five gardens, namely Garden of Lady of Mount Carmel; Garden of God; Garden of Crusaders/Carmelites; Apostolic Garden; and Garden of Carmel, where we all belong. And in our garden, we need to sow the seeds of love, seeds of Hard Work, seeds of sincerity, seeds of dedication and service, and much more”

Advising the children, Fr D’cunha said, “Since you all belong to the Garden of God, and Garden of Lady of Mount Carmel, where Mother Mary is the patroness of this institution, you all need to adore Her, Respect Her, and show your Love towards Her. You need to seek blessings from Her for the success in your academics and in your lives. Be God-fearing children, have faith in your religion and be good children. You need to obey your parents, be faithful and sincere. Mother Mary is a perfect example, you need to follow in her footsteps. You need to show your love and concern to your neighbours and also to the community. Follow the three principles- Be Obedient, Be sincere and Be full of Service to others. You also need to pray for other children who don’t have all the facilities like you do. If you ever feel distressed during your day-call upon our Lady-just say this simple prayer: ‘Mary, Mother of Jesus, please be a Mother to me now.’ I must admit — this prayer will never fail you”.

Before the conclusion of the Mass, Fr D’cunha blessed the Scapular, and later it was distributed to the nearly 450 Catholic students of the School. Following the Mass at Mount Carmel School, nearly 75 students of Mount Carmel school along with a couple of teachers visited St Agnes Special School, and entertained them with skit and dance, and also handed over books to the 300 plus Differently-abled children of St Agnes Special School- and also a cheque of Rs one lakh fifty thousand was handed over to the principal of St Agnes Special School Sr Shruthi AC, towards the school children Mid-Day Meal Fund.

These funds were exclusively raised through cash contributions made by the teachers of Mount Carmel Central School- indeed a unique initiative taken by these dedicated and hard-working teachers, and sharing part of their earnings among the less-privileged Special Children. People need to appreciate the kind gesture by these generous and courteous teachers of Mount Carmel, and other teachers serving at other Apostolic Carmel Institution should follow in their footsteps, and help these Special Children learning also in an AC Institution. Thank You, teachers, for your generosity- you have made a difference and will put miles of smiles on the faces of these Special Children when they start getting their hot mid-day meal.

The programme at the special school began with a welcome address by Sr Shruthi AC, where she also briefed about the Feast and highlighted the significance in observing the Feast. The Special School children performed a dance sequence portraying on Mother Veronica-the Founder of Apostolic Carmel Congregation, followed also by a short skit on Mother Veronica and Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and also a dance and song by the “Carmel Blossoms” and III /X std students of Mount Carmel School. Following the cultural programme, the donation of books and cheque presentation was done. It was indeed a nice way in celebrating the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, together spreading love and cheers among the Differently-abled children, who look for love and care from rest of the world.

Sr Maria Anitha AC-Superior of Yesu Prema Niketan and Jt secretary of St Agnes Special School, Sr Lidwin Pinto AC-Vice Principal, Mount Carmel School; Sr Preena AC- Animator of ‘ Carmel Blossoms’ of Mt Carmel School; and Sr Sonal AC- Teacher of St Agnes Special School. The programme was compered by Ms Marceline Noronha- teacher at Special School.

In conclusion in my perspective to Mount Carmel students, ” Do you know what are Mother Mary’s virtues? Prayerful, Simple, Thoughtful, Loving, Helpful, Forgiving etc. You are lucky to be students of Mount Carmel. You need to follow in the footsteps of your Patroness and set an example for others. Your life must have an impact on others. Make a difference by being a blessing to others. What your teachers did for these Special Children in providing them Hot Mid-Day meal, should be an example for you all, so that you too can make a difference in people lives by your community service. Follow in your teachers’ footsteps. Why did your parents choose Carmel School? Not just for academic performance but character formation-Your model Mother of Carmel. Follow her ways, God will bless you abundantly And be proud to be a student of Mount Carmel Central School”.

I end this column with the ‘Prayer to the Blessed Mother of Mount Carmel-

“O most beautiful flower of Mt. Carmel, fruitful vine, splendor of Heaven, Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity. O Star of the Sea, help me and show me you are my Mother. O Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succor me in this necessity (make request). There are none that can withstand your power. O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee. Sweet Mother, I place this cause in your hands. Amen.”

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