Sea of Devotees throng Annual Feast of Stella Maris Church Kalmady
Pics by Sany Digital and Prasanna Kodavoor
Udupi: The annual feast of Our Lady of Vailankanni shrine at Stella Maris Church Kalmady was celebrated on August 15.
Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, bishop of Udupi Diocese, was accorded a grand welcome by the Kalmady parish priest Fr Alban D’Souza along with the parish council members.
Bishop Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo concelebrated the festive mass along with Fr Valerian Mendonca Dean Udupi Deanery, Fr Alban D’Souza parish priest Kalmady, Fr Fredrick D’Souza Parish Priest Christ Church Manipal, Fr Francis Cornelio Parish Priest of Thottam Church, Fr Vijay D’Souza, Fr Steevan Lewis, and other clergies.
In his homily, the Bishop said that there is a link between Mother Mary and the Holy Sacrament. The Immaculate Mother of God, Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her early life, assumed her body and soul into heaven. With that, the ancient belief became the Catholic doctrine and the Assumption was declared a truth revealed by God. Mother Mary always believed in Jesus. Mother Mary remained faithful to the Lord, he said.
Fr Alban thanked the parishioners and the parish council for their concerted efforts in organizing the annual feast.
Around 5,000 plus devotees from across the district and neighbouring districts participated in the annual feast. Lunch was served to all the devotees present on the occasion.
Sanjay Andrade vice president, Shobha Mendoca Secretary, parish pastoral council members and the youth association helped to conduct the feast in a smooth manner.
The nine-day novena service for the preparation of the feast was held from August 6 to 14. Thousands of devotes participated in the novena service.
The new church building that will be in the shape of a boat, along with a bell tower in the shape of a light house, is being constructed next to the existing church building. The new building will be inaugurated on January 6, 2018. It will be able to accommodate 1,000 people. It will be the first church to be built in the shape of a boat in the State.
Happy feast to all.