‘The More You Honor Me, The More Will I Bless You’! Annual Feast of Infant Jesus on 14-15 January
Mangaluru: Addressing the media persons during a press meet held at the Infant Jesus Shrine Mini Hall, Fr. Wilfred Rodrigues, OCD Superior, St. Joseph’s Monastery said, “The Annual Feast of Infant Jesus at Infant Jesus Shrine, Carmel Hill, Bikarnakatte – Mangaluru will be celebrated on Jan 14-15, 2019. The Festal Mass on Jan 14 will be presided over by Very Rev. Dr. Aloysius Paul D’Souza, Bishop Emeritus of Mangaluru Diocese at 6.00 pm. along with Rev. Fr. Charles Serrao, Carmelite Provincial Superior joined by more than 100 Priests. Around 500 Religious Nuns and 15,000 devotees are going to participate in the Holy Eucharist celebrated open air. There will be Masses all throughout the day too. Mass in Konkani will be celebrated at 6.00 am, 9.00 am and 11.45 am. English Mass will be at 7.00 am, Malayalam Mass at 8.00 and Kannada Mass at 12.45 followed by a Prayer Service. Mass for the sick and the aged will be celebrated at 10.15 am in Konkani “.
He further said, “The Festal Mass on the Second day (Jan 15) will be solemnized by Very Rev. Dr. Peter Paul Saldanha, Bishop of Mangaluru along with other priests at 10.30 am. It will be a special Mass for children. There are other Masses on the same day: 6.30 am, 7.30 am, 9.00 am in Konkani. At 12 Noon Kannada Mass and in the evening special prayer service for Inner Healing at 5.00 pm followed by Eucharistic celebration and procession of the Blessed Sacrament. The formal inauguration of the festivity will be held on Jan 4, 2019, with the votive offering procession beginning at Jayashree Gate, Mangaluru. The flag hoisting will be attended by Fr Msgr Maxim Noronha, Vicar General of Mangalore Diocese, MLA Vedavyas Kamath, MCC Mayor Baskar Moily, and MLC Ivan D’Souza, and MCC Corporator Sabitha Misquith” added Fr Rodrigues.
“The Nine Days Novena prayers, in preparation to the Annual Feast, will be held from Jan 5 to Jan 13 during which we have nine Masses every day. Masses are as follows: In the morning at 6.00, 7.30, 9.00 and 10.30 in Konkani; At noon 1 pm in Konkani; In the Evening at 4.00 in Malayalam, 5.00 in English and 7.00 in Kannada. The main Mass at 6.00 pm will be celebrated in Konkani in the open air. A Blood Donation Camp is also being organized at the Shrine Campus on Jan 10, Thursday from 9 am to 1 pm. Rev. Fr. Richard Coelho, Director, Fr. Mullers Medical College will inaugurate the Camp. There will be Anna Santharpane ( Free meal) served to the devotee on all the nine days of Novena. A special prayer service in Kannada – Bala Yesu Namana will be held at 8.15 pm on every day of the Novena”, said Fr Wilfred Rodrigues.
Fr Prakash D’Cunha, OCD Director, Infant Jesus Shrine-who also spoke thanked the media for all the support rendered towards the Shrine in the past, also requested to continue in supporting the Shrine in their future activities and service. Fr Liguory Crasta OCD, the Vice Rector at the Shrine, and Elias Fernandes, media coordinator were also present during the press meet.
For More Details Contact: Fr. Prakash D’Cunha, OCD Director, Infant Jesus Shrine 94484 21084 / 89040 59274 Or Fr. Wilfred Rodrigues, OCD Superior, St. Joseph’s Monastery- 98806 99068