Udupi/M’belle: Blessing of newly built Grotto marks the celebration of Monthi Festh
By Dr. Eugene DSouza, Moodubelle
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Udupi/M’belle, 08 Sep 2014: Blessing and inauguration of the newly built Grotto marked the celebration of the Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary (Monthi Festh) on Monday, 8 September 2014. At 8.30 am children with flowers, altar servers and members of the Parish Pastoral Council carrying stalks of new paddy proceeded to the newly built Grotto.
Rev. Fr. Joswey Fernandes along with Rev. Fr. Roshan D’Souza, assistant parish priest, Rev. Fr. Charles Menezes-National Director of YCS, Rev. Fr. P. Raj, Rev. Fr. Robert Lasrado (OFM-Cap) and Rev. Fr. Dancy Martis (OFM-Cap) recited prayers and blessed the newly built Grotto. He also blessed the new paddy. Thereafter, children offered flowers to the accompaniment of ‘Moriyek Hogolshiyam....”
The entire congregation returned to the church where the solemn feast mass was offered with Rev. Fr. Dancy Martis (OFM-Cap) as the chief celebrant.
Instead of the usual homily, Rev. Fr. Roshan D’Souza used unique and lively method to communicate with the children and elders about the importance of the feast of the Nativity of Mother Mary. He made the children to sing “Happy birthday to mother Mary...” and also swung the little beautifully decorated cradle with the statue of Infant Mary. He tried to connect the seasonal vegetables that are being generally used in the feast meal with the virtues that were developed and practiced by Mother Mary throughout her life.
At the end of the mass, Rev. Fr. Joswey Fernandes extended warm greetings of Monthi Festh to all parishioners in native place and abroad.
Pritish Burton D’Sa who had recently passed Chartered Accountants Examination in one attempt was felicitated along with his mother Mrs. Leena D’Sa by Rev. Fr. Joswey Fernandes, Rev. Fr. Roshan D’Souza, and Alphonse K. Alva and Mrs. Emilia Noronha-President and Secretary respectively of the Parish Pastoral Council.
‘Shatha Sourabha’, the Souvenir of the Centenary celebration of Belle Church Aided Higher Primary School was also released by Rev. Fr. Joswey Fernandes during this occasion. Mrs. Lilly Sequeira, Editor of the Souvenir offered the packet containing the copies of the Souvenir to Rev. Fr. Joswey Fernandes to be released.
The main altar was decorated appropriately keeping in view the solemnity and significance of the Monthi Festh. Besides beautiful flowers, vegetables, paddy plants and sugar cane were used as the ingredients for the decoration under the direction of Rev. Fr. Roshan D’Souza and Sisters of the Loreto Convent. The speciality of the decoration was the beautiful circular floral rangoli created aesthetically by Rev. Fr. P. Raj.
The choir rendered hymns melodiously that created an aura of devotion and solemnity.
Following the end of the mass, members of the Parish pastoral Council distributed paddy stalks provided by Julian Danti of Udyavar.
As the children and elders went out of the church following the end of the mass, sugar cane sponsored by Gerald Fernandes was distributed by the ICYM members who also helped in maintaining discipline.
Bellevision.com wishes happy Monthi Fest to all its readers, advertisers, well-wishers and supporters.
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Mr. Jayson, our church authorities have collected money from the parishoners (rich and poor)to built this grotto. You just visit neighbouring churches and have a look on their grottos. I am not at all satisfied with the design of our new grotto.
Yes, Belle grotto looks good to some and bad to some, but what matters is the faith in Mother Mary. My personal opinion: I was seriously expecting some well-designed, decent grotto in Belle church compound under the supervision of Fr. Joswey. Unfortunately did not happen! Church, Grotto are built once in lifetime so of course when you build anything new we always expect something moral. As per my observation this grotto project took long time to complete and at the end rushed to complete the job somehow. I don’t know the quality of the job but you may agree or may not the design of the grotto is very bad. If we should have taken bit initiative and involvement in the grotto project, it would be far better than this. Whenever we donate money for our church or organizations, is there is wrong if we expect AT LEAST 50% satisfaction out of it? If I compare our new grotto with our Commercial building (Karnataka Bank) both the works started almost at the same time but our commercial building projected completed on priority and quick whereas I feel that the grotto project is neglected. Where are our moral values gone? I am very disappointed.
Wish you all Happy Feast Nativity of Mother Mary. Church Decoration superb no comments but my big thumps down to Grotto structure. According to me, previous grotto looks far better than this one. And very poor planning and design in constructing this new grotto. We have beautiful church, St. Lawrence Shrine, Entrance also priest house. Then why church authorities and management neglected so much in construction of new Grotto. the Grotto we construct at our homes looks beautiful than this one. This is what I feel no grudge on any one. you can share your comments.