Udupi/M’belle: Blessing of newly built Grotto marks the celebration of Monthi Festh

By Dr. Eugene DSouza, Moodubelle
Bellevision Media Network

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.

 

Nativity Feast  2014 - around the world