Pernal: Annual Parish Feast of Our Lady of Fatima Church celebrated

By Dr. Eugene DSouza, Moodubelle
Bellevision Media Network

Pernal, 18 November 2010: This is the season of parish feasts in the Mangalore Diocese. Practically every Wednesday, one church or the other celebrates the annual parish feast that gives an opportunity to the parishioners to honour their patron saint and invite relatives and friends to the feast lunch which is an occasion to renew contacts at least once a year. In this way annual parish feasts, besides having spiritual significance are relevant in renewing the family bonds.

 

The lady of Fatima Parish established in 1955, presently comprising of11 wards and around 320 families, celebrated the annual parish feast on Wednesday, 17th November 2010. The main altar and the church were decorated aesthetically for this occasion. At 10.15 am, the usual distribution of the ‘candles of honour’ began in which the founders, benefactors and donors of the church as well as the members of the parish pastoral council were honoured by presenting each of them a candle by the parish priest, Fr. Gregory Serrao.

 

The solemn feast Mass began at 10.30 am. Rev. Fr. Stany Tauro, Dean of the Shirva Deanery was the chief celebrant. Priests from neighbouring parishes of the Deanery and other guest priests participated in the celebration of the Eucharist.

 

As the Pernal parish is dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima, Rev. Fr. Stany Tauro in his homily highlighted the importance of the Rosary in the family. By narrating two examples, Fr. Tauro pointed out how the devotion of Rosary is significant and beneficial to the devotees. He further said that when Mother Mary appeared to the three little children in Fatima, had given a message to the world in which She had emphasized the devotion to the Holy Rosary. This Message of Fatima is still relevant in modern times. However, Fr. Tauro lamented that the modern electronic gadgets such as the cell-phones and televisions have become impediments in the way of the family Rosary. The family members seem to be quite busy either talking on the cell-phone or watching serials on televisions which they would not like to miss rather than giving some time to family prayers and Rosary. He made an appeal to the parishioners that they should take a decision on the day of their parish feast that they would honour Mother Mary by reciting prayers and Rosary along with all the members of the family every evening. At the end, Rev. Fr. Stany Tauro wished all the parishioners a happy parish feast.

 

 

The choir that was very well trained Br. Francis and all the choir members sang the hymns in melodious voice that enhanced the sanctity and solemnity of the feast mass. Mr. Richard Mendonca was the main sponsor of the annual parish feast. At the end of the mass, Fr. Gregory Serrao thanked the chief celebrant of the feast mass-Rev. Fr. Stany Tauro and all the concelebrant priests and also all the donors and sponsors who had contributed to make the annual parish feast a grand success.

 

With the end of the feast Mass, people were seen clustering near stalls selling religious articles such as Rosaries, statues, books and religious CDs. There were few ice-cream vans and children s well as adults were seen enjoying the ice-cream bars or cones. The ICYM unit of the parish had set up a lucky stall to raise funds for their activities. There was an atmosphere of bonhomie as parishioners were greeting their relatives and friends who had come from other parishes.

 

It was a nice feeling attending the solemn feast mass within the church and observing people outside gathering in groups and exchanging pleasantries and purchasing certain souvenirs in stalls selling religious articles and other stalls. However, the excitement of the ‘santmari’ that used to be there decades ago has been missing as in many other annual parish feasts.