Feast of the Nativity Of Mother Mary (Monthi Festh) Celebrated at St. Lawrence Church, Moodubelle

By Dr. Eugene DSouza
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi/M’Belle, 08 Sept 2021: In spite of the Covid 19 pandemic, the parishioners of St. Lawrence Church, Moodubelle celebrated the feast of the Nativity of Mother Mary (Monthi Festh) with devotion and gaiety on Wednesday, 8 September 2021. A large number of devotees gathered in the church for the solemn Holy Mass of the festival.

 

Prior to the Holy mass, children with flowers and other parishioners gathered around the statue of Baby Mary in front of the church. Fr. Cyril Lobo, Assistant Parish Priest  conducted a brief prayer service. Following the prayer service to the accompaniment of the hymn “Moriyek hogolshiyam…” the children showered flowers on the statue of Baby Mary.

 

Fr. Anil Cornelio - Rector of Diocesan Minor Seminary, Moodubelle blessed the new paddy kept in front of the main altar.

 

The solemn feast mass was concelebrated by Fr. George D’Souza as the main celebrant assisted by Fr. Cyril Lobo and Fr. Anil Cornelio.

 

In his homily, Fr. George D’Souza traced the origin of the celebration of the birthday of Mother Mary and how the feat of the Nativity of Mother Mary came to be celebrated in the twin dioceses of Mangalore and Udupi. He highlighted the significance of the Monthi Festh as the celebration of the birthday of Mother Mary, role of  our own mother in our life, importance of protection of girl child and the need to protect the mother earth which gives us shelter and food.

 

 

At the end of the Feast Mass, Fr. George D’Souza conveyed the greetings of the Monthi festh to all the parishioners.

 

The sponsors of the Monthi Feast were honoured by Fr. Anil Cornelio by presenting them  candles as Charles Quadros, the Secretary of the Parish Pastoral Council read their names.

 

The priests handed over the bundles of new paddy to the Gurkars, who in turn distributed to all the parishiones present for the solemn feast mass.

 

Following the end of the service in the church, sugar canes donated by Gerald Fernandes- Vice President of the Parish Pastoral Council were distributed to the children as well as the adults by the memebrs of the ICYM.