Birthday Day of Mary the Mother God celebrated at Mount Rosary Church, Santhekatte – Kallianpur, wit

By Prof. Archibald Furtado
Pics by Praveen Cutinho
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 08 Sept: The entire Mount Rosary Church Compound had a festive look today with traditional brass band team playing popular tunes to remind the customs, traditions and legacies attached to the Family Monthi Feast. In Santhekatte, Kallianpur, at 7.30 am, on Sunday, 8th September, 2024 with the clouded sky, the morning was unusually rainy and the Sun almost disappeared, however the fragrance of fresh flowers doubled the spirits of the faithful, humming with Marian hymns, who gathered in large number, in front of the well decorated Grotto. 

 

After the nine days preparations, popularly known as ‘Novena’ and showering of flowers, the parishioners gathered together in large number to celebrate the Monthi Festh. As it was reported earlier in these pages, this feast has deep rooted cultural values, as it is a family feast for more than one reason. Though in these days festal occasions remained as routine formalities and rituals, mostly confined to be a low key affair, Monthi Festh never lost its significance, participation and devotion in Coastal Districts in particular.

 

This year, being Sunday, the well decorated Grotto, where the bundles of new rice corns neatly organised, eagerly waiting for blessings.  Hundreds of Children ready with baskets and trays of colourful flowers to shower on baby Mary’s well decorated image. Of course some disappointment on some faces as the scheduled colourful procession, in the main streets around the Church was called off due heavy rains in the morning, though the nature was kind to offer break to have prayers.

Parish Priest Rev. Dr. Roque DSouza accompanied with Asst Vicar Rev Fr. Oliver Nazareth along with well attractive troupe of altar servers and Church Laity leaders gave a perfect start with the solemn prayers raised to invoke Almighty Lords blessings for the gift of new crop / grains. 

 

The whole congregation entered the Church, in a colourful procession led by the brass band adding melody to the festivities; a large number of children showering the flowers, from tiny tots to High School along with the singing of Marian hymns, along with youth carrying the beautifully decorated phalkin, housing the statue of Infant Mary, gracefully entered the well decorated spacious Church, which was unusually overflowing…!

 

As the Church Choir rose to sing the entrance hymn, the main celebrant of the Festal High Mass Rev Fr Charles Saldanha OFM Cap, serving in Heroor de-addiction centre in Brahmmavar Parish, the guest priest, echoed the fourfold importance of this day.  

 

In brief, ‘Thanking God Almighty for ushering the arrival of Jesus the Saviour of mankind through Mother Mary, offering first fruits of soil in the form of new corn and recalling the bounty of God’s blessings to give us daily bread, and recognise the hard work of farming community… to learn the to love, honour and respect girl child in our families and as well as in the society we live in, as a blessing of God and lastly it’s a ‘Feast of the Family’ – an occasion to unite all and pray, praise and dine together.

 

After the Thanks giving Holy Eucharist, blessed new rice corns / Novem were distributed to the faithful and arrangements were in place to have cake and Malt to all gathered. Children were the happiest flock who had gift hampers with goodies and sweets and lastly sugarcane.

Parish priest Rev. Dr Roque DSouza, took the opportunity to extend festal greetings to all the parishioners, including those unable to attend and others earning their livelihood outside and abroad…! He recalled the contribution, co-operation and co-ordination offered by Parish Pastoral Council, the Gurkars, SRA Sisters’ and superior,  members of Stree Sanghatan, ICYM / YCS, Altar Serves and all pious organisations of the parish, especially the Choir led by Mrs Jovita Fernandes… for the smooth and meaningful Novena & festal celebrations. 

 

He had a special word of appreciation to the Pirjenth Family of Late Edwin Elias & Jessie Saldanha, who made elaborate arrangements – decoration, band, sugar cane etc to have the Festal Mass with devotion were honoured with a decorated candle as a mark of respect and others for refreshments  after the Holy Mass.

 

Ten days of unique celebrations in the church where the visible participation of children was witnessed in the liturgy and now at homes, rightly a joyful season for children, otherwise in these days preoccupied with mobiles, computers. 

 

Truly they miss the ever green Konkani hymns –‘ Sakkad Sangatha Melyan, sakkad lagin Soryan’ & ‘Moriyek Hogolsuyan’ and the thrill of showering flowers in union and collection of tiny gifts as well as chocolates after the novena….yes, for them and for us elders too, now it’s a long wait to eagerly look and wait for coming September.

 

The festivities hardly end with vegetarian lunch at homes but continued in the afternoon, at 2.00 pm onwards, as ICYM / YCS taking centre stage to conduct fun games for all parishioners whose enthusiasm was at its height to participate and involve - daring frequent disruption by rain at every interval.