Novena in preparation of Monthi Festh begins with devotion and floral offerings

By Eugene Moodubelle
Bellevision Media Network

Moodubelle, 30 August 2010: The nine days novena in preparation the feast of the Nativity of  the Blessed Virgin Mary (Monthi Festh) began on Monday, 30th August 2010  with Novena Mass at 8.30 am. The Mass was offered jointly by Fr. Lancy Saldanha and Fr. Arun Mendonca. The Novena Mass every day of the novena is being kept at 8.30 am in order to facilitate the school and college going students to attend the novena, offer flowers to Blessed Virgin Mary and attend their respective schools and college.

Prior to the Novena Mass, it was a pleasing sight to see school children in their respective uniforms carrying plastic bowls or baskets with beautiful flowers walking briskly towards the church, some small children holding the hands of their mothers or elder sisters.

Following the Mass, the children in two lines proceeded to the altar and offered one or two flowers at the statue of the Nativity  while the congregation sang the hymn, ‘Sakkad sangatha melliam..Sakkad lagim soryam…’and thereafter went in procession to the Grotto.

After all children and adults gathered around the Grotto, Fr. Lancy Saldnaha recited the Novena Prayer following which the children began to hoist flowers towards the statue of Blessed Virgin Mary inside the Grotto to the singing of ‘Moriyek hogolshiam…”
At the end of the offering of flowers to Blessed Virgin Mary sweets were distributed to the children as well as grownups. Thereafter,  as children proceeded to their respective schools, others went to their homes to come back again tomorrow with additional colourful flowers and new enthusiasm.