Ninth Day Novena held at St Lawrence Church, Bondel

Mangaluru, August 9, 2023: The Ninth Day, Novena, prior to the Feast of St Lawrence, was held at Bondel Church, Mangaluru.

Theme of the Day -“Honor & respect for each other are the sources of unity in the family.”

Vicar Forane: V. Rev. James D’Souza, City Deanery, was the main celebrant; Rev. Fr Andrew Leo D’Souza and Rev. Fr Gregory Pinto, SVD, concelebrated the mass.

Rev. Fr James D’Souza called on the devotees of St Lawrence  “Archbishop Desmond Tutu. He said, “You don’t choose your family. They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them”. You need to understand that the family you are born into is a gift to you straight from God, and thus, you should feel yourself blessed to have such an amazing treasure. God created families long before He created the Church. The Holy Family: An Inspiration for Your Own Family Life. A family established by Divine Law will never turn away from God. Blessings and divine graces hover over it. Learning how to respect your siblings and your parents is an essential part of growing up in a family.

Genesis 2:23: This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh, so the first man & woman are equal.  ‘Honor your father and mother.’ (Ephesians 6:1–2  We should seek to honor our parents in much the same way that we strive to bring glory to God—in our thoughts, words, and actions—that brings unity in our families. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

The melodious choir was from Vamanjoor Parish. Special prayers were offered for all donors.

Photography: Stany Bantwal
Report: Meena Serrao Barboza (MSB)