Annual Feast of Infant Jesus and Silver Jubilee of the Shrine to begin on Jan 14
Mangaluru: The Annual Feast of Infant Jesus at Infant Jesus Shrine, Carmel Hill, Bikarnakatte – Mangaluru will be celebrated on Jan 14,15 & 16, 2021.
Addressing media on Saturday January 2, Fr Rovel Dsouza OCD, Director, Infant Jesus Shrine said, “The festal Mass on January 14 at 10.30 am will be presided over by Fr Ronald Serrao, Rector of St Joseph’s Seminary and at 6 pm will be presided over by Dr Francis Serrao, bishop of Shimoga. The festal Mass on January 15 at 10.30 am will be presided over by Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, bishop of Mangalore and at 6 pm will be presided over by Fr Maxim Noronha, vicar general of Mangalore Diocese. The festal Mass on January 16 at 10.30 am will be presided over by Fr Paul Melwin D’Souza OFM Cap, vicar for Religious, and at 6.00 pm will be presided over by Dr Aloysius Paul D Souza, bishop emeritus.
“There will be Masses all through the day too on January 14. Mass in Konkani will be celebrated at 6 am, 7.30 am in English, 9 am in Konkani and 1 pm in Kannada. Mass for the sick and the aged will be celebrated at 10.30 am in Konkani. The festal Mass on January 15 will be at 6 am, 7.30 am, 9 am in Konkani; 10.30 Mass for the children and 1 pm in Malayalam. The festal Mass on January 16 will be at 6 am in Konkani, 7.30 am in English, 9 am in Konkani, 1 pm in Konkani and 6 pm Mass in Konkani.
“The formal inauguration of the festivity will be held done by hoisting the flag on January 4 at 5.30 pm followed by Mass.
“In preparation for the annual feast, nine days Novena prayers are held from January 5 to 13 during which we have 9 Masses every day. Masses will be celebrated in the morning at 6 am, 7.30 am, 9 am and 10.30 am in Konkani, at 1.00 pm in Konkani; in the evening at 4 pm in Malayalam, 5 pm in English and 7 pm in Kannada. The main mass at 6 pm will be celebrated in Konkani in the open air.
“Infant Jesus Shrine abiding by the Government regulations on Covid 19, is keen on providing safety to the people in its premises. In collaboration with Girija Pharmaceuticals, the shrine will avail all the services in combating Covid 19. There will be regular health check ups on novena days as well as feast days. Masks will be provided to the needy. The place of worship will be sanitized and clean drinking water and other facilities will be provided to all pilgrims and special prayers will be offered for the protection from Covid 19 pandemic,” he said.
Fr Lancy Lewis OCD, assistant superior, St Joseph’s Monastery and Stanly Bantwal, media representative, were present for the press meet.
