Mangalore: Feast of Infant Jesus to be Celebrated on Jan 14
Media Release
Mangalore, Jan 12: The Feast of Infant Jesus will be celebrated at Infant Jesus Shrine, Carmel Hill, Bikarnakatte, on Saturday January 14.
The Solemn Eucharistic Celebration will be presided over by Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, bishop of Mangalore, at 6 pm. All the Masses of the Feast Day will be telecast live on Namma Kudla, V4 and webcast on www.infantjesusmangalore.net.
The Masses are as follows:
Morning: 6 (Konkani), 7 (Malayalam), 8 (Konkani), 9 (English), 10:15 (Konkani – for the sick), 11:30 (Konkani), 12:30 pm (Kannada).
At 1:30 pm there will be a prayer service.
In view of the Feast, a blood donation camp was held on Thursday January 12, from 9 am to 1 pm at Carmel Hill at which 80 units of blood were collected.
About Infant Jesus Shrine
In Mangalore, the devotion to Infant Jesus began about 150 years ago, but took definite shape about 60 years back. In the year 1947 the Discalced Carmelites (OCD Fathers) decided on founding a house of monastic observance in Mangalore. After exploring the city they found today’s popular Carmel Hill. A chapel was built there and they started the Novena prayer to Infant Jesus.
On May 11, 1996, the late Fr Basil D’Souza (ex-bishop of Mangalore) inaugurated the Infant Jesus Shrine. The architectural structure and design of this shrine is unique in many ways. Carefully planned, it has a rich symbolic meaning and significance derived principally from Biblical themes, of both the Old and the New Testaments. The basement surrounded by the five huge columns is intended to represent the palm of the hand of God. The five columns represent the fingers of His hand converging towards the overhead globe, which symbolizes the universe. The Cross atop the globe is an indication and symbol that God’s love has redeemed all humanity through Christ. The three doors and the stained-glasses above them depict pictures narrating important aspects of our faith. Each of the doors is flanked by a grill on either side which have sketches of the Carmelite saints.
The Infant Jesus Novena slowly and steadily started touching the lives and hearts of the people. Week after week the devotees start marching towards Carmel Hill with new hopes and faith. Many of the devotees were blessed with the intended gifts. These devotees became the apostles of Infant Jesus. The Shrine at Carmel Hill eventually acquired the unique identity of a ‘place for prayer’. People of all beliefs began to nurture faith in Infant Jesus.