Pics: Kishore Peraje
Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (EP)
Bantwal, Feb 9: A huge procession of offerings was held on Sunday, February 8 at Our Lady of Loretto Church.
The offerings were brought in procession from Bantwal Bye pass road and Sornad Telecom Centre to the Church premises along with the band and fireworks in gaiety. Devotees from 13 wards of the parish and also from the neighbouring parishes participated in the procession.
Fr Joseph Martis, Rector of Jeppu Seminary blessed the offerings that entered the main entrance of the church and led the prayer service.
After nine days of novena from January 30 to February 7, the procession of offerings was held.
Fr Denis Moras Prabhu, Vicar General of Mangaluru diocese offered the special mass at 4 pm after the procession.
Concluding Ceremony:
The concluding ceremony of the diamond jubilee celebrations of the church will be held on February 15 under the leadership of Dr Aloysius Paul D' Souza, Bishop of Mangaluru. A holy mass will be held along with several priests and thousands of devotees.
The programme will be held in the evening at 6 pm after light refreshments. A souvenir will be released and priests who have served in the church in the past and office bearers of church welfare committee will be honoured in the event. The programme will be presided by Dr Aloysius Paul D' Souza.
Member of Rajya Sabha, Oscar Fernandes will be the chief guest. Rev Sr Doreen D' Souza, Superior General of Ursuline Fransiscan Society, Bantwal zonal dean Fr Maxim Noronha, district in charge minister Ramanath Rai, Mangaluru Loksabha constituency MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, Mangaluru south constituency MLA J R Lobo, Vidhana Parishat member Ivan D' Souza, Zilla Panchayat member Nalini Shetty, Taluk Panchayat member Efrem Sequeira and Amtadi Grama panchayat president Babitha Kotian will be participating in the event as guests of honour.
A group of 75 people will be singing a song of Diamond jubilee in memory of the celebrations. A drama titled 'Platform No. 3' will be enacted by Arun Raj Rodrigues and his team after the meals.
The present parish of the church is Fr Elias D’Souza. The parish has 2,500 parishioners and 420 families.