Pics: Rayan Lewis, Chinnu Digitals, Jeppu
Mangaluru, Feb 15: White Flower social service movement in association with Jeppu parish celebrated the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes on February 11,2015 in a very devotedly manner. The feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes is a day to remember when Blessed Mother appeared to 14 years old Marie Bernade (St Bernadette) Soubirous for the first time. Novena service in honor of Our Lady of Lourdes was conducted for 9 days from February 2 to February 10,2014 at the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, St Joseph Nagar, Jeppu.
The evening started with prayer service at 6 pm at the Grotto. Fr Joseph Martis - Rector St Joseph Seminary venerated the Our Lady of Lourdes statue at the grotto with incense, Fr. Nelson Dalmeida, Parish priest, Jeppu blessed the rosaries distributed to the devotees. A candle light procession was taken from the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, St Joseph’s Nagar to Maria Nagar and then to Jeppu Church. Priest, nuns, parishioners as well as devotees in large numbers from the surrounding institutions like Holy Rosary Convent, Infant Mary’s School and Convent, St Antony’s Ashram, St Joseph’s Workshop, St Joseph Seminary and neighboring parishes took part in this procession, carrying candles and reciting the rosary distributed to them by the organisers. A solemn mass was con celebrated by Fr Ravi Santhosh Kamath, Fr Joseph Martis, Rector Seminary, Fr James D’souza, Parish priest Valencia and eight priests.
Around two thousand devotees gathered to honor Our dear Mother Mary of Lourdes for all the good things and favours she has bestowed on them and their families and place before her all their petitions for this coming year. After Mass Regist of Mother Mary was distributed to all the devotees. Dinner was organized and served to all gathered. Let us believe the grace and love that first flowed from that rock grotto outside the little hill town of Lourdes can reach into every corner of the world and into every life.
‘White Flowers’, a leading organization from Jeppu, which functions under the able leadership of Vijay Alfred and Jacintha Alfred works for the social welfare of the parish and the society, it has been in existence since the last three decades.