By Richard D'souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
Udupi, Jul 10 : The titular feast of Our Lady of Miracles was celebrated with great devotion and fervor at Milagres Cathedral of the Udupi diocese on Thursday July 9.
Dr Fr Gerald Isaac Lobo, bishop of Udupi diocese concelebrated the solemnly high eucharistic mass with around 22 priests including Fr Valerian Mendonca chancellor of the diocese, Fr Lawrence C D’souza, secretary of CESU, Fr Xavier Pinto former vicar of Milagres and rector of Kerekatte St Anthony Shrine, parish priests, deanery priests and guest priests.
In his homily, Fr Austin Fernandes said that Mother Mary obeyed the will of God. There would have been lots of obstacles hindering the spread of the good news of the Lord and Saviour. This was God's will. May God’s wishes and will be done on earth as they are in heaven. In our prayers to God we should include 'Let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven'. God’s presence gives us courage as we believe he hears us if we ask him for anything that is according to his will. Through the Mother of God, our patroness he hears us whenever we ask for favours.
The sponsors of the titular feast of Our Lady of Miracles were the children of late A J D’silva and Angeline D’silva. On behalf of their family Jerome D’silva of Kallianpur A Ward was honoured with a decorative candle by the bishop.
At the end of the celebration Fr Stany B Lobo made the announcements and thanked the celebrants of the titular feast who carried out the service with much devotion and fervor. He expressed his gratitude to the bishop, the main celebrant of the eucharistic celebration and all the priests. He also wished the parishioners’ as well as all the devotees from far off places.
In his festive message the bishop said that through the will of God in their lives the prayer has been of help to them. Our Lady of Miracles is not only the patroness of the cathedral but also of the diocese of Udupi. He specially prayed for rains that are needed very badly.
The church was filled with large devotees of Mother Mary who were present with much devotion and fervor and lined up to burn the candles to Our Mother of Miracles beside the statue of Mother Mary. The Sunshine Brass Band of Parampally and crackers fueled the grand celebration of the feast. Since many years the donors have been celebrating the feast of the nine days of novena in a grand way grand. A large number of Milagreans origin from other parishes participate in the church celebrations every year.