Media Release
Mysuru, Jan 10: The annual feast of Infant Jesus was magnificently celebrated on the day of the Epiphany of the Lord at Pushpashrama, Mysuru on January 8.
A three-day spiritual preparation with holy masses kept alive the devotion of the faithful. The theme and motto of this year’s annual celebration was ‘By this shall people that you are my disciples’. The triduum animated homilies explained to the multi-lingual audiences the meaning of true devotion to Infant Jesus with particular emphasis on theological virtues, discipleship and humility.
Fr Charles Serrao OCD, provincial superior, offered mass in Konkani, after two services in Malayalam and English in the morning. Well-known pastor and preacher Fr Abraham from Bengaluru presided over the Eucharistic celebration in Tami thereafter, followe by a Kannada service which was concelebrated by Fr Abraham. This was followed by a ‘healing service’ as he has been doing for the last few years. During the triduum and the feast day, free meals (Annasantarpane) were served to the gathering.
In the evening, Fr Dr Henry D’ Souza, Bishop of Bellary, presided over the solemn Eucharistic celebration in Kannada with about 25 concelebrants including many diocesan priests. The Bishop enthralled the congregation with his deep theological and pastoral insights. “As a person grows from childhood through youth to adulthood, his/her search for fulfillment leads him/her to some goal or target. Can we not compare our life’s journey to the journey of Magi who was led by the light of a star to Bethlehem?” he said.
People came in large numbers to worship Infant Jesus. Numerous devotees thronged the church for all the masses. The melodious choir enkindled the mind of the faithful. The students from Pushpashrama sang Kannada hymns. The liturgy was diligently and meticulously organised by the Pushpashrama brothers under the guidance of Fr Oswald Crasta.
In the programme that followed, Fr Alfred Menezes, the rector of Pushpashrama honored the bishop with shawl and garland. Fr Vijay D’Costa, the shrine in-charge while attending the overall arrangement and organising of events, kept in mind all who had contributed to the success of the celebration and proposed a vote of thanks before the congregation arranged itself for the procession.
The evening Eucharistic liturgy was immediately followed by a solemn candle light procession accompanied by the band through the streets in the vicinity of the shrine, carrying aloft a statue of Infant Jesus in a richly decorated vehicle (theru). At the end of the procession, the bishop imparted blessings to the multitude.
Pushpashrama community thanked Infant Jesus for enabling them to conduct the annual celebration praying that their service may enhance the spiritual lives of people for greater honour and glory of Infant Jesus.