Report by Dr Eugene D'Souza
Pictures by Deepak D'Souza
for Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai (GA)

Mumbai, Feb 5: The annual feast of Infant Jesus and Family Day was celebrated with great devotion and enthusiasm at the Infant Jesus Church, Dombivli on Sunday February 3, 2008.

In preparation for the feast, nine-day novena was observed during which priests from different parishes of Mumbai including Fr Edward D'Souza, Fr Vincent Barboza, Fr Nelson Saldanha, Fr Brian Moraes and Fr Byron preached on specific topics related to the church and the Bible. On the last day of the Novena, Bishop. Thomas Dabre of Vasai preached on the topic "Why We Venerate Mary?"

On the feast day on February 3, prior to the solemn feast mass, the parishioners of the Infant Jesus Church took out a grand and colourful procession lasting nearly one hour with the statue of Infant Jesus carried on a decorated 'palanquin'. 

The feast mass was concelebrated by Fr Edward D'Souza, Fr Peter D'Cunha and Fr Tony Robins. The liturgy of the mass was animated by the Eucharistic Ministers.

Following the end of the mass, nearly 1200 parishioners belonging to twelve zones assembled in the Church compound for Family Day get-together. The youth of the parish organized different games for children as well as adults. This grand programme in community building activity was summed up with lunch.