Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (HB)

Udupi, Aug 3: The annual Feast of Our Lady of Vailankanni will be celebrated on Tuesday August 14 and Wednesday August 15. Religious programmes will be held at Stella Maris Church Kalmady, here, informed Fr Alban D’Souza, parish priest of Stella Maris Church in a press meet.

The state’s first and third in India boat-shaped Stella Maris Church was inaugurated on January 6. The message of the annual feast which will be held on a grand scale is ‘Let us go closer to Mother Mary’.

The nine day novena inauguration will be held on Sunday August 5 at 3.45 pm. Fr Stany B Lobo, chancellor, Udupi diocese will flag off and preside over the Novena. From August 5 to 13 Novena prayers and mass will be held at 4 pm.   

As part of the annual feast on Monday August 13, Vailankanni Mother Mary’s idol will be taken in procession from Adi-Udupi junction to Kalmady church at 2.45 pm. Fr Walter D’Mello, judicial vicar of Udupi diocese will flag off the procession and special prayers will be said. Mass will be held at 4.00 pm at the church.

On Tuesday August 14, Bishop of Bellary diocese, Dr Henry D’Souza will conduct the grand festive mass at 4 pm in Kannada.

On Wednesday August 15, a main festive mass will be held at 10 am. Bishop of Udupi, Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo will preside over the solemn eucharistic celebration which will be begin at 7 am followed by National flag hoisting.

The mass will be held in Konkani at 12 pm, in Kannada at 4.00 pm and in English at 6 pm the same day.

Annasantharpana (lunch) will be arranged for the devotees after the holy mass.

Sanjay Andrade, vice president, parish pastoral council, Shobha Mendonsa, secretary, Deon D’Souza, ICYM president, Udupi diocese and Melwyn Carvalo, ICYM president, Kalmady unit were present.