Media Release

Mangaluru, Aug 16: The twin feasts of the Assumption of Our Lady into Heaven and the 73rd Independence Day of the nation was celebrated with great enthusiasm and vigour at St Joseph’s Seminary, Jeppu, on Thursday, August 16.

The celebrations began with the solemn vespers (Evening Prayer of the church) prayed on the eve of the feast, in the main chapel. Deacon Ajeesh Anthony gave a fitting sermon leading to the feast. The solemn High Mass was celebrated today after the Lauds (Morning Prayer of the Church), with Fr Anthonyswamy OP presiding over the Mass and Fr Jerome, Fr Rockwin Pinto and Fr Alex Kallarickal being the con-celebrants. Deacon Ranjith Kispotha broke the Word of God elaborating on the importance of the feasts. The Mass was celebrated in Hindi, with the members of the Hindi Academy animating the liturgy. After the Eucharistic Celebration, the annual anthology of the Hindi Academy, ‘Sitara’ was then released by the main celebrant.

Later, the flag hoisting ceremony was held at the main grounds of the Seminary, with Fr Roshan Osmond, assistant director of St Antony’s Charitable Institution being the chief guest. Fr Roshan delivered an inspiring, patriotic message on the importance of the day and also reminded the gathering of the responsibility every citizen has towards the development of the nation. In attendance were the Rector, Fr Ronald Serrao, Staff and the students of the seminary.

A friendly one-off football match was held between the seminarians of St Joseph Seminary and the Jesuit Scholastics of Asha Kiran, Kankanady. The match witnessed a great attendance with brothers from both the houses supporting the players.

This unique style of celebrating the twin feasts happens only at St Joseph Seminary. The Seminary itself is not new to the concept of unity in diversity with brothers from all over India receiving disciplined and balanced formation to the order of priesthood.