Pics: Sany Digital Studio, Kalmady
Daijiworld Media Network –Udupi (JD)
Udupi, Aug 16: Feast of Our Lady of Velankanni was celebrated in a grandeur in Stella Maris Church Kalmady on Thursday, August 15.
Dr Gerald Issac Lobo, bishop of Udupi was the chief celebrant for the Eucharistic celebrations.
In his homily, Dr Gerald Issac Lobo said, “Today we are celebrating trio celebrations. Today is the feast of Assumption of Mary, feast of Mother Velankanni in Kalmady and Independence Day of our country. We have gathered here to thank Mother Velankanni for all the blessings she has showered upon us. We should become blessed as Mother Mary. Mother Mary is with her children who are in distress and difficulty.
“Mother Mary, our mother, is in heaven, but her soul is with her children on earth. She is with us in every step of our life. One who seeks help of Mother Mary at the time of his/her difficulty will never return in bare hands. Mother Mary accepts the word of God as it is. She was a simple women in her early age. Gabriel angel came to her and said that she will become pregnant by the grace of Holy Spirit. Mother Mary could not understand what the Gabriel angel said. But she obediently gave her acceptance to the angel’s message. Thus she became the first women to accept the word of God obediently.
“Virgin Mary obeyed word of God. She did all type of works which other mothers of her time did. The Mother Mary whom we worship today did not belong to any royal family. She is wife of a laborer and a simple woman. She meditated about the things which she did not understand. We should dedicate ourselves to Lord as Mother Mary did.
“Mother Mary was a real mother. She also waited for the Lord to come to this earth. But she did not know that the saviour would come to this earth through herself. She became Mother of all of us as she gave birth to Lord Jesus. Mother is a life giver. Mother Mary gave her life to Jesus Christ. She brought up the child and helped him to reach his goal. She did the duty of a mother,” he said.
A large number of devotees from faraway places took part in the Eucharistic celebrations.
Fr Alban D’souza, parish priest, Stella Maris Church Kalmady, thanked all the people who have helped in organizing the feast celebrations.
Fr Valerian Mendonca, parish priest, Mother of Sorrows Church Udupi, Fr Fredrick Dsouza, parish priest, Manipal church, Fr Denis D’sa, parish priest, Shirva Church Fr Francis Cornelio, parish priest, Thottam Church, Fr Steevan D’souza, director, Biblical and Liturgical Centre, Fr Praveen Monteiro, resident priest, Stella Maris Church, Fr William Martis and other priests from Udupi and mangaluru dioceses took part in the Eucharistic celebrations.
Bishop Dr Gerald Issac Lobo honoured the donors.