News: Fr Rohith D'Costa
Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady (SB)

Beltangady, Dec 2: The annual feast (vodle fest) of Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Madantyar was celebrated with devotion and grandeur on Wednesday December 1.

The celebrations began on Sunday November 27 with the Confraternity Sunday (Compricho Aithar). Fr Joachim Fernandes, professor of St Joseph’s seminary was the main celebrant.

In his message he urged the need of brotherhood among us and called upon parishoners to live as one family. The mass was followed by an Adoration and then the Blessed Sacrament was publicly honoured with a grand procession in the town.

The celebration of Word of God (Besp) was conducted on Tuesday November 30. The statue of Sacred Heart of Jesus was blessed at the Vailankani shrine in the town and then brought to the church in a grand procession. Fr Andrew Leo D’Souza, parish priest of Jeppu conducted the ceremony and Fr John D’Souza, professor of St Joseph’s Seminary delivered the message of Unity. The Besp was followed by the spectacular fireworks show.

The annual church feast was celebrated with offering of high feast mass by thousands of devotees. Fr Victor Machado, parish priest of Bejai was the main celebrant and in his homily, he said, The love of Jesus never gets tired, so should be ours. More than 25 priests from varado and the diocese concelebrated the Eucharist.

Fr Lawrence Mascarenhas, the parish priest thanked all the sponsors and the donors. They were honored by Fr James D’Souza, vicar vara of Belthangady varado.The church was specially decorated and illuminated with lightings and flowers for the feast. In all the three days thousands of parishoners and
devotees took part in the celebrations and received the blessings and the benevolence of Sacred Heart of Jesus.