Media Release
Mangaluru, Jan 3: The annual feast of Infant Jesus at Infant Jesus Shrine, Carmel Hill, Bikarnakatte will be celebrated on January 14, 15 and 16.
The Festal Mass on January 14 at 10.30 am will be presided over by Fr Pius James D’Souza OCD, definitor general, Rome, and at 6 pm. will be presided over by Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, bishop of Mangalore. The festal Mass on January 15 at 10.30 am will be presided over by Fr Clifford Fernandes, parish priest, Holy Cross Church Kulshekar, and at 6 pm will be presided over by Fr Maxim Noronha, vicar general of Mangalore diocese. The festal Mass on January 16 at 10.30 am will be presided over by Fr Henry D’Souza, bishop of Bellary and at 6 pm will be presided over by Fr Rovel D’Souza, director of Infant Jesus Shrine.
There will be Masses all through the day too on January 14. Mass in Konkani will be celebrated at 6 am, 7.30 am in English, 9 am in Konkani and 1 pm in Kannada. Mass for the sick and the aged will be celebrated at 10.30 am in Konkani. The Festal Mass on the January 15 will be at 6 am, 7.30 am, 9 am in Konkani; 10.30 am Mass for the children and 1 pm in Konkani. The festal Mass on the January 16 will be at 6 am in Konkani, 7.30 am in English, 9 am in Konkani, 1 pm in Malayalam and 6 pm Mass in Konkani.
The formal inauguration of the festivity will be held done by hoisting the flag on January 4 at 5 pm after the Mass.
In preparation for the annual feast, nine days Novena prayers are held from January 5 to 13 during which there will be 9 Masses every day. The Masses will be at 6 am, 7.30 am, 9 am, 10.30 am and 1 pm in Konkani; at 4 pm in Malayalam, 5 pm in English and 7.30 pm in Kannada. The main mass at 6 pm will be celebrated in Konkani in the open air.
Infant Jesus Shrine abiding by the government regulations on Covid 19, is keen on providing safety to the people in its premises. The place of worship will be sanitized and clean drinking water and other facilities will be provided to all pilgrims and special prayers will be offered for the protection from Covid 19 pandemic.
Fr Rovel D’Souza, director of the shrine released the press release to the media fraternity.