Pics: Sany Digital Studio, Kalmady

Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi

Udupi, Aug 6: The nine-day novena prayers prior to the annual feast of Our Llady of Velankanni Shrine, Kalmady, began on Saturday August 6.

The novena prayers were inaugurated by Fr Valerian Mendonca, rector, Milagres Cathedral, Kallianpur, while Fr Baptist Menezes, parish priest, Stella Maris Church, Fr Roy Lobo, assistant parish priest, Sanjay Andrade, vice president, parish pastoral council, Shobha Mendonca, secretary, parish pastoral council, Ida D’Souza, convenor, 20 Commission, and Sandeep Andrade, convenor, Jubilee Committee, parishioners and devotes were present.

On the first day of the novena, Fr Valerian Mendonca presided over the Holy Eucharistic celebrations.

The nine-day novena prayers will be dedicated towards various intentions related to devotes, youths, priest, sick, elders, married couple, donors, children’s and families.

The procession of Our Lady of Velankanni will be held on August 14 from Karavali junction to Stella Maris Church. K Ragupathi Bhat, MLA, Udupi and Sunder Kalmady, councillor, will inaugurate the procession at 2:30 pm near Karavali junction.

The annual feast Mass will be held on August 15 at 10 am. Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, bishop emeritus, Mangalore diocese, will be the chief celebrant, while Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, bishop, diocese of Udupi, and bishops from various dioceses, will be the concelebrants of the Eucharistic celebrations.

On Monday August 15, proclamation and dedication of Our Lady of Velankanni, golden jubilee celebrations of Stella Maris Church and annual feast will be held in a grand devotional manner.

During the novena days, there will be adoration, special prayers for sick and Holy Mass will be celebrated every day at 4.00 pm.

The Velankanni shrine of Kalmady is a place of miracles. Velankanni mother here is a source of solace to many of her devotees. A large number of devotees visit the shrine every day, especially during the annual feast.