Mangaluru: Thousands attended the annual feast at the Infant Jesus Church, Carmel Hill, Bikarnakatte, on Wednesday, with many just about finding space on the periphery of the shrine. Hundreds gathered on the road outside to catch a glimpse of the celebrations
In his homily the bishop Dr Ignatius D’Souza said, “The motto of the feast is healthy family. God is the one who protects us, God lives as family, Father, son and Holy Spirit.
Today the young children are finding difficult to respect their parents, it is easy to drop them in orphanage and visit once a while. Families are broken, divorces have increased, greed has increased, and there is no spirit of sacrifice in life. Our life has become like bubbles of soap, where happiness is momentary and vanishes instantly. Our flats are well painted, decorated, the rooms are big but hearts have become smaller, the bishop said.
We need to concentrate on our lives and focus on what the Lord says, the bishop concluded.
Fr Charles Serrao, provincial of Karnataka-Goa province, Fr Pius James D’Souza, superior of the community, Fr Ellias D’Souza director of Shrine, Fr Antony Barnabas Monis assistant rector, Fr Vijay Victor Lobo, Fr Joe Tauro superior of St Joseph Monastrery, Fr Melwin D’counha, parish preist of Bajjodi, Fr Antony Serrao, parish priest of Bendore, Fr Deep Fernandes, Fr Stephen Alwyin Pereira and other priests were present at the mass.
Former union minister Oscar Fernandes, and Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy president Roy Castelino and others were also present.
The masses were held from 6 am to 12:30 pm, followed by a special prayer service in Kannada at 1.30 pm. Nine days of Novena, from January 5 to January 13, were held as part of the feast.
On the occasion of the annual feast, a blood donation camp was also organized on January 9, from 9 am to 1 pm. MP Nalin Kumar Kateel inaugurated the camp.
MLC Ivan D’souza and MLA J R Lobo also visited Carmel Hill during the novena of the Shrine.
Various neighborhood shrines in the area were also decorated to celebrate the annual feast. The church at Bikarnakatte draws people of all faiths as it’s believed that prayers made here never go unanswered. Devotees jostled in the evening, devotees went about their worship unaffected by the festivities. “I love the whole atmosphere at the feast. My belief in Jesus is strengthened on seeing thousands of people attending the event to seek his blessings,” said a devotee, who is a regular visitor to this feast from years. Many non-Christians were also seen lighting candles in the Church.
