Udupi/M’Belle: Preparation for the Feast of the Nativity of Mother Mary begins with Floral Novena

By Eugene DSouza
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi/M’Belle, 30 Aug 2016: The nine day Novena in preparation for the feast of the Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary (Monti Fest) began on Tuesday, August 30, 2016 in all parishes of the Udupi and Mangalore Dioceses. In St. Lawrence Church, Moodubelle, the Novena Mass started at 8.30 am followed by the offering of flowers to Blessed Virgin Mary.

 

Fr. Clement Mascarenhas, Parish Priest and Fr. Lawrence Cutinha, Assistant Parish priest concelebrated the first day’s novena mass. In his introductory message, Fr. Clement welcomed the children and their parents as well as other parishioners to the first day of the novena in honour of Blessed Mother. He emphasized on the importance of the family life and asked the faithful to follow Mother Mary’s example as a role model for all mothers. He further said that the children are the pearls of the parish and the  future of the society and they require prayers of all for their well-being.

 

 

Following the end of the Mass, school children in their respective uniforms of their schools went in line in front of the main altar where the statue of Infant Mary  was  kept and offered few flowers and  proceeded to the portico for the final offerings of flowers as the choir sang the hymn “Sakkad Sangatha Mellyam….”

 

Once all the children and adults gathered in the portico, following the Novena prayer recited by Fr. Clement Mascarenhas, the children offered flowers to Mother Mary to the accompaniment of the hymn “Moriyek Hogolshiyam…”

 

Sweets sponsored by the parishioners were distributed to children and all those who participated in the Novena. The similar procedure will follow during the remaining eight days.