Mangalore: Thousands throng Carmel Hill

Bellevision Media Network

• Masses held in different languages at the Infant Jesus shrine

 

Mangalore, 14 Jan 2013 (DHNS): The candles glowed, the bells chimed and the devotees thronged the silent Carmel Hill to celebrate the feast of Infant Jesus in Mangalore on Monday.

 

The celebrations of this feast had commenced nine days ago with a novena. Each day of the novena was dedicated for a special cause. The feast was the finale event and was graced by Bishop of Asansol (West Bengal) Rev Dr Cyprian Monis, who was the main celebrant of the mass.

 

 

Presiding over the Eucharistic celebration, Rev Monis said that the faith is a constant search between God and human and it is a special gift. He spoke on the importance of faith and the need to rediscover it.

 

The mass began with a symbolic candle lighting ceremony. The clergy and lay people who have worked earnestly and kept up the Christian values lit the flame of faith.

 

A melodious choir sang hymns and added to the spirit of devotion.

 

Speaking to St Joseph’s Monastery (Carmel Hill) Superior Rev Fr Pius James D’Souza said that the response of the people for the nine-day novena and the feast mass was overwhelming.

 

“We had held masses in Konkani, English, Kannada and Malayalam. Already over 20,000 devotees have attended the seven masses held on the festive day and over 10,000 are expected to attend the festive mass," he said.

 

“This is the year of faith and the Holy Pope Bendict XVI, in his encyclical ’Porta Fide’ gives us a clarion call to ’Rediscover our Faith’. Hence we have themed this year’s fest ’Professing faith and proclaiming Christ," he added.

 

Devotees speak

I have not missed a single novena of Infant Jesus in the past eight years, said devotee Cecilia Lobo. "I have a great belief on Infant Jesus and I make it a point to attend the novena and feast with my family," she added.

 

Shruthi from Kerala said that she fell in love with the peaceful atmosphere in the shrine. "I happened to visit the shrine with my friends and I could feel the spiritual connect. I visit here often for peace of mind. It is the first time, I am attending the feast and it is truly grand," she said.

 

Another devotee Dinesh said that he has great faith on Infant Jesus. "I am not a Christian but I respect all faiths. I visit this shrine often as it is open to all faiths. The priests here are involved in a lot of charity work and I too try to be a part of it with my contributions," he added.

 

Fair

The fair outside the church, brought in the festive spirit. People sold candles, sweets, toys, ice creams to devotees who were thronging the festive mass.

 

"I usually sell ’Thamde Gulle’ (a sugar confectionery) at different church feasts. I prepare these at my home," said Rita from Vamanjoor.

 

The shrine

The Infant Jesus Shrine is managed by the Carmelite fathers and was built in 1947. Two Belgian priests Marcel and Hyacinth were sent to Mangalore in 1947. They explored the city in search of a suitable site and hence came across Carmel Hill where the construction work of the Chapel commenced.

 

By 1980, Carmel Hill was so much frequented on Thursday evening by people even from afar, that it became a known centre for this devotion. With the growing number of visitors, there was a need to have bigger place. Hence, the beautiful shrine was constructed and inaugurated by former Bishop of Mangalore Rev Fr Basil D’Souza on May 11, 1996.