Udupi: Shirva Parish celebrates Vespers (Besp) with devotion and candle light procession

By Alphonse Mendonsa
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 01 Feb 2018: Parishioners of Mother of Good Health Shirva observed Vespers (Besp) with a candle light procession from Church to Shankerpura for the blessings of Cherel (statue of Mother of Good Health), Patron of Shirva Parish on 26th evening at 7:00pm.

 

The Cherel was blessed by Rev. Fr. Joseph Martis (Rector, St. Joseph’s Seminary, Jeppu, Mangalore) and held the brief prayer service.  Thereafter the Cherel was carried back to the church and a short prayer with Benediction to the Holy Sacrament was held. The Prayer service was also conducted by Fr. Joseph Martis. In his brief homily, he highlighted the life and service of Mother Mary. He pointed out that Mother Mary visited Five Houses during her life and each house she performed her duties responsibly and humbly. She also brought peac and happiness in these five houses.

 

 

The five houses he pointed out Mother Mary visited were 1) Joseph’s House where she served her spouse and infant Jesus with utmost care, love and affection, 2), A house in Cana where in a wedding Wine was short and Mary quickly realized the embarrassment of the owner of the house and She knew only her son can save him. She quietly requested the servants to fill the jars and humbly requested Jesus to help to save the embarrassment of the owner and Jesus performed his first Miracle in Public by converting water into Wine. 3) Elizabeth’s house (Her relative) who was pregnant. She brought happiness and laughter in her presence. It shows that how much Mother Mary was welcomed in the house for her kind deeds. Whereas Fr. Martis said, now a days people are hardly welcomed when a guest visits a relative or friends house as people seems to be too busy to attend the guests and many a times even guests to come with loads of problems and complaints rather than coming to bring happiness to the house. Mary served there three months until the birth of John the Baptist 4) After the death of her loving son Jesus, Mary stayed a few days with John the Evangelist. It was a very tragic and sad moment and days but she had strong faith and John too was a close friend of Jesus who needed consolation and only Mary could help him. John changed his life completely having being with Mother Mary he learned humbleness from Mother Mary. By this we learn how to stay in faith and strong in faith when we face problems, hardships and deaths in the house. 5) Mother Mary visited the house wherein all the Apostles were residing in closed doors terrified at the cruel death of Jesus. They were thinking that the Jews will catch them as well and kill them and at that moment Mother Mary consoles and calms down their fears and when Jesus appears and the Holy Spirit comes on them they become brave and fearless and proclaim the Word of God. 

 

A large number of parishioners and people of other faith too attended the service. After the service, people spent time in the santhmari  and fun filled games organized by ICYM Pangla Shirva. Loads of ice cream stalls and games and other sweet shops were set up for the people to enjoy the festivity.