Feast of Our Lady of Vailankanni to be Celebrated at Stella Maris Church, Kalmady on Aug 15

Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 03 Aug: Addressing a Press Conference at Udupi Press Club on Saturday, August 3, Fr. Alban D’Souza parish priest of the Stella Maris Church explained the preparations for the celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Vailankanni on August 15, 2019. He also narrated the circumstances that led to the installation of the statue of Our Lady of Vailankanni and development of Stella Maris Church as a Shrine and pilgrimage centre.

 

 

Stella Maris Church, the first ever ship-shaped church in Karnataka and second in India, third in Asia was inaugurated on January 6, 2018.  The annual re-installation ceremony of Our Lady of Vailankanni will be celebrated with utmost religious fervour on August 15. Accordingly, nine-day novena in honour of Mother Mary will be held from August 6 to August 14, in preparation to mark this auspicious occasion. Special prayers will be held during this nine-day novena.

 

Details about religious celebrations that are scheduled during the re-installation ceremony are as follows: 

On August 6 at 3.45pm – Fr Ronald Serrao, rector of St Joseph Seminary, Mangaluru will launch nine-day novena service. The first novena will begin at 4.00pm followed by Holy Mass.  

 

On August 14 at 2.45pm – mobile procession of Our Lady of Vailankanni will begin from Adi Udupi (in front of Regal Apartments) to Kalmady church.  Karnataka MLC Ivan D’Souza will flag-off the procession. Mangaluru bishop Dr Peter Paul Saldanha will concelebrate Eucharistic Celebration with many clergies at 4.00pm.

 

On August 15 at 4.00pm – Udupi bishop Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo will concelebrate Eucharistic Celebration. Holy Mass in Konkani will be celebrated at 8.00am followed by flag hoisting to celebrate Independence Day. Holy Mass in Konkani will be celebrated at 2.00pm, Holy Mass in Kannada at 6.00pm and Holy Mass in English at 8.00pm.

 

After the Holy Masses, the devotees will be served with light refreshments.

 

Significance of Our Lady of Vailankanni church, Kalmady

It has become the focal point of worship for people of different faiths, caste and creed. Hundreds and thousands of people throng the shrine seeking intercession of Our Lady of Vailankanni in overcoming their hardships, sufferings and tribulations. As a symbol of unity in diversity and religions, Kodimara (flag-hoisting pole that is usually found in temples) is erected at the church premises with the contributions of sponsors.

 

 

It is significant that Umesh Kidiyoor, a local businessman has been secretly worshiping Our Lady of Vailankanni at his abode by placing a statue of Mother Mary. Meanwhile, one fine day Umesh got a vision in his sleep that Mother Mary asked him to hand over Her statue to erect in appropriate place where she could be venerated by masses. Umesh approached the parish priest of Stella Maris church, Kalmady where the devotion to Our Lady of Vailankanni was held devoutly for many years. The clergy agreed to host the miraculous statue at the church who blessed and carried the same in a procession and installed at the church on October 21, 2018. Since then, miracles are taking place almost every day and the faithful report their testimony to the church.

 

The process of officially announcing Our Lady of Vailankanni church, Kalmady as pilgrimage shrine in a few months has been in progress. To facilitate the process, 18 testimonies have been submitted to Udupi diocesan authorities. It is hoped that the auspicious occasion is nearing and its divinity will reach all corners of world.