Colourful Vespers at Mount Rosary Church, Santhekatte – Kallianpur

By Prof. Archibald Furtado
Pics: Pravin Cutinho/Peter Lewis
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi/Santekatte, 02 Jan 2024: The festive Christmas season still continued beyond New Year, especially in Mount Rosary Church, with no break, this time since Fraternity Sunday on 31st December, 2023, yesterday welcoming of the New Year 2024, and now it geared up to celebrate the ‘Annual Parish Feast’ tomorrow. The traditional Vespers were held on the previous evening as the parishioners and relatives assembled in the spacious Church to offer prayers, on Tuesday, 2nd January, at 6.45 p.m.

 

After the blessings of the well decorated palkin housing the statue of the patroness, ‘Our Lady of Holy Rosary’, at the School corridors, adjacent to the main entrance to the Church, was brought to the Church in a colourful and disciplined procession, with live performance led by the Brass Band team and with devotional prayers, and few holding candles etc by the faithful.

 

As the choir sung the melodious entrance hymn, all assembled in and around the Church, Rev. Fr. Ronald Miranda, native of our parish, Fatima ward, presently the Parish Priest of historical St Peter Church Barkur, was the main celebrant of the evening, with our Vicar Rev. Dr. Roque D’Souza and Asst. Priest Rev. Fr. Oliver Nazareth along with dozens of priests, both from the Kallianpur, Shirva, Udupi Deaneries and from the neighbourhood.

 

While breaking the word of God, Fr Miranda beautifully narrated the importance of a ‘prayerful life in the family’ and in the parish. He focussed mainly on ’The Lord’s Prayer’ popularly known as the Our Father’s Prayer in Heaven… Jesus taught his disciples– focussing three, address, worship and acknowledgement – viz. ‘Hallowed be thy name’, ‘Thy Kingdom come’, ‘Thy will be done…..’ He referred Holy Scriptures to explain what and how one has to pray..? And significance of prayers in the family life, which guides us with self discipline, a life with love and compassion and justice in the society.

 

 As we are in preparation of Jubilee 2025, in brief he emphasised the devotion of our Patron Mother Mary of Holy Rosary everyday in the family and the peace, favours and contentment derived from it. In short in the beginning he recollected childhood days around the Church with devout priests who taught us to pray….

 

 

In the followed solemn benediction of the Holy Sacrament, he touched the heart of the faithful with soft, chosen words and thanked, dedicated and raised our prayers to Almighty Lord. It was a touching ceremony concluded with the Blessings on faithful.

 

As the huge ground was full of parishioners, guests and relatives, with a festive mood among the children and youth was at its peak, both the High Altar, interiors and exteriors of the Church were well decorated with fresh flowers and lighting and the enthusiastic ICYM and YCS made huge arrangements to have a Cock Draw, other games and there were variety of stalls dozens of Ice Cream stalls, mitai, masala churmuri to give a feel and fragrance of festivities in the Church Compound. Youth were eagerly waiting for Housie Game, which rightly a star attraction in Mount Rosary with huge amounts of Cash Prizes…!!

 

In the beginning, Luke DSouza Vice President of pastoral council warmly welcomed all and Parish Priest Rev. Dr. Roque DSouza, gave a brief introduction of the main celebrant Fr. Ronald Miranda and informed the scheduled proceedings and rituals in the evening and tomorrow i.e. Parish Feast celebrations.

 

St. Vincent DePaul Society which is doing a yeomen service for years in the parish arranged to sell candles and the income generated and the days collection was utilised exclusively for their yeomen service in the parish.

 

Tomorrow Wednesday 3rd January, 2024, ‘Thanks giving Festal Grand Mass’ will be concelebrated at 10.30 am, by Monsignor Ferdinand Gonsalves the Vicar General of the Diocese of Udupi, Dean of Kallianpur Varado V. Rev Fr Valerian Mendonca and guest priests.

 

Exclusive Photo Album will be uploaded soon.