Mangalore: Bondel Church celebrates Monthi Fest

By John Monteiro
Bellevision Media Network

Mangalore, 08 September 2012: Monthi Fest, the feast of Nativity of Mother Mary, was celebrated with religious fervour at St. Lawrence Church, Bondel. A large congregation, with children with flowers in the forefront, assembled on the Church Hall foreground. After the Parish Priest, Fr. Andrew D’ Souza, welcomed the assembly and explained the significance of Monthi Fest, Fr. Vijay Machado of Mangalajyoti blessed the new corn. Fr. Patrick Sequiera, Assistant Parish Priest, participated in the ceremony and, later, in the concelebrated Mass in the church.

 

 

The congregation went in a procession to the church singing devotional hymns, accompanied by a brass band, with Bambina Mary mounted on a flower-bedecked vehicle.

Incidentally, Bonde, meaning Bon Dale in French (Bon+good/happy and Dale+valley)was so-named by Fr. Alexander Dubois, a French-origin priest headquartered at Milagres and tended, walking barefoot, to far-flung faithful, Bondel and Cordel included, before they became independent parishes. Cordel, which rhymes with Bondel, had its church foundation started by him and his Samadhi is located at the rear of the church and visited by favour-seekers of all religions – he being called Kullerda Ajjer( Kulshekar’s Grandpa)  by Tulus.