Milagres Church Celebrates feast of Nativity

By Roshan Madtha
Bellevision Media Network

Mangalore, 08 Sept 2012: Every year, on September 8, across the world the Catholic community gears up for the celebration of Monthi feast of our Lady. The harvest festival is celebrated along with the birthday of Mother of Jesus.

 

A series of 9 Novenas to the Blessed Virgin Mary are recited on a daily basis,at the end of which children offer flowers in a ceremonious manner at the grotto of Mother Mary. Sweets are distributed for all the children on the novena days.

 

It is a harvest feast for the whole family where the day begins with mass with children and devotees adorning the statue of our Lady with flowers. Prior to the solemn mass, there is a procession of the parishes from a certain destination to the respective churches.

 

Hymns are sung in full chorus along with the devotees.

 

Traditionally, the paddy or first grain is brought to the Altar in a procession and blest by the priest. The offertory procession includes the statue of Mother Mary, sugarcane, vegetables, flowers, fruits,  Bread and Wine.

 

The first harvest of sugarcane and paddy is distributed to all attendees of the solemn feast.

 

Mangalorean families celebrate the festal lunch with different varieties of vegetarian food. The food is tradionationally served on a plantain leaf.

 

Mangalorean catholics observe this feast worldwide with full fervor. This tradition in Mangalore is definitely what unites and bringstogether all the family.

 

 

 In Milagres church it was celebrated in a very grand manner.The procession started from Attaver new road junction at 7am. The statue of mother Mary and the new corn was brought in procession to Milagres church. The children offered flowers as vehicle carryingMother Mary’s statue entered the church premises.

 

The festive mass commenced with honouring the mudoms and donars by the parish priest.In his message the parish priest told it is a family feast and it is a great joy for all Christians. The new corn was blessed and distributed. After the mass the sugarcane was distributed for all children and adults as a symbol of joy and happiness.