Brahmavar, Dec 27: The annual feast of Holy Family Church, Brahmavar was celebrated with devotion and grandeur on December 27.

 

Fr Denis D'Sa, PRO, Diocese of Udupi and parish priest of St Ann's church, Thottam was the main celebrant for the feast Eucharistic celebrations. 

 

In his homily, Fr Denis D'Sa said, "Today we will be concentrating on the holy family, a house of prayer. As per a research, four important factors in a person's development are parents, teacher, religious leaders and friends, colleagues. But today the situation has changed and someone else has taken these places. There was a holy cross, grotto in our house but today we have wifi, modem, home theatre and others. Earlier the bells of the church would call us for the prayers but today serials have more importance. Media, technology, and worldly things have taken the place of parents. The media is not bad but if we become the slaves of the media then it is bad. Can we reroute our journey with Bible gps?. The six values of the Holy family had every problem of life. But they said they would be done, so the Holy family had time to pray. Pope Francis says parents are the first teachers of the catechism. Parents have not taught children to be grounded. Give time to your children. Holy family had time for the family. There is no sense of sacred or divine. Let us have a single meal together. Time for children. Make your bedrooms as confessional  rooms and  not court rooms. Respect the elders. I request the youth to talk to the parents when they are alive. Parents have sacrificed everything for you. Think about it before leaving behind your parents  who raised you for 25 years just for a two year old love." 

 

Fr Valerian Mendonca, rector, Milagres Cathedral, Kallianpur, Fr Mark Saldhanha, assistant parish priest, Brahmavar, Fr Sunil D'Silva, parish priest, Sasthan, Fr Lenson Lobo, administrator, Nirmala English Medium School, Fr Dominic Veigas and other priests of the deanery were present on the occasion.

 

Fr Valerian Mendonca, rector, Milagres Cathedral, Kallianpur extended festival greetings to the Brahmavar parishioners on behalf of the Kallianpur deanery. 

 

The vespers celebration was held on Tuesday December 26. Fr Sunil D'Silva, parish priest, Sasthan church proclaimed the word of God and delivered the sermon. 

 

Donors and benefactors were honoured with blessed candles. 

 

Hundreds of parishioners took part in the annual feast celebrations with holistic fervour. 

 

Fr John Fernandes OFM cap, parish priest, thanked all the donors and sponsors and the faithful for their service and contributions.

 

Michael Furtado, vice president, Parish Pastoral Committee, Asha Lewis, secretary, Gretta D’Souza, convener, 20 Commissions were present on the occasion.