Pics: Daya Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network- Mangalore
Media Release
Mangalore, Feb 12: White Flower Social Service Movement (R 166) in association with Jeppu Parish celebrated the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes on Tuesday February 11.
The feast day of ‘Our Lady of Lourdes’ is a day to remember when ‘Our Blessed Mother’ appeared to 14 years old Marie Bernade (St Bernadette) Soubirous for the first time.
The Novena service in honor of ‘Our Lady of Lourdes’ was conducted for nine days from February 2 to February 10 at the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, St Joseph Nagar, Jeppu.
The evening began with Rosary at the grotto. Fr Nelson Dalmeida, Parish priest, Jeppu and Fr Joseph Martis - rector St Joseph Seminary venerated the Our Lady of Lourdes statue at the grotto with incense, J R Lobo- MLA, Jacintha Vijay Alfred - corporator for the ward and many other dignitaries were present at the grotto.
A candle light procession was taken from the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, St Joseph’s Nagar to Jeppu Church. Priest, Nuns, parishioners as well as devotees in large numbers from the surrounding institutions like Holy Rosary Convent, Infant Mary’s School and Convent, St Antony’s Ashram, St Joseph’s Workshop, St Joseph Seminary and neighboring parishes took part in this procession, carrying candles and reciting the rosary distributed to them by the organisers.
A solemn mass was celebrated at 7 pm by Fr Stany Miranda, Fr Ravi Santhosh Kamath and Fr Maxim D’souza. Nearly thousand devotees gathered to honor Our dear Mother Mary of Lourdes for all the good things and favours she has bestowed on them and their families and place before her all their petitions for this coming year.
After Mass Regist of Mother Mary was distributed to all the devotees. Dinner was organized and served to all gathered.
‘White Flowers’, is a leading organization from Jeppu, which functions under the able leadership of Vijay Alfred works for the social welfare of the parish and the society, it has been in existence since the last three decades.