Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (GA) - pics - Praveen Tauro

Mangalore, May 2: The grand annual parish feast of St Vincent Ferrer Church, Valencia was held on Wednesday May 2.

Locally-known as 'Vhoddlem Fest' it is being celebrated for the fourth year running.  Although it is being celebrated on a Sunday in most of the parishes in city limits, Valencia celebrates it on Wednesday which is a normal working day.  Yet the parishioners take part actively in celebrating it.

It is a long-awaited occasion, with many relatives from distant places joining in. Rarely does any parish in the city celebrate the feast on a week day. 

The Solemn Holy Eucharist was offered by Arch-bishop Emeritus Ignatius Pinto of Bangalore.  Msgr Fred V Pereira, Fr Stany Goveas, parish priest Fr Paul Pinto, assistant parish priest Kiran Pinto concelebrated the Eucharist. 

Hundreds of parishioners and their relatives participated in the Eucharist.