Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (RD/SB)
Udupi, Aug 5: The annual feast of Our Lady of Vailankani pilgrimage centre in Stella Maris Church, Kalmady, Malpe, near here will be held on Sunday August 15.
Bishop Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza of Mangalore diocese will offer the festal holy mass. The novenas to Our Lady of Vailankani will be held at the pilgrimage centre, here from Friday August 6 to Saturday August 14 at 4.00 pm every day. The festal theme is ‘Let thy will be done unto me.’
Capuchin priest Fr Richard Quadros will be the preacher for the novena service. The devotion to Our Lady of Vailankani began since August 15 1988, when the Late Bishop Basil D’Souza blessed the statue of Mother Mary at Stella Maris Church, Kalmady, here. It is also the occasion of Feast of Our Lady of Assumption and Independence Day.
The former priests, Fr Denis Castelino, late Fr Robert Pinto, Fr Ivan D’Mello and Fr Richard Mascarenhas all strived to promote the pilgrimage centre as a significant worship centre of Our Lady of Vailankani in the entire Mangalore diocese.
Fr Maxim Misquith is the present parish priest of Kalmady parish, assisted by parish council vice-president Louis Lob, secretary Franklin Menezes and parishioners have contributed remarkably to promote the devotion of Our Lady of Vailankani by improving the infrastructure at the parish.