Bangalore: Thousands Throng St Mary’s Basilica on Nativity of Mother Mary

News & Pics: Fr Amarnath Dinesh Roy
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Sep 9: Thousands gathered at St Mary’s Basilica here to celebrate the Nativity of Mother Mary on Wednesday September 8. 

Addressing the faithful, Archbishop Bernard Moras said, “Nativity of Mother Mary is the anticipation of the incarnation of Jesus birth. May the feast bring us closer to Jesus through Mary and receive the holy sacraments sincerely”.

The day began with Eucharistic celebrations from 4.30 in the morning for every half hour. The Archbishop celebrated the festal mass in Kannada and Tamil in the Market square. In the evening, the decorated car of Mother Mary was flagged off by the local police commissioner Shankar Bidri and Anglo Indian MLA Derek Fullinfaw. Over six Lac people visited the Holy shrine on the feast day.

The nine-day novena preparation saw people clad with saffron colour coming from every nook and corner of the city. The novena preparation was marked with rosary, mass and sermons in Kannada, Tamil and English for nine days, confessions, night vigil and healing service for the sick. Mass marriages for forty seven couples were solemnized by the Archbishop Bernard Moras and golden jubilarian couples were felicitated.

The governor of the state Hansraj Bhardwaj visited the shrine on September 7.  Father Anthonyswamy, parish priest felicitated the guests and thanked the car decorators and other volunteers. Fr Arulappa, rector felicitated the assistant police commissioners and proposed the vote of thanks.