Media Release
Mangaluru, Dec 6: The celebration of a parish feast is something special, full of prayer and fellowship. It creates an ecstatic sense of enjoyment, relaxation and offers time needed to bond with family members.
St Joseph The Worker Church celebrated its annual feast on Sunday, December 4 with gaiety and fervor. Prior to the solemn Eucharistic celebration the sponsors were honoured with special candle by Fr Anil Canute D'Mello, parish priest and their names were announced by Ravi Saldanha, vice president, parish pastoral council and Fr James D’Souza, vicar forane, city deanery. The main celebrant along with the parish priest, the priests from the deanery, outside the deanery, altar boys, parishioner priests and guest priests, liturgy participants, Ravi Saldanha, participated in a procession from the vicar’s house and entered the church through the main door to celebrate the annual feast High Solemn Mass.
In his homily, Fr Joswin D'Souza, professor of philosophy, St Joseph's Inter Diocesan Seminary, Mangaluru explained about METANOIA, a transformative change of heart, especially, a spiritual conversion, John the Baptist appearing in the wilderness proclaiming baptism of repentance. He further focussed on the three of the most noteworthy virtues of St Joseph that he practiced daily in his quiet hidden life virtues like-hardwork, justice, humility and obedience with a right blend of narration of the facts of life, anecdotes, scripture references, popular quotes and questions for thought that offered the congregation an invitation to make their lives meaningful and joyful.
The symphonic rhythm of the Vas Band and the choir led by Nirmala enhanced the solemnity of the annual feast Eucharistic celebration.
At the end of solemn celebration of the Eucharist, Fr Anil D'Mello conveyed his greetings to all concerned of the parish and the priests as well. He verbalized his deep sentiments of gratitude to Fr James D’Souza, main celebrant of the mass, Fr Joswin for his meaningful homily and all the guest priests, Ravi Saldanha and Prakash Pereira, vice president and secretary and the members of the Parish Pastoral Council, Brother Rakesh, Sister Sujatha and Sister Mavis , superiors of Holy Cross Convent and Carmel Ashram, all the associations, choir members and altar boys who helped in the effective conduct of the annual feast. On behalf of the priests, Fr James D’Souza conveyed his wishes to the parishioners and appreciated The indefatigable efforts and the generous unstinted labour of the parish priest in keeping united the flock entrusted to his care and also his unassuming, helpful and dedicated services to the deanery. After the Holy Eucharistic celebration various stalls were set up by ICYM, YCS Catholic Sabha and altar boys.
The parishioners, their families and friends and non-Catholic brethren enthusiastically and cheerfully participated in the lucky games.