Pics: Abhijith N Kolpe

Media Release

Mangaluru, Jan 2: The annual feast of Infant Jesus at Infant Jesus Shrine, Carmel Hill, Bikarnakatte, will be celebrated on January 14 and 15.

Addressing media at the press club on Tuesday January 2, Fr Stifan Perera OCD, director, Infant Jesus Shrine, said, “The festal Mass on January 14 at 6.00 pm will be presided over by Rt Rev Oswald Joseph Lewis, BISHOP EMERITUS, Jaipur diocese. A special Mass for the sick will be offered at 10.30 am which will be presided over by Fr Alban D'Souza, the rector of St Lawrence Minor Basilica, Attur-Karkala.

“The festal Mass on January 15 at 10.30 am will be presided over by Rt Rev Dr Francis Serrao, bishop of Shimoga and at 6.00 pm will be presided over by Fr Archibald Gonsalves, the vicar provincial of the Karnataka Goa Carmelite province.

“There will be Masses all through the day too on January 14. Mass in Konkani will be celebrated at 6.00 am, 7.30 am in English, and 9.00 am in Konkani and 1.00 am in Kannada. Mass for the sick and the aged will be celebrated at 10.30 am in Konkani.

“The festal Mass on the second day, January 15 will be held at 6.00 am, 7.30 am, and 9.00 am in Konkani; 10.30 Mass for the Children and 1.00 pm in Malayalam (Latin Rite).

“A special Mass will be offered for Children on January 6, Saturday at 6.00 pm. It will be presided over by Rt Rev Ignatius D'Souza, bishop of Bareilly.

“The formal inauguration of the festivity will be held on January 4 at 4.00 pm with the votive offering procession beginning at Holy Cross Church, Kulshekar-Mangaluru. It will be followed by an inter-religious meet and flag hoisting.

“Nine days of novena prayers will be held from January 5 to 13 during which 9 Masses will be offered every day. Masses will be held every day in the morning at 6.00, 7.30, 9.00 and 10.30 in Konkani; at noon 1.00 pm in Konkani; in the evening at 4.00 in Malayalam, 5.00 in English and 7.30 in Kannada.

“The main Mass at 6.00 pm will be celebrated in Konkani in the open air. The Eucharistic adoration will be conducted daily from 11.30 am to 12.45 pm.

“Anna Santarpane, vegetarian meal will be served to the devotees on all the days of the novena and feast days at noon. A blood donation camp will be held on January 11 and 12 from 8.30 am to 1 pm,” he said.

Fr Melvin D'Cunha OCD, superior, St Joseph's Monastery, Fr Deep Fernandes, delegate provincial for the OCDS, Fr Rudolph D’Souza, and Stanly Bantwal, media representative, Infant Jesus Shrine, were present.