from Vinay Pais
for Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (SM)

Kundapur, Dec 14: The festival of the Mother of Immaculate Conception was celebrated on a grand scale at St Antony’s Church, Padukone near here recently.

The belief held by the Church followers is that the statue of the great Mother of Immaculate Conception installed in front of the Church at the time of Portuguese had turned its face towards the rising tides of the Arabian Sea. While the latter were pounding the foundation, the sea receded immediately on seeing the serene face of the great Mother.

Since then the tradition of offering special prayer to the Church deity to commemorate the miracle is being followed every year with great devotions. The elders of the locality also attribute several other mysterious events to the statue. It is significant to note that the people of other communities also offer prayers to the Mother of Immaculate Conception by burning the candles.

When the Padukone Church was constrcuted for the convenience of the family of undivided Gangolly Church, the statue of the great Mother was given as an offering to the former. Fr Boniface D’Souza, the Carmelite priest offered the Eucharistic solemn mass and performed the rituals of the festival including the carrying of the statue in the palanquin. Nearly 2000 devotees were present on this occasion.