Daijiworld Media Network – Beltangady (SB)

Beltangady, Jan 30: The annual feast of Infant Jesus was celebrated with great solemnity and devotion at Asha Deepa, Madantyar here on Thursday January 29.
 
The solemn festal Eucharistic celebration was held at 5.30 pm in which Fr James D’Souza, vicar vara of Beltangady was the president with 25 priests as con-celebrants.

Fr Stephen Pereira, breaking the word spoke about the richness and the theological depth of the devotion to Infant Jesus. He said, “Sixty years ago the Carmelite Friars landed in Mangalore and sowed the seed of the devotion to Infant Jesus and today it has grown into a mighty tree and has spread to all corners of the Diocese.”

Speaking on the festal theme ‘Jesus the High Priest’, he said, “Jesus is our High Priest and we all partake in his priesthood according to our vocation as priests, religious and lay people. Being faithful to our calling is the best way to celebrate The Year of the Priests.”

Fr Patrick Lobo, the superior of the Carmelite community at Madanthyar thanked the sponsors and all the devotees who had gathered in large number.

It can be recalled here that Asha Deepa, the Carmelite Monastery was founded in 1986 and with their arrival the devotion to Infant Jesus began to spread in this part of the region. The monastery also serves as a Formation house for students aspiring to be priests.