Media Release

Mangaluru, Sep 9: The Neermarga parish commemorated the solemnity of the Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary with religious zeal, majesty and exuberance on Tuesday.

Feast preparations commenced from August 30 to September 7.

Adults and children above the age of 10 attended the eucharistic celebration and Novena prayers with fresh flowers as an index of love for the mother of our Saviour and all mankind. After the ninth day of the Novena, the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary was observed in a splendid manner with the church adorned elegantly and the festal mass was celebrated at by Fr Leo Lasrado, administrator, St Joseph’s Seminary and Fr Anil D Mello, the parish priest was the joint celebrant.

The community leaders with the processional cross, freshly grown paddy corn and a small statue of Infant Mary entered the church in procession. The parish priest warmly and generously welcomed Fr Leo Lasrado and the parishioners who assembled in large numbers. Fr Leo Lasrado in his edifying homily glossed the reasons for honouring Mary through anecdotes and also highlighted the importance of family life and the role of the blessed Virgin Mary in family life. New corn was blessed on the occasion, supporters and murdoms were honoured with a blessed candle.

Since a large number of people took part in the solemn Eucharist. Fr Anil D Mello, the parish priest along with the Parish Pastoral Council and COVID committee took immense trouble in aiding the parishioners to follow social distancing and other generic preventive measures.

On the whole, the feast provided the faithful with an occasion for praise and thanksgiving in honour of the personal sanctity and vocation of the blessed virgin Mary as the mother of the Lord Jesus and also an opportune time to thank God for the fruits of their labour.