MANGALURU: The annual feast of infant Jesus at Infant Jesus Shrine at Bikarnakatte's Carmel Hill in the city will be celebrated from January 14 to 16.
Rev. Fr. Rovel D’Souza, director of the shrine said, the festal mass on January 14 at 10.30am will be presided over by Rev. Fr. Pius James D’Souza, definitor general, Rome, and at 6pm, at will be presided over by Most Rev. Peter Paul Saldanha, bishop of Mangalore.
Next day, the festal mass at 10.30am will be presided over by Rev. Fr. Clifford Fernandes Parish Priest, Holy Cross Church Kulshekar and at 6pm, it will be presided over by Very Rev. Maxim Noronha, vicar general of Mangalore diocese.
The Festal Mass on January 16 at 10.30am will be presided over by most Rev. Henry D’Souza, Bishop of Bellary and at 6pm, it will be presided over by Rev. Fr. Rovel D’Souza, director of Infant Jesus Shrine.
On January 14, there will be masses through out the day.
Mass in Konkani will be celebrated at 6am, at 7.30am in English, 9am in Konkani and 1pm in Kannada.
Mass for the sick and aged will be celebrated at 10.30am in Konkani.
The formal inauguration of the festivity will be held by hoisting the flag on January 4 at 5pm after the mass.
In preparation for the annual feast, the nine-day long novena prayers will be held from January 5 to 13 during which there will be nine masses every day – 6am, 7.30am, 9am and 10.30 in Konkani; 1 pm in Konkani; 4pm in Malayalam, 5pm in English and 7.30pm in Kannada. The main mass at 6pm will be celebrated in Konkani in the open air.
The director said the place of worship will be sanitised and clean drinking water and other facilities will be provided to all pilgrims.
