The feast of Infant Jesus started from 5th January 2020 to 16th January  2020, Bikarnakatte, Mangalore, which consisted 9 days of novena and 3 days of feast days.

The feast of Infant Jesus was a pious moment.  Wherein we all were waiting  for this auspicious  feast, with its twinkling taught of get-to-getherness, in praying, clapping, novenas eating, drinking, wishing, communication, sharing,  and the feeling of  occupational time.

The church was well decorated as in of marriage ceremony.  The words does not flow and it gets blocked  not knowing how to put it,   the only thing we can say is  “auspicious”.

The main message of the feast was “You and god alone is enough, nothing more than that we need in our lives to live,  you will not let us away in whatever life’s circumstances we fall”.

All the devotees who had been poured in were blessed by Infant Jesus.  His training to us by his life incidences how  he  followed the footsteps of God the Father and the Holy Spirit, so likewise, we too must follow the ways of the  one person in the Holy trinity, that is  the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

“when God is there with us who can forsake us”.

THE MAIN CELEBRANTS OF THIS MASS WERE :

Fr. Joseph D’souza, Fr. Joachim Fernandes SCC,  Most.Rev. William D’souza, Fr. Sunil Monis OCD, GULB, Fr.Maxim Norohna, Vicar general, Rev. Peter Paul Saldanha, Most. Rev.Alwyn Baretto, Fr.Pawan Saldanha, OCD,  Fr. Joachim Rodrigues OCD, Most. Rev. Bernard Moras, Fr. Pius D,souza,OCD, Most. Fr. Archibald Gonsalves. OCD,  Rev. FR. Rohnald Serrao and others too.

The  main stage  was full of blessed once to proclaim the good news and  the devotees were there to give witness to the divine mass celebration.  The devotees was all around spread out in praising and glorifying the name of Jesus.  It was such an heavenly moment.  All the  masses went on so well. We were not hastened to get up from our places and go home.  We wanted the mass to be said again  with the same atmosphere.

Even the children were filled with joy.  They were  joyously going to and fro spreading the overflowing happiness that they were experiencing from within and expressing it in their own ways.

The one who possess God lacks nothing, and the person who lives for the worldly pleasures cannot live for god. The word of god helps us to know how to apply this in our own life.  GOD  LIVES/DWELLS WITHIN US.  

Mother Terasa taught us by her ways of life not to hurt others, and live the fullest life of Christianity with all its values embodied to it.

There was good sitting arrangements done, water for drinking,  clean toilet facilities were all provided. Food along with Kheer were given for devotees on all 12 days.  There were few stalls.  Blessings for the devotees were done by the priests.

There were hectic of rush on these days specially on last 3 days.   The devotees had come from all nearby and far-off places, not seeing the distance it covered but with the attitude of seeking the blessings of Infant Jesus, with so much of love and warmth for him, and his same to them and to be shared  to others vice versa.  

It was such a full fledged and heart rendered days those were to be remembered and cherished in our memories.  We too felt like a child while standing in front of Infant Jesus for the festive celebration of those conservative days.  May this childishness always remain  within us, May Infant Jesus help us in upholding it.  Which is one of the most genuine virtue that all need to possess.

So let us all be blessed in the name of Infant Jesus.  Whoever had an opportunity to come or not,  God is same to all.  How blessed are we, aren’t we ......   just wait for the next year, until than let us cherish the lasting memories and blessings he had bestowed for us from  these days,  So let us begin, Ho!  Let us start receiving the blessing shall we begin ..... Go for it.... wow  ......  


By Annie Regi ( M.A Lit)