Church News

News by: Fr Kenneth Crasta
Pics by: Reevan Sequeira

Every year the Church celebrates the birthday of our beloved Mother Mary. In addition to the celebration of the birth we also thank God for the fruits of the earth. As a symbol of offering our lives to God we offer the first fruits of the earth to God. Blessing of the grain is accompanied by offering flowers to our Mother and then a procession to the Church. After the solemn Eucharistic celebration sweets and sugarcane are distributed to all. For the Christians in Mangalore, dining together with the family becomes an important part of the festivities. The festivities begin with drinking a mixture of milk and crushed rice, called NOVEM. This is a family feast, which calls us to be united to one another and therefore to a larger family.