Celebration of Monthi Fest at Milagres Cathedral, Kallianpur.

Udupi: Following a nine-day novena in preparation for the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which commenced on August 30, 2023, the celebration of the Feast took place with great splendor at Milagres Cathedral, Kallianpur, on September 8, 2023 (Friday). A large number of   parishioners and children assembled for this special occasion.The festivities commenced at 7:45 a.m. in front of the Church’s Grotto. The Cathedral’s rector, Fr. Valerian Mendonca, blessed the new harvest and the statue of Baby Maria  (Maria Bambina),  adorned in a decorated cradle. Children joyfully showered the colorful flowers which they brought in a well decked plate in honor of our Lady. This was followed by a procession led by the young children to the Church, singing the traditional hymn ‘Sakadd sangata mellyam.’

The Holy Mass was celebrated by Rev. Fr. Valerian Mendonca, with Fr. Joy Andrade  as the co-celebrant.

During his homily, Fr. Mendonca elucidated the origins of “Monti Fest” or the Feast of the Nativity  which is a significant festival for Mangalorean Catholics, observed every year on September 8. The festival also includes the blessing of Novem (new crops). He highlighted that this festival traces its roots back to the 15th century at Mount Mary Church in Goa and was later introduced to Farangipet by Fr. Joachim Miranda. It has since become a cherished celebration among Konkani-speaking Mangalorean Catholics worldwide. Fr. Mendonca emphasized the uniqueness of this feast, as the Catholic Church celebrates the births of only three persons i.e.  Mother Mary, Jesus, and St. John the Baptist.

Fr. Mendonca explained that this feast serves as a unifying force, fostering a sense of unity, faith, and tradition and the importance of expressing gratitude for the harvest. The blessed corn is taken home, mixed with “Vorn,” and shared with family and neighbours, thereby strengthening community bonds. Prayers are offered for the departed, and both young and old come together to share a meal. In the fast-paced world of today, there is a pressing need to rediscover, nurture, and rekindle these bonds of unity within families and respect for parents. Recent events in  Manipur and elsewhere, highlight the urgency of respecting women.

The family of the late Lazarus and Margaret D’Souza from Milagres A Ward has been the “Pirjent” of this feast for several years, and they were duly honored on this occasion.

The parish website www.milagrescathedralkallianpur.com was inaugurated on this occasion.

Sugarcane was distributed to all the Children, which is a very old tradition in the coastal district. Also, for all the parishoners “Vorn” was distributed along with the new corn, symbolizing the spirit of sharing and togetherness that defines this joyous celebration.