The nine-day novena services for the preparation of the annual feast of the Our Lady of Velankani at Stella Maris Church at Kalmadi near Malpe began here on Saturday.
A press release issued here by the Udupi Catholic Diocese said that the service was inaugurated Fr. Wilson Vitus D’Souza, parish priest of Bejai Church by hoisting the shrine flag. A large number of devotees of participated in the celebration of the Eucharist as well as first day Novena.
Fr. Alban D’Souza, parish priest of the church, Flavia D’Souza Vice President of Parish Pastoral Council, Sanjay Andrade Secretary, and Fr. Denis Castelino, were present.
The annual feast of the shrine will be held on August 15, in which Bishop of Udupi Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Gerald Isaac Lobo, will be the chief celebrant of the Eucharistic Mass at 10.30 a.m.
Masses would be held at 7 a.m. (Konkani), 4 a.m. (Kannada) and 6 p.m. (English) on that day. There will be procession of the offerings from Adi Udupi to the shrine at 2.30 p.m. on August 13. Food would be served to all devotees of feast day after the festive mass, the release said.
