The feast of Our Lady of Lourdes at
the Seminary Hills has devotion, charm and attraction and draws the devotees
from Nagpur and
from different parts of Central India. This
year’s feast is in some ways different from other years. The focus of the
celebration was faith in Our Lord and devotion to Mother Mary. From the very
beginning the devotees and pilgrims were guided to spend the time with God in
prayer, prayer and devotion to Mother Mary and in spiritual preparation through
confessions, healing and retreat. Right through the novenas there was the
atmosphere of spirituality, devotion, renewal, transformation and prayer and
less of artificial decorations and extravagance. There were six areas of
interest during the feast.
1. The
Eucharistic Celebrations: We had the
Holy Mass, which is the culmination of the feast on the 10th of February 2013. People
had been sufficiently prepared to participate in a most devout and prayerful
way during the Holy Mass. The altar and the sanctuary had been beautifully
prepared for the most important celebration during the feast. Maximum number of
people had attended the Holy Mass and received abundance of blessings from God.
The homily on that day was focused on faith, because of the Year of Faith. Along
with the Solemn Eucharistic celebration, there were masses in different
languages on the feast day, which was attended by many people. It was an
occasion to be deeply involved and feel the closeness because of ones own
language. The nine Saturdays of novena preparation which was started on the 15th
of December and the nine days preceding the feast had the participation and
animation by the different parishes of the city and those who could reach for
the feast.
2. Confessions
and Healing service: From the very
beginning of the novena the thrust was to have spiritual preparation and renewal,
and emotional, mental and physical healing. This was possible with the
availability of many priests to exercise their priestly ministry. Every novena
day before the mass there was confessions and after the mass there was healing
and the people flocked to avail of these spiritual services. This culminated on
the feast day as many priests were available for confession in different
languages and at 2.45 P.M
there was the Eucharistic Adoration and healing service. Most of the pilgrims
have been waiting for this moment as the priest-animators preached and guided
the people to be totally and prayerfully involved in the healing service. At
the end the priests anointed all the people with holy oil and the Eucharistic
Adoration came to an end with the Benediction. It was a moment of grace and
blessings as many people experienced spiritual and physical healing and renewal
and transformation. Special help and assistance was given to the physically and
mentally challenged and differently abled and the senior pilgrims.
3. A
replica of Our Lady of Lourdes: The model of the Grotto at Lourdes in France where Mother Mary appeared
to St. Bernadette reminded the devotees of the important role of Mary in
reaching out to everyone and showering her blessings upon everyone. The
beautiful and appealing replica roused among the pilgrims devotion and
reverence. The long queue of pilgrims was a sign of their eagerness to receive
the blessings and they all had the opportunity to see the replica of the Grotto
and then move on to touch the statue of Mother Mary for blessings.
4. The
Palanquin and the Procession: Every
pilgrim center attracts devotees to the shrine and to be part of the spiritual
celebration. The Palanquin is one of those attractions of the grotto which was
very beautifully and artistically decorated. Everyone looked with awe and
admiration at the palanquin and then had the opportunity to express their
devotion by offering flowers and others offerings. They were all given “PRASAD” and the devotees moved on to
the next place of piety. After the Holy Mass in the evening the procession with
the palanquin was attended by thousands of pilgrims and devotees. It was with
lighted candle and the recitation of holy rosary. The procession was marked
with prayer, peace and blessings and the fulfilling of their prayers and
petitions.
5. The
Preeti Bhoj: One of the big successes
of the feast is when all participate in the festal lunch served to all. The
preeti bhoj is given in the form of ‘prasad’. Everyone comes to experience the
joy and togetherness during the feast and participate in the preeti bhoj. All
those who had organized and prepared the Prasad did that with dedication, love
and happiness and with the sole intention of bringing everyone together.
6. Free
offering of all facilities:
1. To the Pilgrims: Free accommodation was provided to all the pilgrims
who had come from out stations. Most of them had come unannounced, yet the
maximum help and facilities were provided to them so that they could
participate in all the celebrations as pilgrims. We had this year about 400
pilgrims overnight and on the day of the feast about 800 from out stations.
This is a sign that the people of Central India
have accepted the Grotto as a pilgrim center for all.
2. To
the Food Stalls: The food stalls were put up by the seminarians from
different religious houses. The proceeds from those stalls are used for social
work and for the developmental purposes of the poor and needy and so all the
facilities were provided for them freely.
3. To
the Books stalls and Religious Articles Stalls: The religious institutions
had put up many stalls to sell the religious books and religious articles. The
stalls were put up for them and other facilities were provided for them freely
so that through these the people could deepen their faith and also to spread
reverence towards God and devotion towards Mother Mary.
4. To the Bicycle, Motor Cycle and Car Parking
Stand: The parking was managed by the
Anantnagar parish community. The proceeds are used for the purpose of uplifting
the poor and the needy. So the needed help was freely provided for them and the
necessary support was given to them.
5.
To the Exhibition: Every year Jesus
Youth organize an exhibition and this year too they had put up an exhibition to
deepen and to strengthen the faith, through the detailed presentation of the
life and sacrifice of Blessed Deva Sahayam Pillai. He is a lay person who was
accepted the Catholic faith and was martyred as he offered his life for God.
6. To
all the volunteers: Timely help and support was provided to all the
volunteers and the choir members and those who assisted and helped on the day
of the feast.
It is my privilege to be with and work with all the
Mariam Bhakt, donors and volunteers. My gratitude to all the donors for their
generosity and surely God would continue to bless all of them and their
families and Mother Mary would have a special place for them. It was an opportunity
for the priests, religious, devotees and pilgrims to show their commitment,
generosity, dedication, cooperation and collaboration. In the process all those
who have had any selfish interest and motives chose not to be part of the
preparation, but participated in the celebration. It is through the generosity
of all the devotees and donors who went out of their way to help and support
through cash, kind, energy, time, effort, planning and guidance that the
celebration of the feast was possible. It is most appropriate for all of us to
acknowledge our special prayers and gratitude to all the donors and volunteers
for their selfless and dedicated service to all the pilgrims to the grotto and
to all the devotees of Mother Mary. May God bless you all.
Fr.
Amirtha Raj, OP
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