Golden Jubilee celebration - Fr Ronald Saldanha

Golden Jubilee celebration

The closing ceremony of the 50 Years of Vyara and Mandal Mission was held on the 5 February at Bandarpada (Maria Doge). The celebration started off with the procession of Our Lady and culminated with the felicitation of Fathers and Sisters of Vyara-Mandal Mission. Fr Joel Pais representing the Bishop read out the opening note of the bishop and thanked all the pioneering Fathers, Sisters and the faithful of the Mission. In the past 50 years the mission has seen a tremendous growth in all aspects. “Now it is the time that the faithful to take up the responsibility and own the Church and the Mission,” was the message of the main celebrant of the Eucharist, Fr I. Galdos.  The Eucharist included Adivasi rituals like the Beda-Bedi (Reconciliation) and the Jamin Vidhi (Presence of the Universe at a religious ceremony), and the like. After the Eucharist, the new Grotto of Our Lady, beautifully designed by Fr Kishore was blessed. The 5000 faithful who were present for the function went up to the mountain with incense sticks (agarbatti) and coconuts to pray for their personal intentions. (Ronald Saldanha)