Mumbai, Sep. 08: Nativity of Mother Mary was celebrated on a grand scale at St. Joseph Church, Mira road(E). Bishop Piyus D’Souza offered thanksgiving mass and blessed the paddy spikes, cereal-grain crops, and vegetables offered by the farmers.

Bishop Piyus delivered the speech and said “Mother Mary is not only the mother of Jesus Christ, being the mother of all, she is protecting all of us. Hence this festival is celebrated devotionally worldwide on a grand scale” and he blessed the devotees.

Rev. Fr. Melwyn D’Cunha (OCD)- Chief Parish Priest of the church performed prayer. Rev. Fr. Lawrence D’Cunha, Rev. Fr. Walter D’Souza, Fr. Digo Proenka, Fr. John Pinto, Fr. Pavan Saldhana, Fr. Kannio Cardoza and Fr. Ajith Rodrigues also participated in the mass. Fr. Lancy Mendonca, Br. Jenson Coutinho including huge number of devotees participated in the religious rituals.

After mass, in collaboration with St. Joseph Konkani Welfare Association, the decorated idol of our lady of Velankanni was taken in a processionthrough the roads of Mira Road.The devotees who participated in the grand procession exchanged greetings.

The annual celebration was held under the direction of Fr. Melwyn D’Cunha- Spiritual Director of St. Joseph Konkani Welfare Association and Diago Rodrigues- president of the association, Wilson D’Souza- vice-president, Sophy D’Sa- secretary, Lawrence Mathias- Treasurer, Jerald D’Souza- Joint secretary, John Corea- joint treasurer, Jessy Gonsalves- cultural secretary, Victor Mascarenhas- joint secretary, former office bearers- John Crasta, Arun Noronha, Denis Rebello, Violet Mascarenhas, Jerald D’Souza, Hilda Seravo, Richard Mathias and other members were present on the occasion. The fest was celebrated in a way which is being practiced by the Konkani Christian community people of Karnataka coastal region.