Mangaluru (The HIndu):: The Pompei Feast of Immaculate Conception, Urwa Church will be held on December 13.
Fr Stany Pereira, parish priest of the church addressing mediapersons on Friday said that annual shrine feast solemn mass will be offered by Rt Rev Aloysius Paul D'souza, Bishop of Mangaluru at 5.30 pm at church premises. Fr Victor D'mello, will deliver sermon. On this occasion, Year of Mercy, declared by Pope Francis this year will be inaugurated in Mangalore Diocese with religious ceremony, added Stany.
After solemn mass, there will be religious procession. A special mass for sick will be offered on the same day at 10.15 am.
Rev Fr William Menezes, public relation officer, Mangalore Diocese speaking to TOI, said that according to Pope Francis after the opening of the jubilee 'Year of Mercy', every diocese around the world is supposed to open a Holy Door. These doors can be in the local cathedral or other churches of particular relevance, such as a Marian shrine. The openings of the door ceremony will be held on December 13.
In the Mangalore Diocese, it will be opened in Rosario Cathedral Church, Bolar and Immaculate Conception Church, Urwa. Cathedral will be opened during morning hours, while Urwa shrine will be opened to public every evening.
"This was a desire of Pope Francis that the jubilee be celebrated on the local level and not just in Rome. The first such door was opened by the pope himself in the cathedral of Bangui, capital of the Central African Republic, during his visit, recently," added William.
