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Udupi : The Titular Feast of Our Lady of Miracles was celebrated at Milagres Cathedral, Kallianpur here on Wednesday, July 9, 2025 with devotion and gaiety.

Prior to the Solemn Eucharistic celebrations, the procession led by the parish vice president of pastoral council Melwyn Sequeira, altar boys and the priests from the vicar home to the main entrance of the Milagres Cathedral at sharp 10.30 am. The Solemn Eucharistic celebrations con-celebrated by Rev Dr. Jencil Alva, Professor at St Joseph’s Seminary Mangaluru, Very Rev Monsignor Ferdinand Gonsalves, Vicar General of Udupi diocese and Rector of the Cathedral, Rev Fr. Denis D’Sa PRO of the diocese, Rev Fr. Wilson Titus D’Souza former priest of Milagres, Kallianpur deanery priests, guest priests, Pilar Fathers and others around 26 priests.

While breaking the Word of God, in his intelligent homily, Rev Dr. Jencil Alva began with the history of Milagres along with the strong devotion and gaiety of the Milagreans in Kallianpur around. The Milagres Church was established in 1678 and the structure was rebuilt in its present form in 1881Ad, after the persecution of Mangalorean Christians at Srerangapattam ended. The Milagres parish was elevated to the status of a Cathedral church in 2012. The statue of Our Lady of Milagres, Kallianpur is said to be miraculous. When the East India Company lost the Anglo-Mysore war in 1784, Tippu Sultan gave secret orders to his commanders to seize all Christians and take them captive to Seringapatam. It was at this time that the enemy soldiers wreaked havoc, destroying everything as they attempted to remove the Statue of Our Lady on the High Altar for desecration. However, they found that it was not possible to remove it or lift it with their hands. They used force and tools without success. But then, at that very moment, a large swarm of bees suddenly came upon them from an unknown place and attacked them. They ran for shelter, and the bees followed them. They rode down as far as the Suvarna river nearby, the bees still pursued them until the soldiers dived and tried to hide in the water. This occurrence was known in the area and produced awe and reverence among the people including non-Christians, who are to Our Lady of Miracles as their Milagri Amma, for others Mother of Miracles.

Fr Jencil Alva said that since 347 years, the devotion among the people has not decreased. The devotees of Milagres hoped for good. The theme of the feast today is through Our Lady of Miracles, let we become pilgrims of hope. The hope is not emotional. God never fails and does not let us down. The hope through Our Lady of Miracles remains with us. God has given us hope that rises in the midst of disappointment. This kind of hope is found not in the avoidance of suffering. One is to hope and pray our faith would grow stronger and our attachment to Christ would deepen. The other is to hope and pray we avoid as much trouble as possible in our journey through life. Mother Mary’s whole life on earth was a journey of hope. She relied totally on the promises of God. Mother Mary respected the God almighty. It is so important that we take all our personal and family problems, as well as the sin and needs of the whole world, to God in prayer in union with Our Lady of Milacles. It is so important that with Mary our Mother we cross over the threshold of hope, into a prayerful attitude of hope in God. For it’s precisely in hopeless places and in hopeless situations that God wills to glorify His mercy through Mother Mary that She is our role model in our life. Mary had hope with Her son Jesus. What is needed today is a sustained prayer of hope.  There are never any grounds for losing hope. No matter how serious our personal situations, our family trials, no matter how much sin and evil spread throughout the world, there are never any grounds for losing divine hope. Today as we sit down together in the school of Mary, we look to her to teach us anew how to be for our times, men and women of steadfast and persevering hope through Mother Mary in God. So, today, let’s reflect first of all on the virtue of hope itself. Then we will take a look at Mary’s hope in Calvary and finally we will try to draw out some lessons for our own lives from Our Mother of Miracles hope that we have on our handouts.

After the thanksgiving festive Holy Mass, the Rector of the Cathedral Very Rev Monsignor Ferdinand Gonsalves, acknowledged the gracious presence of large priests as well as devotees. First of all Msgr Ferdinand Gonsalves conveyed festive wishes to all the parishioners at home and other places. He expressed gratitude to Fr Jencil Alva who led the solemn High Mass and gave meaningful homily. He gave gratitude to all the deanery priests, guest priests, former Milagrean priests and others. Monsignor specially thanked Choir members for their wonderful hymns led by Fr Pradeep Cardoza. He gave thanks to assistant parish priest Rev Fr Pradeep Cardoza, parish pastoral council office bearers and members. He gave gratitude to the presence of media persons. He expressed gratitude for making it to be part of the celebration, particularly Pirjent family – A J D’Silva who were generous to sponsor the feast for the record of 79 years. As a mark of respect, Vicar General presented with a decorated candle to the main pirjent family member Gilbert D’Silva. He also expressed gratitude to sponsors, donors for being a part of the festive celebration and distributed decorated candles to all the sponsors of the feast.

On behalf of participated priests, Very Rev Fr. John Fernandes, Capuchin, parish priest of Brahmavar Church gave gratitude to all concerned for the success of the titular feast at the end of the celebrations of the feast.

There was heavy rain in the morning today, but throughout the day it was a partial sunny day. Normally as per our elders, every titular feast day of Our Lady of Miracles, supposed to be heavy rains and some time it was flooded in lower areas in Kallianpur those days.

Today, a very large number of devotees of Mary gathered in time in the Cathedral for the celebrations which was jam-packed. Large number of devotees offered candles for the Mother Miracles in front of the Cathedral. One pity stall located in the Cathedral campus arrived from Mangaluru to sell their products.