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Solemn and Joyful Vespers Mark the Beginning of Annual Parish Feast Celebrations at Mount Rosary Church.

In preparation for the much-awaited Annual Parish Feast, tomorrow, Mount Rosary Parish came alive with devotion and festivity as ’Vespers’ were solemnly celebrated on Tuesday, 6th January 2026. True to its cherished tradition, the spirit of Christmas and New Year celebrations continues in Mount Rosary Parish until the parish feast, keeping the joy of the season vibrant and alive.

At 6.30 p.m., a large number of faithful gathered in deep reverence to participate in the Vespers, worship the Lord, and honour the Holy Scriptures. The serene atmosphere reflected the prayerful disposition of the parishioners who assembled in great faith.

To begin the service, Rev. Dr Roque D’Souza, the Parish Priest, warmly greeted the gathering and extended a homely and heartfelt welcome to all present, and set the  tone of unity and devotion.
A significant and touching moment of the evening was the blessing of the charral housing ’Our Lady of the Holy Rosary’  the beloved Patroness of the parish. The charrel or phalkin was blessed at the Mount Rosary English Medium High School Veranda and was reverently brought in procession to the church, led by melodious brass band, where it was placed in a beautifully decorated pandal.

Hundreds of faithful offered candles as a mark of love, reverence, and thanksgiving to Our Lady — a moving sight that continued throughout the evening and continued tomorrow...

At sharp 6.45 p.m., the main celebrant of the liturgy, Rev. Fr Jithesh Castelino, Director of the Diocesan ’Commission for the Holy Bible and Faith Formation’, solemnly entered the beautifully adorned High Altar along with priests from the Deanery, native priests, and guest priests.
The liturgy was spiritually uplifting, enhanced by the well-prepared Church Choir, which rendered selected hymns befitting the occasion under the able leadership of Mr Joe D’Souza.

The entire service was meticulously coordinated by Assistant Parish Priest Rev. Fr Rohan Muscarenhas, along with Sr Ancilla R. D’Mello, in-charge of the Commission for Liturgy, and their dedicated team.

In his inspiring and well-articulated homily, Fr Castelino reflected deeply on the theme of the day, inviting the faithful to grow in love for the Word of God and to live its message in their daily lives.

Special prayers were offered for the general welfare of the parish community and for humanity at large, invoking God’s blessings of peace, harmony, and hope.

As the service concluded with the final Sacramental blessing, the festive spirit seamlessly continued outside the church. Parishioners joyfully visited the various stalls, savoured refreshments and Camerry ice creams, and shared moments of fellowship.
There were various fun games, Lucky Dip, Cock and a fatty Bokro draw and many more...

The much-awaited Tambola (Housie) game, organised by the enthusiastic YCS and ICYM youth volunteers, drew huge crowds and added excitement to the evening with its huge attractive cash prizes, making it a truly enjoyable finale to a spiritually enriching day.
The Vespers celebration beautifully blended devotion, tradition, and festivity, setting the perfect tone for the tomorrow’s ’Annual Parish Feast’ at Mount Rosary Church.