4th day of ’Monthi Fest Novena’, at Milagres Church

4th day of ’Monthi Fest Novena’, at Milagres Church

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Sep 3,2016: A look at a premier church/parish of Milagres marking the 4 th day of the Novena, Sept 2, is of interest to people of the city. The event was marked as the other days in many churches and institutions where Konkani Catholics are found in many places of the world as all over in Kanara, in preparation for the unique ’Monthi Fest’ the Birthday of Mary the mother of Jesus Christ. On this day of the novena, special emphasis was given to the earthly mothers reflecting on their roles and special honour was given to them in various ways.
 

 

 

History Recap, Milagres :  The Parish of Milagres, once covered the entire Eastern half of the present city of Mangaluru, now  covers Falnir,Highland, Attavar and  surroundings, was first established in 1680,on a land given by Rani  Chennama of Ikkeri and is now over 329 years old. Rt.Rev.Thomas De Castro, Vicar Apostolic for Canara and   Malabar, established the primary Church and his official seat on the same spot that the present Milagres now  stands even though Rosario was already in existence a short distance to the West.

 De Castro died on 16 July  1684, his built-up tomb can be seen near the entrance to the present cemetery on the South side of the Church.  The spot, actually was the nascent Milagres which had undergone reconstruction in 1756. The Milagres Church  which was moved and constructed at its present spot in 1801, following the captivity era was dedicated to Our  Lady of Miracles (Milar Mai).  About 1910 the facade of the Church collapsed - this compelled the extensive rebuilding and got its present magnificent form.

The main alter, the statues and so on now seen, were originally brought from France for a Church planned byFr.Alexander Dubois, (a Frenchman, nephew of the famous Abbe Dubois buried in Cordel,Kulshekar) who  wanted them for the Cordel Church; he was also Parish Priest of Milagres, and decided that they would better  suit the magnificent Milagres Church.   The reconstruction was  overseen by the  then famous Italian Jesuit missionary -architect, Fr.Augustus Diamente sj, who is credited   with several Catholic monuments of the era. Milagres Church in the heart of the City as seen today, was dedicated in 1911.

 The Milagres parish as such has been in existence since 1680, ( the 325 year Jubilee was marked with celebrations on  January 9,2005)being the second parish of Mangalore after Rosario. Mangalore, has always been a colourful mosaic of people,cultures,faiths,languages, prospering  amidst a nature blessed region on the west coast on  the shores of the Arabian Sea.


The ’Monthi Fest’ Novena :   The Novena , a nine day preparation for the feast commences from August 30. Particularly children gather flowers from the surroundings of their homes (or now from the market)  and carry them to the church in pretty little baskets or trays. Then after mass, they gather around the decorated statuette of Infant Mary and shower it with flowers singing a special hymn in Konkani ’Sekked Sangatha Melian’ (Let us all gather together). Weather permitting,  in the open yard of the church. Toddlers to grown ups take part actively with joy.  It is a thrilling sight to behold, the older folks too enjoy the sight with nostalgic childhood memories! At Milagres the ceremony is held on the South side under a covered area. It is amusing to watch the children awaiting sweets after doing honour to the image of Infant Mary.  

 

The Infant Mary Image : As per legend, the first image appeared in about 1730, a Franciscan Nun, presented it to the Bishop of Como in Italy. On his death it was handed over to the Franciscan Nuns who developed great devotion among people to the ‘Infant  Mary’ (now in Mangaluru a church is dedicated down below in Bikarnakatte). Due to Napoleon’s revolution when the monasteries were closed down, one of the nuns carefully saved it and handed it over to the Parish of St.Mark in Milan.

History indicates that in 1842 it was given to the ‘Sisters of Charity’ and installed in the Mother House and was exposed for devotions only on 8 September each year.  In 1884 extraordinary happenings and miracles spread wide the devotion to Infant Mary. The first Italian nuns of this order came to assist Fr.Muller in Kankanady Hospital in 1898.   A replica of the image was first brought to Mangalore by the ‘Sisters of Charity’ soon after and can still be seen at the Infant Mary Convent Chapel  beside the Jeppu Seminary.