Annual Feast of Our Lady of Fatima Church, Jalahalli

This has been a very special and grace filled year for Our Lady of Fatima Church, situated at Jalahalli. It is the centenary year of the apparition of Our Lady of Rosary at Fatima, Portugal. Our Lady appeared to 3 little children Jacintha, Francis and Lucia in the year 1917 for six times on every 13^th of the month from May to October at Fatima in Portugal. Commemorating these most significant apparitions of our Lady, throughout the world there has been many celebrations.

Our Lady of Fatima Church at Jalahalli is also blessed to celebrate this momentous centenary celebration. To mark this joyous occasion from the month of May till October every 13^th of the month, there was special 1003 beads chain rosary recited in various languages from morning till evening. People from different parishes paid their visit to the shrine and received the blessings of Our Lady. Archbishop Most Rev Bernard Moras had declared this church as a shrine and had granted plenary indulgences to all those who visited this shrine these days. There were very many devotional and faith filled celebrations during this year to commemorate this memorable event.

Added to all these, Archbishop Bernard Moras visited the shrine twice during this year, once to administer the sacraments of Holy Communion and Confirmation secondly to celebrate the festal Mass on 15 October.

The celebrations for the Feast which was held on 15 October began with the flag hoisting on 6 October by Very Rev Fr A.S. Anthony Swamy, the PRO and Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Bangalore. Nine days novena masses in 3 different languages (6 am in English; 5 pm in Kannada; 6.30 pm in Tamil) along with Rosary, Procession and Benediction were part of the spiritual preparation for the grand finale of the feast celebrations of Our Lady of Fatima. Preachers from various congregations and dioceses were present for different languages on different days during the novena and enriched the faithful through the breaking of the word.

The grand festal celebrations began with the 6.30 am Tamil mass, celebrated by Msgr. S. Jayanathan followed by 8 am Kannada Mass by Msgr. C. Francis and then the Festal High Mass by Most Rev Bernard Moras, Archbishop of Bangalore. He celebrated the 3 language Mass and urged the faithful to pray for the success of the construction of the new church building (which is in planning). He asked the parishioners to support the Parish Priest in this regard. This was followed by the Konkani Mass celebrated by Rev Fr Joseph D’Souza, SJ. At 12 noon there was a pilgrim Mass for the pilgrims coming from various parts of Karnataka celebrated by Rev Fr Justin who is the son of the soil. Lunch was served to all the pilgrims. 4 pm Malayalam Mass was celebrated by Very Rev Fr. Xavier E. Manavath, cmf, the Episcopal Vicar for religious. The evening concluding mass was celebrated by Frs Amar, Vinoo and Adolf.

The well decorated car with the statue of Our Lady of Fatima was blessed by Rev Fr Arockiadoss.P, the Parish Priest and the procession began from the church and went on the main roads around the church. Hundreds of them participated in the procession and received the blessings which ended with the Benediction.

Throughout the day thousands visited the shrine to thank Our Lady for the enormous gifts and blessings they have received. Continuous rosary was being recited in the rosary garden from Morning till evening by the Legion of Mary Members.

Fun fare with the theme Carnival was organised for the Children with various games’ stalls by the parish youth, Voice Together in the church premises. Stalls for flowers, offerings were made available on the campus.

The Parish Priest Rev Fr Arockiadoss.P and the parish council members tirelessly worked for the success of the feast. His pastoral leadership in the parish seems to have brought joy and fulfilment among the parishioners.

All those who came for the feast went away with full hearts filled with spiritual blessings and graces. Ave Maria resounded the air with thousand voices joining together praising our dear Mother. Our Lady of Fatima intercede for us echoed every corner.