Infant Jesus honored by the Devotees @ Pushpashrama
On January 7, 2018, the annual feast of the Infant Jesus was celebrated at Pushpashrama, Mysore. Before the sun rose in the beautiful landscape and the historical city of Mysore, the radiant light of Infant Jesus had already started illumining it from the beautiful shrine at Pushpashrama. The shrine clad with beautiful flowers of different hues and wonderful illuminations, the church appeared even more elegant as the faithful had already gathered for the holy mass at 6:45 a.m. The mass celebrated in Syrian rite was presided over by Fr. Jomi Mekkunel CMI, with which the kick started for the festivity of the day. Another mass soon followed this at 8:15 a.m. which was celebrated by the Vicar Provincial of the Discalced Carmelites of the K.G. Province, Fr. Pius James D’Souza OCD. The Mass was accompanied by the string ensemble and choir led by Mr. Sudeep Christie and Sir Felix which truly solemnized it. After this followed mass in Konkani at 9:30 which was offered by Fr. Rovel D’Souza, the delegate provincial of the OCDS. The brothers of Pushpashrama accompanied this mass with their harmonious voices and music. Tamil mass followed Konkani mass which was meaningfully celebrated and preached by Fr. Charles MSFS. The church was filled as the faithful sang the praises of God in and worshiped the Infant Jesus. The Choir led by Mr. Tony Rozario helped people to pray better. At 12:00 p.m. Fr. Patrick Johannes Rao from the diocese of Chickmagalur celebrated the mass, who by his fiery preaching moved the crowd to tears. A healing service for the sick was conducted by him and the people threw themselves at the feet of the Eucharistic Lord to be healed from all their infirmities. After this, the priests anointed and prayed for all their needs. Annasantarpane was served after the Tamil and Kannada mass where people from near and far partook in the festal meal which was considered as the prasada for the people of God and the devotees of the Infant Jesus.

At 4:30 p.m. the Most Rev. Dr. K.A. William, Bishop of Mysore arrived to solemnize the holy mass. Flower girls with their loving smiles and the bands with percussion and trumpets along with the people rejoiced at his arrival for the first time to the shrine. As the lordship was vesting, Fr. Augustine, the shrine pastor read the list of all the donors and the mass intentions with a grateful heart. The solemn mass with well-organized liturgy, concelebrated by almost 38 priests, joined by a large number of devotees and a wonderful choir led and organized by Mr. Tony Rozario in collaboration with the Pushpashrama brothers was indeed a splendid sight. Bishop William delivered a wonderful and meaningful homily based on the theme ‘Meet the Poor, follow Christ’. He exhorted the faithful to find Christ hidden among the poor and the oppressed and connected it very well to the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord. His Lordship also expressed his thanks for the Pushpashrama friars for their spiritual and sacramental ministry in the vicinity as well in the diocese of Mysore. He was later felicitated by the Rector of Pushpashrama, Fr. Lawrence D’Mello.

At 6:50 p.m. was the Theru procession, in which the image of the Infant Jesus was carried with great reverence around the vicinity of Pushpashrama. The darkness of the night was illumined by hundreds of candles and the prayers and hymns sung by the people added to the glamour of the procession. The procession came to an end with a short adoration and benediction. The faithful with overwhelmed hearts returned home filled with the choicest blessings of the Infant Jesus. The Pushpashrama Community also thanked all the priests, nuns, volunteers and the well-wishers who had joined hands for the success of this celebration and shared a festive meal with them.

Thus, though the Annual feast of the Infant Jesus 2018 came to an end, the devotion will never stop. It will keep growing and will be spread to the ends of the earth. May the Infant Jesus bless all the devotees and grant their hearts desires.