By Purushottam Nayak
Berhampur, Nov 27, 2021: The Catholic Church in Odisha has celebrated the feast of Mary Queen of the Mission or Candle Feast with great devotion and fervor.
The main celebrations November 27 were at Berhampur, known as Odisha’s silk city, where thousands of Marian devotees from various parts of India paid respect to Mother Mary.
Father Purnachandra Nayak, secretary to the Berhampur bishop, said the diocese did not organize a grand celebrations in the city because of the Covid-19 restrictions.
Berhampur is some170 km southwest of Bhubaneswar, capital of the eastern Indian state.
The cathedral parish celebrated four Masses to avoid great crowd and Bishop Sarat Chandra Nayak of Berhampur led the main feast day services at 10:45 am, attended by some 1,000 people.
“The Queen of the Missions is the greatest gift to me. She is the presence of the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, the promise of Jesus whom He gave us before ascending into heaven,” Father Purnachandra Nayak explained.
The celebrations preceded by Mass and prayers for nine days.
During the November 16-26 novena in the cathedral, priests conducted spiritual exercises on various themes – “Mary, the Mother of God” by Father Sanjeeb Kumar Nayak, “Mary, the Refuge of Sinners” by Father Felix Nayak, “Mary, the Immaculate Conception” by Franciscan Father Basant Digal, and “Mary, Queen of Peace” by Father Prabhudas Nayak.
Various parishes and institutions also led the devotions on other days — Gopalpur parish and Institutions focused “Mary, the Queen of Families,” Chhatrapur parish and institutions “Queen of the Apostles,” Vijay Bhavan Fathers and their quasi parish on “Mary, Health of the Sick,” and the Bishop’s House Community addressed “Mary, the Gate of Heaven.”
Father Sanjeeb Kumar Nayak, the cathedral parish, said a large number of people attended the novena from the beginning.
The diocese decided to skip the traditional candle procession in the evening where people from all religious used to attend
Some devotees shaved their head as part of their vows.
However, the entire city was illuminated to signify Jesus as the light of the World.
The bishop’s secretary said the candle feast is an occasion for people to experience peace, harmony, unity and brotherhood.
Sister Martha Pradhan, provincial of the Daughters of Charity, says the people have love and affection for Mother Mary. “No coronavirus is able to decrease people’s faith in God and respect for Mother Mary,” she told Matters India.
Father Jusman Bishoyi, minister of Vianney Bhawan, the Regional Philosophy Seminary, at Gopalpur-On-Sea, said, “Mother Mary is the model of humility and obedience. She is the first disciple and first missionary. By honoring and respecting her we imbibe her virtues in our life,” he told Matters India.