Bangalore, November 7, 2021: A month long vigorous preparation by the parish clergy and faithful culminated into a grand celebration of the Mission Sunday at St. Michael’s Church, Shanthinagar. Five masses were offered during the course of the day, with various themes reflecting upon missions and missionary activities. The faithful of the parish actively participated in the activities of Mission Sunday.
Series of Activities
A series of pious activities were organized as part of the Mission Month. Rev. Fr. Paneer Selva Kumar, the Parish Priest, visited St. Philomena’s Hospital to visit the patients. He prayed for them and offered Mass at the Hospital Chapel.
The Youth of St. Michael’s parish, identified 40 patients suffering from various diseases and undergoing dialysis irrespective of caste creed and religion. Masses were offered in their favor. It was heartening to see that the youth were so sympathetic and compassionate in reaching out to the sick, confident of God’s intervention and healing touch.
The parishioners generously reached out to contribute clothes and house-hold materials which were distributed to people living around Vinayaka Nagar and Shakti Nagar slums in the vicinity of the parish bringing smiles on their face. These slum dwellers were living in abject poverty and were poorest of the poor.
Earlier, speaking to the Archdiocesan News reporter, Fr. Panner Selva Kumar informed that after each Mass, a few Pourakarmikas- BBMP employees were recognized and were provided with provisions to mark the Mission Sunday. “The Pourakarmikas were all non- Catholics,” Fr. Panner added.
Spiritual Exhibition
In the 70 years history of St. Michael’s Church, Shanthinagar, for the first time, a Spiritual Exhibition was organized in the “Fr. Gnanapragasam Auditorium”. The auditorium is named after Late Rev. Fr. Gnanapragasam, who played a key role in construction of the Church in Shanthinagar.
Following an appeal by the Parish Priest, 15 families gave relics and holy articles that was in their home. Some of the relics were as small as a piece of the true Cross of Jesus, Bones of St. Benedict and St. Boniface, relics of St. Teresa of Child Jesus, Blessed James Alberione, St. Anthony of Padua; pebbles from the Sea of Galilee, a stone from Mount Calvary, even icons from Russia, Greek Art, Sand Art, Different types of Rosary, 30 types of Bibles like Original King James Bible, and very importantly a statue of Mother Mary, which is 125 years old, which even to this date looks brand new. This statue which belongs to one of the families is handed down traditionally from one generation to another.
The sole purpose of this Spiritual of Exhibition, according to Fr. Panner Selva, was to increase the faith of the parishioners and to inculcate in children the Catholic values and enkindle a sense of faith in them. Almost everyone in the parish actively participated in Mission Sunday celebration, and also in the Spiritual Exhibition, which was a special and unique event of the day.
- ACC News Bureau