“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!” Luke 1:42. Mary is called “blessed among women” because she was chosen to be the Mother of Jesus, the Savior of the world. The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is one of the most beautiful and joyful feasts of the Church. Celebrated every year on September 8, this feast commemorates the birth of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, who was specially chosen by God to bring the Savior into the world. Mary’s birth is a moment of hope for all humanity. Through her, God prepared the way for the coming of Jesus Christ. Her life reminds us of the power of humility, obedience, and faith. By her “yes” to God, Mary became the
first disciple of Christ and the Mother of the Church.
Every year, the Parish of St. Sebastian Church Aquem gather with faith and devotion to celebrate the Feast. The celebrations begin with nine days of Novena from 30th August and leading to the feast day on 8th September. During the novena days the Rosary began at 5:30 p.m. which was sung by the catechism students whose voices set a prayerful atmosphere for the evening. This was followed by the offering of flowers to Our Blessed Mother as a gesture of love
and reverence.
The solemn Holy Mass was then celebrated at 6 p.m. drawing everyone together in prayer and thanksgiving. After the Mass, there was a special moment of joy for the little ones as chocolates were distributed to all the children, spreading smiles and happiness.
The Parish joyfully celebrated the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary with great devotion and enthusiasm on 8th September. The Mass liturgy was beautifully organized by the Legion of Mary group, who led the community in prayerful participation. The Holy Mass was celebrated by Fr. Simpliciano N. Fernandes and Fr. Anil Kumar who together extended their heartfelt wishes to all the parishioners on this special occasion. The celebration concluded with the final blessings imparted to all the faithful, invoking God’s grace and peace upon them. There was distribution of cake and sweet packets to the children adding sweetness to the day and fellowship among parishioners.
The Nativity of Our Lady is a call for all of us to grow closer to Mary, learn from her virtues, and live our lives in faith. As we celebrate her birthday, we are reminded that we too are called to bring Christ into the world through our words and actions.
Valantina Fernandes