Annual Feast of Arogyamatha at Guntakal (8th September 2016):
Oct. 08, 2016
August 29th, 2016 was a day of great delight for the faithful of Guntakal Shrine as the parish family began preparations for the Birthday Mother Mary. The highlights of the day were Recitation of the Holy Rosary in Procession, Flag Hoisting, blessing and blowing of the Balloon Rosary into the air followed by Holy Mass by Rev. Fr. A. Chowrappa, Kurnool Dean and Parish Priest of St. Teresa of Avila Co-cathedral, Kurnool. During the nine days of Novena various themes were chosen for the reflection and the Holy Eucharist was offered for different intentions by the priests. Throughout the Novena days good number of faithful from far and wide participated in the procession, praying the Rosary and participating in the Holy Mass celebrated in different languages meaningfully. September 8th is the Birthday of Mother Mary, the 9 KURNOOL VANI - OCTOBER 2016 Annual Feast of the SHRINE. Mary was born to be the mother of the Savior of the world, the spiritual mother of all men, and the holiest of God’s creatures. Because of her Son’s infinite merits, she was conceived and born immaculate and full of grace. On the feast day, the masses were offered in Telugu, English and Tamil languages. This Year, more than 15,000 people visited the Shrine, paid their homage and respects to Mother Mary by offering sarees, garlands, lighting the Candles and breaking the Coconuts. The inner healing prayers were conducted during the day lead by Rev. Fr. Jayaraju OSS from Muthangi Retreat Center. The Festal Solemn Mass was offered by Rev. Msgr. M. Joji Reddy concelebrated by the priests on 8th September at 3.30 P.M. During the homily, he high-lighted the historical back-ground of the feast, the various reasons to call Mary as Arogyamatha and Mary as the powerful intercessor. He urged everyone to love, care and respect the girl child as it is also the day of Girl Child. After the Mass, Statue of Mother Mary was taken on THERU which was blessed by Monsignor and was taken in procession accompanied by the sound of the trumpet from Kerala. Hundreds of people participated in this procession praying Rosary for various intentions in the streets of Guntakal. Breakfast in the morning, and Food was supplied to more than 10,000 People on this occasion. After procession, there was benediction followed by lowering of the Marian Flag. We express our heartfelt thanks to Msgr. M. Joji Reddy, for his presence and the Holy Eucharist, the priests, religious and faithful for their cooperation and prayerful support to make this day devoutful and memorable. - (Fr. G. Rajkumar, PP & Rector of the Shrine)