My dear parishioners of Derebail, my warm greetings and blessings to you all. May our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, the Holy Redeemer, continue to bless you and your families abundantly. We gratefully thank the Lord for the gift of the month of August. He has been benevolent, generous and merciful towards each one of us. For all His blessings and graces, may His name be praised and glorified. We also experienced the loving protection and maternal care of our Heavenly Mother, Mary.

We lovingly remember and pay our respects to all our parishioners who have been called to their eternal home. May the Lord grant them eternal rest and bring comfort, strength and consolation to their grieving families.

September – The Month of Joy and Celebration

The month of September is eagerly awaited by Konkani-speaking Catholics all over the world. Once again, the eternal melody of “Sokkad Sangatha Mellayam” will resonate in our hearts, homes and churches, filling us with joy and devotion.

Novenas in Preparation for Monthi Fest

The nine-day novena in preparation for the Monthi Fest will begin on 30 August. This is a particularly beautiful time for our children to express their love and devotion to Maria Bambina by offering flowers during the novena. Derebail has witnessed some truly joyful and touching moments as our children come forward carrying flowers and offer them to our Heavenly Mother. I warmly encourage parents to bring even the little ones to the novena. May our children grow in their love for Mary and experience her closeness, tenderness and maternal care.

Monthi Fest – Feast of the Nativity of Our Lady

We will celebrate the Monthi Fest with great joy, colour and enthusiasm. This beautiful feast of the Nativity of our Heavenly Mother is an occasion that brings joy, peace, happiness and fellowship to our families, parish and wider community. What a wonderful joy it is to celebrate the birthday of our Heavenly Mother. Let us come together as one family, sing together, pray together and celebrate together. May the Monthi Fest become a truly memorable and joyful celebration for every family in our parish.

Happy Teachers’ Day

The month of September also gives us an opportunity to honour and appreciate our teachers. We are blessed in Derebail to have many dedicated and committed teachers who contribute greatly to the formation of our children and young people. It is rightly said that “a teacher is next to God,” because teachers share not only knowledge but also wisdom, values and guidance. Let us thank the Lord for the gift of all our teachers and remember them with gratitude and prayer. May they continue to be a source of inspiration and joy to our children, families and parish community. May the Lord bless them abundantly for their dedicated service.

Salvi

Soon after the Monthi Fest, we will begin our reflection on the sorrows of our Heavenly Mother, popularly known as Salvi. It is another special opportunity to accompany Mary in her moments of profound sorrow and to meditate on her unwavering faith and love. I warmly invite all our parishioners to participate in this devotion in large numbers and to unite ourselves with our Blessed Mother in prayer. To celebrate these feasts and devotions meaningfully, we seek your generous cooperation and support. You have always been very generous in the past, and I am confident that you will continue to extend the same support this year. Your generosity contributes greatly to the spiritual and community life of our parish.

Gadyanth Udkana

Our Youth CLC is organising a unique cultural programme, “Gadyanth Udkana,” for the entire parish community. It promises to be a beautiful occasion of talent, culture, joy and fellowship. I encourage all our parishioners to participate wholeheartedly and support the initiative of our young people. Your presence and encouragement will mean a great deal to them.

Youth Commission Meet

We are also planning a gathering of the Youth Commission, with the aim of providing orientation, encouragement and guidance to our young people as they grow in faith and take up greater responsibilities in the Church and society. Let us continue to encourage and accompany our youth, for they are an important strength and hope for the future of our parish.

Together with Fr. Nelson, I wish all of you a very happy, joyful, colourful and blessed Monthi Fest. My special greetings and prayers go to all our sick and elderly parishioners, as well as to those who are living far away from our parish and country. Though you may be physically distant, you remain very much a part of our parish family. May the celebration of the Nativity of our Blessed Mother bring abundant joy, peace, love and happiness to your homes and families. May Mary, our Heavenly Mother, accompany each one of us and intercede for us before her beloved Son, Jesus Christ. With prayerful blessings and warm Monthi Fest greetings to you all.

Rev. Fr Joseph Martis

Parish Priest