St. Mary’s Church, Hegdenagar joyfully celebrated the Solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lord on 24th and 25th December 2025 with deep reverence, prayer and a beautiful spirit of unity. The well-coordinated liturgical celebrations in Tamil, Kannada and English truly reflected the multicultural identity of our parish.
The celebrations began on 24th December at 6:30 PM with Tamil carol singing, followed by the Tamil Vigil Mass presided over by Rev. Fr. Antony Swamy, Preeti Nivas. This was followed by the Kannada Carol Service at 7:15 PM and the Holy Mass presided over by Rev. Fr. Melvin Lasrado.
The final and solemn phase commenced at 10:00 PM with melodious English carols and a touching tableau presented by the children, culminating in the English Holy Mass presided over by Rev. Dr. Fr. Paul D’Souza, Secretary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CCBI) and Secretary to the Pontifical Missionary Organisation (PMO).
All three celebrations witnessed a large and devout congregation. The faithful participated wholeheartedly in prayer, singing and the reception of the Sacraments, rejoicing in the birth of our Savior. The dedicated efforts of parish volunteers ensured smooth coordination, warm hospitality, and an atmosphere of peace throughout the celebrations.
At the conclusion of each Holy Mass, Christmas cake and coffee were distributed, fostering fellowship and joy among parishioners. Our Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Boniface D’Souza OCD, expressed heartfelt gratitude to all the concelebrating priests; Fr. Selva Kumar, Fr. Ivan Sanctis, and Fr. Jason Tellis along with the Choir members, Liturgical Committee, Benefactors and Volunteers whose generous service made the celebration prayerful and dignified.
A special highlight of this year’s celebration was the beautifully designed Christmas crib, portraying the humility and simplicity of Christ’s birth. The church, parish campus, and surroundings were tastefully illuminated and decorated, inviting the faithful to moments of prayer and contemplation. Many parishioners and visitors appreciated the serene and sacred ambience, which stood as a testimony to our parish’s commitment to meaningful worship and evangelization through sacred art.
This Christmas celebration stands as a moment of spiritual renewal, gratitude and community bonding, lived in communion with the vision and guidance of our Archdiocese.
Glory to God in the highest, and peace to His people on earth!
