MGA – Province of Bengaluru – ST THOMAS MOUNT CHENNAI – 40 members renewed their Consacration
MONTFORT MAT HR SEC SCHOOL, ST THOMAS MOUNT CHENNAI – 16
MGA – CELELBRATION OF THE NATIVITY OF OUR BLESSED MOTHER – 8TH SEPT 2021
“The Son of God became man for our salvation but only in Mary and through Mary.”- Louis de Montfort
Every year 8th September is very special to all Members of the Gabrielite Associates at Montfort St Thomas Mount. This year too we made it more special by making the 9 day Novena preparation starting from 30th August after the Flag Hoisting at Velankanni Shrine, Nagapattinam on 29th August.
Every day the Novena Prayer followed by an intercessory prayer for the days’ intention will be posted in the watsapp group by 1 member and concluded with a Hymn to Mother Mary. In response the other members recite the prayers which are posted and in acknowledgement re-post the Hail Mary.
Special intentions were offered during the Novena everyday for the School, the Brothers of the community, the Students and their families, the Staff and their families, Departed souls due to COVID, Children orphaned during the Pandemic, Women and children of Afghanistan affected due to terrorism etc. The Novena concluded on 7th September. On 8th Sep 2021, the Feast of the Nativity of our Blessed Mother was celebrated in a grand manner at School.
Volunteers from MGA, prepared for the Solemn Holy Mass with appropriate readings and choir.Two cars were decorated beautifully with flowers; one with the New Statue of Mother Mary and the other with the Statue of our Patron, St Montfort for the Rosary and Procession. At 2.45 pm the MGA members of Montfort Technical Institute and Montfort School, St Thomas Mount gathered for the celebrations.
At 3.00 pm Rev. Fr. Soni, prayed and blessed the new Statue of Mother Mary and the procession started. Some of our Catholic boys and girls of Class 10, 11 & 12 volunteered to lead the procession playing relevant roles. We recited the rosary with a special intention at every decade along with singing hymns to our dear Mother of God. It was indeed a very pious display of our faith in approaching Jesus through the intercession of our dear Mother Mary.
At the end of the procession we recited the Little Crown of our Blessed Virgin Mary given to us by our Patron St Montfort, after which Rev. Fr Soni celebrated the Solemn Mass , during which we offered up all our prayers and petitions to God the Almighty seeking His blessings and protection during this time of uncertainty.
We are in total 70 members belonging to MGA at Montfort St Thomas Mount. After communion service 40 members renewed their vows by reciting the Prayer of Consecration to Mary, Mother of God. The other members would be renewing the vows during the celebration of the Feast of our Lady of Rosary in October, 2021.
After the final blessing the Video Recorded Messages from our dear Superior General, Rev. Bro. John Kallarackal, Rev Bro Dionigi, Vicar General (Associates in charge) and from our Provincial Superior Rev. Bro P J George were projected for the members. Rev. Bro Kallarackal in his message congratulated MGA, St Thomas Mount for actively involving in faith practices venerating the Mother of God. He said we should continue to be inspired by the Charism of our Patron St Montfort and continue our Montfortian Spirituality in the right spirit and live the Gospel values in our daily lives. Rev Bro Dionigi, thanked the MGA members of St Thomas Mount, for inviting him to be part of the celebration. He said as MGA members we have become a member of the Montfortian Gabrielite family and by consecrating ourselves to Jesus through Mary we share the mission and the charism of the Montfort Congregation and follow the example and style of Mary and also deepen our Montfortian Spirituality. He quoted the words of St John Paul II “Mary is the Treasure for the whole church”. He also expressed his interest in meeting all of us in person and also assured that he would remember us in his prayers. Rev Bro P J George appreciated the members for their fitting preparations for the feast of the Nativity of our Blessed Mother. In his message he highlighted the words of St Montfort in his book ‘True Devotion to Mary’ and said, as Montfortians we must encourage ourselves to continue Marian Devotion and derive spiritual benefit from it.
They greatly appreciated the MGA members for all their active participation in the prayers and faith practices and for keeping MGA alive and creative at Montfort, St. Thomas Mount. Rev. Bro Sebasti Antonysamy our Bursar the backbone behind organizing this event shared his message with the members at the end. The celebration ended with High Tea.
We greatly appreciate the sincere efforts of every Member of the Montfort Gabrielite Associate at Montfort St Thomas Mount and extend our special thanks to Rev Bro K K Thomas and Rev. Bro Sebati Antonysamy for supporting and encouraging us in making the celebration of the Nativity of our Blessed Mother a grand success.
Mrs. Monica D’Souza President – MGA
