H1N1 effect: No processions at Velankanni feast this year

For the Bishop’s house in Pune,it was a hard decision to make but one that was necessary. One of the major events — the feast of our lady of Velankanni — for the first time will not be celebrated at the Wanavdi chapel,St Francis De Sales church at Shaanwadi and St Ignatius church at Khadki. Instead,the novenas and prayers will now be held at St Patrick’s cathedral from August 29 to September 8 – the day of the anniversary.

“It is with a heavy heart that we have to take this decision,” Father Malcolm Sequeira,parish priest at St Patrick’s cathedral and spokesperson for the Diocese of Poona,said. For the one lakh strong Catholic community in Pune,it will now be novena and celebrations at the cathedral. There will also be no erection of huge pandals and no food (as prasad) will be distributed this year,Father Malcolm said. Processions will also not be taken out for the first time.

“People flock to these places in large numbers to celebrate the feast,” Father Malcolm said and pointed out that the decisions were taken in the larger interest of people to ensure that the swine flu infection does not spread. For the first time there will be no open air service. Other preventive measures include not placing the holy water at the fonts at the entrance of the church or placing the communion host on the tongue. Instead,the sacred communion bread is now given to the devout in their hands.

A prayer to protect people against H1N1 virus was read out at 37 parishes in the city while Father Malcolm also said three major inter-parish football and volleyball tournaments have been cancelled. Concerts have also been postponed while Sunday school has been closed since a week.

The parish priests have even stopped paying visits to various families,said Father Malcolm.