by Wilfred Vaz
KUWAIT, FEB 16, 2018: Given that 2017 marked the centenary year for the apparitions of Our Lady in Fatima, Portugal, Bishop Camillo Ballin, Apostolic Vicar for the Apostolic Vicariate of Northern Arabia (AVONA) had dedicated the year 2017-18 to our Blessed Mother. The Marian year ended with a con-celebrated festive liturgy on February 11, the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, at the Church of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, Salmiya, Kuwait.
Our Lady had urged the little shepherds in Fatima in 1917 to, "Say the Rosary every day, to bring peace to the world and the end of the war." Following her cue, the community in the North Arabian Vicariate spent the year celebrating Our Mother with the recitation of the Rosary before the weekday Masses, putting up informative text and pictures on a monthly basis on the life of Mother Mary and the taking Our Lady's image to almost all the homes in the Parish.
The Festive Mass began with the parish council members arriving in procession from the courtyard to the church with the statue of Mother Mary carried by Wilfred Vaz, parish council coordinator.
During the homily, which was based on the Gospel reading, the Celebrant, Father Francisco Pereira urged the laity to rid themselves of the spiritual leprosy that decays us from within thereby taking us away from God. "Mother Mary draws us closer to God," he said.
The Readings were done in different ethnic languages, and also the hymns were sung in different languages.
The highlight of the liturgical celebration was when the members of the Small Christian Communities came out from the pews and pasted one area each, of the parish's eight geographical areas, at the feet of Mother Mary. This act re-affirmed the consecration of the parish to the Blessed Mother.
"The Marian Year was a time of deep grace, filled with the presence of Mother Mary in my family and home," Lucy Almeida, a parishioner, said.
A choir member, Therese D'Souza, added, "The sight of the statute of Mother Mary being brought in procession in the church filled me with deep solace that Mother Mary is here to dwell permanently in our church, hearts and homes."
"Participating in the multi-lingual Eucharistic celebration was an overwhelming expression of mutual love, forgiveness and grace," Hudson Fernandes, of the Small Christian Communities, reflected. "The closing Mass in multi-languages made it evident that our parish is one big family; we should do this more often thereby fostering unity and family spirit," Stany Sanctis, a minister, added.