Edoor Alphonse Bhavan Community celebrated on 25th February, 2016 the Duo Jubilee – the silver Jubilee of its foundation and the 150th year of Pope Pius IX entrusting the Icon of Mother of Perpetual Help to our General saying: “I entrust the icon of Mother of Perpetual Help to you; make her known to the whole world”. We started the novena in preparation for the feast of Mother of Perpetual Help on 17th February 2016. Different priests from CSsR, other religious orders and the archdiocese preached the message during these days. Fr. Joy Poonoly, the Provincial, celebrated the Holy Eucharist and delivered the homily on the vigil of the feast. Special prayers were conducted for the confreres who lived in the community and have gone to receive the eternal reward. On the feast day, Mar George Njaralakkattu, the Archbishop of Thalassery, concelebrated with Fr. Joseph Valachathinakathu, the Vicar Provincial and Fr. Andrews Thekkel, the Forane vicar, officiated the liturgical celebration. The Archbishop, in his homily, preached about the greatness and the intercessory power of Our Lady and how the Redemptorists faithfully continue to spread the devotion to OLPH. He appreciated also the services of Redemptorists in his archdiocese, that they are always available for any service at anytime and anywhere.
During the meeting after the Eucharistic celebration, Fr. Joy Poonoly gave a brief history of the icon of OLPH and declared the intention to build a house for a poor family in the locality as a response to the jubilee year. It was welcomed with a big applause led by the archbishop. He also released a C.D. titled “Nityasahayini”, a musical album by Liguori Province, by presenting it to Fr. Andrews Thekkel, the Forane Vicar. Fr. Andrews Thekkel felicitated at the function. Fr. Jose Poovannikunnel thanked everybody for gracing the function.. Many confreres from different communities, novices, men and women religious, priests from different parishes and seminaries, and many lay people from the parish attended the function. There were about 500 people who participated in the celebration.
Fr. Jose Poovannikunnel
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