Family fest at Ranithota
The Carmelite friars of Ranithota, Pushpashrama had a great reason to rejoice and celebrate at the birthday of our heavenly Mother which was solemnized on the 8th of September. The family celebration commenced at 1-00pm where the entire community including the domestic staff congregated at the decorated refectory of the monastery. The philosophy brothers through an enactment highlighted the traditional importance of the family feast. Later the community gathered for prayer service, where the selected friars prayed for various intentions in fifteen different languages. Fr Alfred Menezes, the rector gave a message of unity and invited all to be messengers of unity and peace in the community. After which the senior most friar Fr Paul mixed the new corn with the milk and prayed the grace before the meals. Thus the family fest at the Ranithota was a grand celebration which included 48 dishes of vegetables.

The spiritual celebration commenced at 6-00pm with the offering of flowers at the grotto of our lady. The concelebrated Eucharistic banquet was presided over by Fr Alfred Menezes, the rector along with the community fathers. Fr John Lobo highlighted the message of the feast through an inspiring homily. Fr Joseph Pinto proposed the words of gratitude for all the participants and the well-wishers who sponsored sweets and gifts for the children. The brothers added additional flavour to the liturgy by a melodious choir and the symbolic prayers of the faithful. Thus the family fest at Ranithota became a significant motive to express our unity and fraternity with each other.