101st annual Gunadala Mary Matha festival concludes amidst religious fervour
After the prayer, Bishop Raja Rao, Monsignor Fr Muvvala Prasad and other diocesan leaders blessed the devotees
Vijayawada: The three-day 101st annual Gunadala Mary Matha festival concluded peacefully amidst religious fervour on Tuesday as the footfall of devotees increased on the final day.
Vijayawada Catholic Diocese Bishop Telagathoti Joseph Raja Rao, who was the chief guest for the 101st closing ceremony of the festival, said the devotees experienced a transformation during the celebrations of the Gunadala Mother Mary festival and returned with renewed spirits.
The Bishop delivered a message to the devotees and mentioned that Mary, the Holy Mother, was blessed to have given birth to God and received complete blessings.
The Bishop also reminded everyone of the Universal Day for the Sick, as officially declared by Pope John Paul II on February 11, 33 years ago. He encouraged the faithful to embrace and care for the sick with compassion.
On a specially decorated altar at the Bishop Grassi High School grounds, Bishop Raja Rao, Guntur Catholic Bishop Chinnabattina Bhagyayya, Italian retired Bishop Cesare Bonaventure, Monsignor Fr Muvvala Prasad, Vicar General Fr Meshapam Gabriel, Fr Thota Sunil Raju, Fr Telagathoti Paul and diocese priests took part in the “Holy Mass” of the closing ceremony.
After the prayer, Bishop Raja Rao, Monsignor Fr Muvvala Prasad and other diocesan leaders blessed the devotees.
On the third and final day of the Gunadala Mary festival, various cultural programmes captivated the attendees.
The book “Divyapuja Bali,” written by Fr B. John was unveiled by the church leaders on the occasion.