Nativity of Mary and Girl Child Day Celebrated at Jaipur cathedral

Jaipur, Sept. 13, 2025: The parish of Our Lady of the Annunciation Cathedral in Malviya Nagar, Jaipur, celebrated the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and observed Girl Child Day on September 8, 2025, with a Holy Mass held at the church premises. A large number of parishioners and local clergy participated in the celebration, which highlighted both spiritual reflection and the recognition of the dignity of every girl child.

The day commenced with a graceful procession from St. Anselm’s School to the cathedral. During the procession, the statue of Mother Mary was reverently carried by the mothers of St. Mary’s Ward. Flower girls, altar servers, and parishioners joined them, prayerfully reciting the Rosary along the way.

Marking Girl Child Day, young girls of the parish were honoured with special badges symbolising their value and dignity. The Holy Eucharist for the day commenced with a solemn procession into the cathedral led by these girls. Bp. Oswald J. Lewis, Bishop Emeritus of the Jaipur Diocese, served as the main celebrant of the Mass, with Fr. Melwin D’Souza, parish priest, Fr. Siby Mathew, associate parish priest, and guest priest Fr. Sree Kumar concelebrating.

In his homily, Bishop Lewis called on the faithful to reflect on the virtues of Mother Mary—her purity, closeness to Christ, and her guiding role in leading believers to Him. He also emphasised the importance of the girl child in families and society. He urged the congregation to honour the dignity of girls and appealed to their parents to nurture them in the virtues of Mother Mary.

Following the homily, all the girls were blessed with holy water, and special prayers were offered for their protection, equal opportunities for them, and for their rightful place in society.

The offertory procession, led by several girls from the parish, and the choir conducted by parish youth, deepened the spiritual tone of the celebration. Prizes for a drawing competition held in honour of the Nativity of Mary and a Family Bible Quiz were distributed, adding a joyful dimension to the occasion.

The celebration concluded with a symbolic showering of rose petals before the infant Mary by clergy, nuns, and parishioners, followed by the serving of traditional kheer (payasam) by members of St. Mary’s Ward.

Acknowledging the efforts of the parish leadership, special thanks were expressed to Fr. Melwin D’Souza and Fr. Siby Mathew for their dedication in making the day spiritually enriching. The celebration reinforced the message that, like Mother Mary, every girl child is a radiant sign of God’s love to the world.

Nativity of Mary and Girl Child Day Celebrated at Jaipur cathedral

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