Thousands of devotees attended the masses at the Rosary Church since morning to seek blessings of Mother Mary, even as the village wore a festive look with people from all walks of life celebrating the traditional feast.
Fr Succorro Mendes was the main celebrant of the concelebrated high mass. Stressing on family values, Fr Mendes exhorted the faithful to emulate the virtues of Mother Mary. He said though the total population of Christians in India is just two per cent, the community in closely involved in nearly 50 per cent of the social work carried out in society, be it in the field of education, charity, orphanages etc.
The religious service culminated with the traditional procession of Mother Mary. Local MLA and Fisheries Minister, Avertano Furtado participated in the procession.
The Margao traffic police put in place elaborate arrangements for the smooth flow of traffic on the NH-17 since Wednesday morning till late in the evening.
