St. Peter Parish in Khuahrang, Hakha Diocese, celebrated the annual feast of Our Lady of Velankanni, Our Lady of Good Health, on September 8, drawing around 600 faithful from the parish and surrounding villages in a vibrant display of faith and devotion.

The celebration was preceded by a novena of prayers, with Mass celebrated throughout the novena period. Many parishioners participated in the evening prayer gatherings, which were scheduled to accommodate the villagers, most of whom are farmers occupied with agricultural work during the daytime.

A Community United in Prayer

The feast of Our Lady of Velankanni is celebrated annually in Khuahrang and provides an opportunity for the Catholic community to come together in prayer and fellowship. This year’s celebration saw particularly strong participation, with approximately 600 people attending the feast day.

Several parish prayer groups contributed to the novena celebrations. Groups including St. Terese, Sacred Heart, Divine Mercy, Immaculate Conception, Living Rosary, and Holy Spirit took turns leading Bible readings, Psalm singing, and the offertory during the novena Mass. The groups also organized Mass intentions for the village and its Christian community.

Seeking Mary’s Intercession for Health and Healing

Fr. Peter Cung Hluan, Parish Priest of St. Peter, said the celebration was centered on devotion to Our Lady of Good Health. He expressed hope that Mary’s intercession would bring physical and spiritual well-being to families in the country and abroad.

Another important purpose of the celebration was to strengthen devotion to Mary in the region, where Fr. Peter said respect and trust in Mary’s intercession remain relatively weak. The procession of the Eucharist and the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary through the village served as a public expression of Catholic faith and a witness to the importance of Mary’s presence and intercession.

Fr. Peter encouraged the faithful to seek Mary’s intercession, saying that through her prayers, the faithful may receive blessings from God and have their prayers heard. He also expressed hope that the faithful and villagers would receive blessings of good health.

‘Children of Mary, Not of the Serpent’

During his reflection, catechist Dominic Thei Uk drew on Genesis 3, focusing on the biblical passage concerning the enmity between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent. He challenged the faithful to reflect on their spiritual identity and encouraged them to strive to live as children of Mary rather than following the ways of Satan.

The reflection served as a powerful reminder of the spiritual battle inherent in the Christian life and the importance of remaining faithful to God’s grace through Mary’s intercession.

A Witness to the Wider Community

St. Peter Parish in Khuahrang serves three villages comprising approximately 250 Catholic households. Fr. Peter said the Eucharistic procession and the procession of the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary through the villages were not only expressions of devotion but also a way to proclaim the Gospel and witness to the Catholic faith among the wider community.

The annual celebration remains a cherished tradition for the Catholic community in Khuahrang, offering the faithful an opportunity to renew their devotion to Mary, seek her intercession, and unite in prayer and fellowship.

By RVA Falam Chin Service