Annual Feast of Infant Jesus 2026 | January 14 and 15, 2026
NV Paulose, Chairman, Global TV +91 98441 82044
The Annual Feast of Infant Jesus at the Infant Jesus Shrine, Carmel Hill, Bikarnakatte, Mangaluru, will be celebrated on January 14 and 15, 2026.
Festal Celebration:
The Festal Mass on January 14 at 6:00 p.m. will be presided over by Rt. Rev. Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop of the Diocese of Udupi. A special Mass for the sick and the elderly will be offered at 10:00 a.m., presided over by Most Rev. Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Mangalore.
The Festal Mass for children on January 15 at 10:00 a.m. will be presided over by Rt. Rev. Dr Duming Dias, Bishop of Karwar. The Festal Mass at 6:00 p.m. will be presided over by Most Rev. Msgr. Maxim Noronha, Vicar General of the Diocese of Mangalore.
On January 14, Masses will be celebrated throughout the day as follows:
• 6:00 a.m. – Mass in Konkani
• 8:00 a.m. – Mass in English
• 1:00 p.m. – Mass in Kannada
The Festal Mass scheduled for the second day (January 15) is as follows:
• 6:00 a.m. – Mass in Konkani
• 8:00 a.m. – Mass in Konkani
• 10:00 a.m. – Mass for children
• 1:00 p.m. – Mass in Malayalam (Latin Rite)
On both feast days, there will be adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and a special blessing for all devotees.
Children’s Day : A special Mass for children will be offered on Saturday, January 10 at 6:00 p.m.
Formal Inauguration
The formal inauguration of the festivity will take place on January 3, 2026 at 4:30 p.m., beginning with the votive offering procession (Vojem) from Holy Cross Church, Kulshekar, Mangaluru. This will be followed by the Sahaballve programme (an inter-religious meet) and the flag hoisting at the Shrine campus. Rev. Dr Praveen Martis, SJ, Vice Chancellor of St Aloysius Deemed to be University, will bless and hoist the flag.
Nine Days Novena in preparation for the Annual Feast
Nine days of Novena prayers will be held from January 5 to January 13, during which nine Masses will be celebrated daily.
The schedule of Masses is as follows:
• Morning: 6:00 a.m., 7:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m., and 10:30 a.m. (all in Konkani)
• Afternoon: 1:00 p.m. (Konkani)
• Evening: 4:00 p.m. (Malayalam), 5:00 p.m. (English), and 7:45 p.m. (Kannada)
Bishops’ Masses:
Rt. Rev. Dr Ignatius D’Souza, Bishop of Bareilly, will preside over the 10:30 a.m. Mass on Monday, January 5, the first day of the Novena, with special prayers for those who work and study abroad.
Rt. Rev. Dr Henry D’Souza, Bishop of the Diocese of Bellary, will preside over the 10:30 a.m. Mass on Saturday, January 10, a day especially dedicated to children and infants.
The procession of Infant Jesus will be held every day after the 6:00 p.m. evening Mass.
Eucharistic Adoration will be conducted daily from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
Anna Santarpane (ಅನ್ನಸಂತರ್ಪಣೆ) – a vegetarian meal – will be served to all devotees at noon on all the days of the Novena and feast, from January 4 to 15.
Eye Camp will be held on January 7 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Blood Donation Camp will be held on January 9 and 10 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Social Outreach Program: ‘CARMEL IGNITE’
To mark the 300th anniversary of the canonization and the centenary of the proclamation as Doctor of the Church of St. John of the Cross, the renowned Carmelite mystic and reformer from Spain, the Shrine proposes to support 400 deserving and economically challenged children, irrespective of caste or creed, by providing educational scholarships under the banner ‘CARMEL IGNITE.’ This initiative seeks to nurture their educational aspirations while honoring the enduring legacy of this remarkable saint.
In addition, a special exhibition will be organized to highlight the significance of this jubilee year dedicated to St. John of the Cross.
Present at the Press meet:
Fr Melvin D’Cunha OCD, Superior, St. Joseph’s Monastery
Fr Stifan Perera OCD, Director, Infant Jesus Shrine, Mangaluru
Fr Deep Fernandes, Delegate Provincial for the OCDS
Mr Valerian Furtado, Vice-President, Ballok Jesu Kutam
Mr Wilfred Lasrado, Organiser, Infant Jesus Shrine
For Contact: Fr Stifan Perera, Director, Infant Jesus Shrine, Mangaluru Ph:9844503706
