Mumbai churches plan Nativity masses and Girl Child Day programmes

Fr Ivan Mascarenhas, parish priest at Velankanni Church in Irla, expects around 8,000 devotees on Tuesday as the church holds nine masses for the Feast of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary.

The 7.15pm feast mass will be celebrated by Archbishop John Rodrigues. Bishop Barthol Barretto of Nashik, Bishop Allwyn D’Silva and Bishop Dominic Savio are also set to celebrate masses at the church, whose Novena is in its 59th year. Fr Mascarenhas, who has led the parish for five years and turns 75 this year, is due to retire later in 2026.

At Mount Mary Basilica in Bandra, the Novena prayers that began on September 4 follow a theme of safeguarding every person’s dignity. The basilica will also observe the occasion as Girl Child Day. Its main feast day falls on September 13, followed by the September 13-20 octave alongside the Bandra Fair.

Our Lady of Salvation Church in Dadar plans to serve breakfast and honour girls from orphanages, single-parent families and economically weaker backgrounds.