St Mary’s Basilica novena starts in Shivajinagar on August 29

The flag at St Mary’s Basilica in Shivajinagar will be raised at 5.30pm on August 29, opening the church’s annual novena and feast celebrations.

The nine-day novena will include sermons, Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament and Holy Mass. Masses are scheduled daily from 5.30am to 9pm in different languages. The wider programme will run for 11 days, with thousands of devotees expected.

The celebrations culminate on September 8, the Feast of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. Three special masses will be held at Russell Market Square in Kannada, Tamil and English. The chariot procession of Mother Mary is set to begin at 5.30pm that evening.

BMTC will run special buses to the basilica. Designated parking is also planned for devotees, including space in adjoining BMRCL premises.