Monte Mariano Church – Farangipet
The Origin of Monthi Fest
Monte Mariano Church at Farangipet in Mangalore, is a church where the Roman Catholic festival Monti Fest was initiated by Fr. Joachim Miranda, a Goan Catholic priest at Farangipet in 1763. The Roman catholic community is still following same tradition of monti feast on 8th September every year.
The official name of the place is Monte Mariano- Mount of Mary. The Monthi fest derives its name, from Monte. It was here that a Goan priest, Fr. Joachim Miranda, started this annual new corn feast.
The statue of Infant Mary which is preserved in our chapel has an interesting history. It is from Italy. It was brought by a family in Nelyadi-Kerala. They wanted to donate it to a Church. Meanwhile they were told by some Mangalorean family that the feast of the Nativity took birth in Monte Mariano-Farangipet. And one fine day with the whole family they visited here donated the statue. There is a wooden carved statue of St. Francis of Assisi brought by the Portuguese and it is 480 years old. Nowhere one can see a statue of St. Francis holding a cross and the Bible in his hand. This shows the missionary life of Francis proclaiming Christ. It is a miracle statue.
Post Credit: Ashok Wilson D Souza Special Thanks to Monte Mariano Church - Farangipet
