Devout throng first day’s prayers at Gunadala church

Vijayawada: The formal nine-day holy prayers at Gunadala Mary Matha Church in Vijayawada began on Tuesday evening on a grand note.

Vijayawada Catholic Bishop T. Joseph Raja Rao, Monsignor Muvvala Prasad, Vicar General Gabriel, and Rector William Jayaraju hoisted the Mary Matha flag at the church on the occasion.

Bishop Raja Rao pointed out that Mary Matha’s festival has being organised since 1923 in Gunadala. This year, it will be the 99th festival and it will be organised from February 9 to February 11. Next year will witness the centennial Mary Matha festival, which will be organised in a grand manner.

The Bishop explained that as per the norm, there will be prayers for nine days before the Mary Matha festival begins atop the Gunadala Hill on February 9.
Rector Jayaraju said it is close to a century that Mary Matha has been showering abundant blessings on her devotees.

After the first day’s prayers, the devout visited the shrine on the hill and offered their prayers there too.