Mysore/Mysuru: Christmas is here and city’s major Churches are illuminated and decked up for the biggest festival of the community. Special programmes and Holy Mass will be held tonight and tomorrow.

St. Philomena’s Church, the tallest Church in city and St. Bartholomew’s Church, the oldest Church are drawing many devotees and visitors.

The Wesley Cathedral near Sub-Urban Bus Stand, Hardwicke Church at Lakshmipuram, Yesu Karunalaya at Karunapura, Sawday Memorial Church at Tilaknagar, Virgin of the Poor Church on Mysuru-Bengaluru Road, Infant Jesus Church on Hunsur Road, Sacred Heart Church in Yadavagiri, Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Church at Srirampura, Pushpashrama Church in R.S. Naidu Nagar and Arogyamathe Church on KRS Road in Hulikere are among other Churches that are in a celebratory mood.

St. Philomena’s Church

Built in 1936 in the Neo Gothic style, designed by Frenchman Daly and inspired from the Cologne Cathedral in Germany, St. Philomena’s Church, the imposing Church in city, is beautified and decorated for the X-mas season to attract devotees.

As hundreds of tourists from other States have arrived along with their children to city following X-mas holidays and visiting many tourist places in city including St. Philomena’s Church, the Health Department has deployed a male and a female nurse at the Church premises to administer polio drops to infants.

 Special programmes and Holy Mass timings

Dec. 24: Singing of carols will be held at 11 pm followed by Holy Mass in Kannada by Bishop of Mysore, Most Rev. Dr. Francis Serrao SJ at 11.30 pm.

At 12 midnight, the Bishop will carry the idol of Infant Jesus and place it in the crib at St. Philomena’s Church.

Christmas Day (Dec. 25): Mass in Tamil will be held at 5 am, followed by Mass in Kannada at 6 am. Mass in English and Tamil will be held at 7 am and 8 am respectively, which will be conducted by the Bishop of Mysore.

St. Bartholomew’s Church

Located next to Sub-Urban Bus Stand in city, this is the oldest and the only Anglican Church in Mysuru established in 1830. The construction of the Church was completed in 1832 and is named after one of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ, Saint Bartholomew.

Service timings

Dec. 24: Christmas Eve Candle Light Service will be held at 6.30 pm.

Dec. 25: First Christmas Service (Holy Communion) will be held at 6 am and the second Christmas Service (Holy Communion) will be held at 8.30 am.

Sacred Heart Church at Yadavagiri

Dec. 24: Singing of carols will be held at 11 pm, followed by Vigil Mass in English at 11.45 pm.

Dec. 25: Solemnity Mass in Kannada will be held at 8 am.

Virgin of the Poor Church, Mysuru-Bengaluru Road

Dec. 24: Midnight Mass will be held at 11.45 pm.

Dec. 25: English Mass will be held at 7.30 am and Kannada Mass will be held at 9 am.

Arogyamathe Church, Hulikere, KRS Road

Dec. 24: Singing of carols will be held at 11 pm, followed by Vigil Mass in Kannada by Rev. Fr. Raymond at 11.30 pm.

Dec. 25: Solemnity Mass in Kannada will be held at 9 am as part of Christmas.

Christmas Carnival on Dec. 25, 26

Anticipating huge rush today, Christmas Carnival, which began on Dec. 19, is suspended today and stalls are being removed to accommodate thousands of devotees. 

The Carnival will continue tomorrow (Dec. 25) and will conclude on Dec. 26 after which the Jubilee Celebrations of St. Philomena’s Church will commence.