Feast Day Celebration at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Shrine in Benoni

Photo: Chantal Robertson
By Father Ryan Pais – Our Lady of Mount Carmel Shrine celebrated its feast day on July 13 with a Mass presided over by Archbishop Dabula Mpako of Pretoria and concelebrated with Shrine Rector and Superior Fr Rayan Pais, along with community members Frs Boniface D’Souza and John D’Souza. Deacons Keith, Neelan, Chris and Denzil were also present.
The theme for the feast was “Symphony of Prayer” in preparation for the jubilee year in 2025. Leading up to the feast, a five-day novena was held, with Masses in Zulu, Portuguese and English. Many devotees attended the festival Mass, demonstrating their deep devotion and commitment.
In his sermon, the Archbishop emphasised that prayer means anchoring ourselves in God, a total surrender to His will, akin to a plug connecting to a socket. He highlighted that in God, there is no load shedding, and prayer is a lifelong commitment, not just a one-day affair.
At the end of the Mass, Fr Pais gave a brief history of the shrine and read the decree of declaration of the shrine. He expressed his gratitude to all the people for their love and commitment to the place and the shrine. He also thanked Fr Boniface and the parishioners of Our Lady of Loreto, Kempton Park, and Fr John and the parishioners of St Joseph, Actonville, for their support and presence.
Scapulars were blessed and distributed to all attendees, symbolising their dedication to the Carmelite spirituality. The community also celebrated the 10th ordination anniversary of Fr Pais, who has dedicated five years of service in India and five years in South Africa. The event was a beautiful testament to the faith and unity of the community, making it a memorable and spiritually enriching celebration.

Photo: Kati Dijane
The next day, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Shrine celebrated its annual Carmel Festival Day. The celebration began with the Holy Eucharist, presided over by Fr Pais. In his sermon, he explained the origin of the Carmelite Order, highlighting that the meaning of “Carmel” is a beautiful garden or the vineyard of the Lord. He emphasised that a garden is a place where lovers meet, drawing a parallel to how we must make our hearts a beautiful garden where our beloved God can dwell through prayer.
At the end of the Holy Eucharist, Fr Pais expressed his gratitude to all the people for their love and commitment to their faith and the shrine. Scapulars were blessed and distributed to the attendees.
Following the Mass, there was a Eucharistic procession and benediction, adding a solemn and sacred dimension to the day’s festivities. The celebration continued throughout the day with various activities, creating a vibrant family atmosphere. Different artists performed, with numerous food and toy stalls set up, providing entertainment and joy for all ages.
The Carmel Festival Day was a testament to the strong community spirit and devotion of the faithful, making it a memorable and joyous occasion for everyone involved.
The feast of Our Lady of Carmel is celebrated each year on 16 July.
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