Press Note
PUSHPASHRAMA INFANT JESUS SHRINE
ALL SET FOR THE FEAST ON SUNDAY, JANUARY 6, 2008

A Press Conference was called on 4 January 2008 at 10.00 a.m. at the “Patrika Bhavan” Mysore. The Press Conference was addressed by Rev. Dr. Archie Gonsalves, OCD the Rector of Pushpashrama and he was assisted by Rev. Dr. John Sequeira the Dean of Pushpashrama and Mr. Stany Bantwal, the well known Journalist from Mangalore. Fr. Archie listed the various charitable and social activities conducted by the Shrine. He also highlighted the importance of this feast to the people of Mysore irrespective of cast, creed and colour.

The City of Mysore is known for its gardens and Palaces. For the eyes of the tourist this City has plenty to offer. Therefore tourists and pilgrims flock the city from around the globe. In recent past Mysore has added another feather to its cap. Pushpashrama: The Infant Jesus Shrine, located in R. S. Naidu Nagar, easily accessible on the ring road off the Mysore Bangalore Highway.

The Carmelite Fathers came to Mysore in 1965 and they are known for their teaching, preaching and their service to the poor. The erstwhile “Rani Thota” eventually became Pushpashrama. People from the city used to conducts picnics to this monastery because its atmosphere of natural beauty and serenity thrilled them.

Today, Pushpashrama is synonymous with the Infant Jesus Shrine. The Shrine is managed by the Carmelite Fathers of Pushpashrama. The beautiful Shine was inaugurated in January 2004. The annual feast of the Infant Jesus is celebrated soon after Christmas at the dawn of the New Year. This year the feast will be celebrated on Sunday, 6 January. Right from Christmas night, the Shrine is beautifully illuminated and thousands of people irrespective of cast and creed visit this Shrine to savour its beauty and to seek God’s blessings.

Pushpashrama Infant Jesus Shrine has become a centre for Inter religious Dialogue. During the Year the Carmelite Fathers organize Inter Religious prayer meetings. They celebrate every year, Deepavali and Ramadan along with their Hindu and Muslim Brethren. The Shrine has very beautiful palace architecture. This Shrine invites people of all walks of life. They religious symbols in the dome make every one feel at home here. 

Pushpashrama is known for its social activities. They Shrine conducts a computer centre, a tailoring centre and contributes towards school fees, books, uniform and medical. There will be services all through day on 6 January. There will be mass marriages conducted at noon followed by Meals for all: Anna Santharpane. Bishop of Mysore, Rt. Rev. Dr. Thomas Anthony Vazhapilly will be celebrating the solemn mass at 11.30 a.m. There will be ten couples tying the knot on that auspicious day. The main service will be in the evening at 5.00 p.m., Rt. Rev. Dr. Robert Miranda, Bishop of Gulberga will be the main celebrant. The Sarva Dharma Samanvaya, Inter Religious Prayer Service will be an added attraction. Thousands of pilgrims will have the darshan of the Infant Jesus during the procession. Rev. Dr. Archie Gonsalves, the Rector of the Shrine has extended a cordial invitation to all the devotees of the Infant Jesus.