The parish community of St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Damra, joyfully celebrated its annual Sobha from 29 January to 2 February 2026, grounding the entire five-day celebration in the inspiring theme of the Holy Family. In a time when family life faces many challenges, the parish presented the Holy Family not merely as a symbol from the past, but as a living and practical model for Christian households today.

The celebration began on 29 January with the inauguration presided over by Rev. Fr. Antony Xavier, Parish Priest of Resubelpara Parish. In his inaugural message, Fr. Xavier invited families to rediscover love, fidelity, and self-giving as the foundations of Christian life. The theme set the tone for the entire Sobha, emphasizing that holiness is lived out in everyday family relationships and that the strength of a parish flows from the sanctity of its homes.

On the following day, the Holy Mass was celebrated by Rev. Fr. Chellathara John, SDB, Parish Priest of Boko Parish. The liturgy deepened the reflection on the Holy Family as a model of mutual service, forgiveness, and faithfulness to God’s will. The active participation of families, catechists, and youth highlighted the parish’s commitment to nurturing faith through daily prayer, shared worship, and communal support.

A significant highlight of the Sobha was the Holy Mass and Confirmation on 31 January, presided over by His Grace Archbishop John Moolachira. His presence added solemnity and pastoral significance to the celebration. Through the sacrament of Confirmation, the Archbishop encouraged the faithful especially parents and sponsors to nurture faith within the family, reminding them that the home is the first school of Christian formation.

The celebrations reached a festive culmination on 1 February with the concluding Mass celebrated by Rev. Fr. Crosper Sangma, Parish Priest of Malangkona Parish. The occasion was made even more special with the First Holy Communion of children, marking an important milestone in their faith journey. This joyful moment reflected the parish’s collective effort in catechesis and its hope for the future generation of the Church.

In the afternoon of 1 February, the lowering of the parish and village flags marked the formal conclusion of the Sobha celebrations. The ceremony was conducted by Rev. Fr. Francis Kalariparampil, SDB, Rector and Parish Priest of Damra, symbolizing the end of the communal gathering and the sending forth of the faithful to carry the spirit of the celebration back to their villages and families.

The Sobha formally concluded on the morning of 2 February 2026 with a Holy Mass celebrated by Rev. Fr. Richard Barla, Assistant Parish Priest, offered for the departed souls. This final liturgical gathering reminded the faithful of the centrality of parish life rooted in shared faith, prayer, and service.