Udupi: Platinum jubilee celebration of Kemmanu Church ends on high note
Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
Udupi, May 13: The valedictory ceremony of the platinum jubilee celebration of St Theresa Church, Kemmannu was held on Sunday May 12 with much fanfare.
Dr Oswald Lewis, bishop of Jaipur inaugurated and blessed the new Parochial House.
Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, bishop of Udupi presided over the Holy Eucharistic Mass, along with him, Dr Oswald Lewis, Fr Baptist Menezes, Fr Valerian Mendonca, Fr J B Sequeira, Fr J B D’Souza, priests of the native parish and others places joined the Eucharistic mass as co–celebrants.
Bishop of Udupi Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo presided over the formal stage function. Dr Oswald Lewis, bishop of Jaipur, Msg Baptist Menezes, vicar general of Udupi diocese, Oscar Fernandes, MP and AICC general secretary, Fr Stany B Lobo, dean of Kallianpur deanery, Pramod Madhwaraj MLA Udupi, Fr J B D’Souza, parish priest of St Theresa Church, Kemmannu, Fr Henry Fernandes, Sr Neonilla, superior of Maria Goretti Convent Kemmannu, Fr Anil Prakash D’Silva, chairman of jubilee celebration committee, Alfred Crasto, Pirgent, Ronald Menezes, vice president of parish pastoral council and Gracy Machado, secretary of Parish Pastoral Council were present on the dais.
Fr Anil Prakash D’Silva gave a brief report on the 12 months of jubilee celebration from the day of it inauguration.
Oscar Fernandes in his address said that the twin districts have earned name in the education and health care sectors because of the quality of these services provided by the community. "Outsiders are coming down here to obtain the benefits of our health care and educational setups," he added.
"While we celebrate jubilee of the Church we have to restrospect on the last 75 years, and at the same time, look forward to the next 25 years. We should move ahead with betterment of the society as our goal," he said.
Bishop of Udupi Gerald Isaac Lobo, felicitated newly-elected MLA Pramod Madhwaraj on the occasion.
After the felicitation, Madhwaraj thanked the parishioners. “Today the bishop has increased my responsibility by placing a garland on me. I can only reduce this weight by serving the needy people of the society,” he said.
Bishop Oswald Lewis felicitated the main donors and sponsors of the jubilee celebration.
Bishop of Udupi Gerald Lobo felicitated bishop of Jaipur Dr Oswald Lewis.
“When we celebrate any jubilee we have to think of three things - the past, the present and the future,” said Dr Oswald Lewis.
“We must count our blessings, ask ourselves what we have done for the needy and whether we walked in the path of God’s wish. We should assess the present, and lastly we have to plan for the future keeping the present in mind,” he added.
Dr Baptist Menezes was felicitated by bishop Oswald Lewis.
Baptist Menezes congratulated all the parishioners on the occasion of the platinum jubilee celebration.
Fr Stany B Lobo unveild the jubilee souvenir “Amrut Kanick”.
"Our elders had taken interest in building the Church from the root. Because of their strong belief today we are witnessing the completion of 75 years of this Church," he said. He congratulated the parishioners for the strong unity and wished that they move forward in the same way in the future too.
Editor of Souvenir Amrut Kanick Naveen Saldhana handed over a cheque of Rs 7 lac to the jubilee committee chairman Fr Anil.
Alfred Crasto released the telephone directory of the Church.
Bishop of Udupi honored all the past parish priests, vice-presidents and secretary of parish pastoral council.
Alfred Crasto, the main sponsor of the two-day jubilee program was felicitated by bishop of Udupi Dr Gerald.
Jubilee committee chairman Fr Anil Prakash D’Silva was felicitated by the bishop on behalf of the parishioners for his wonderful jubilee celebration work.
Bishop of Udupi Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo was felicitated by bishop Oswald Lewis.
In his presidential address, bishop of Udupi said, “Today we are witnessing 75 years of religious work. Many religious priests and nuns were raised in this Church. Love, prayer and service - on these three things we have to work more and build a strong church.”
He called upon the youth to join and serve the diocese and asked the parishioners for their prayers in this mission.
Chairman of the jubilee committee Fr Anil Prakash D’Silva presented mementoes to all the guests.
Parish priest J B D’Souza welcomed the gathering, vice-president of parish pastoral council Ronald Menezes proposed the vote of thanks, Veronica Cornelio and Naveen Saldhana compered the programme.