Kundapur: Tallur - first ever star-shaped church ready for inaugural


Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Apr 17: St Francis Assisi Church at Tallur, which happens to be the centre of devotion for the Christians living in Tallur and nearby areas, has undergone thorough renovation and reconstruction. It has come off in a pleasing manner. The new church building modelled after a star for the first time in Karnataka, has been the cynosure of all eyes. Its unique design, giant-sized pinnacle, front portion having a new design and such other features have the capacity to force the passersby
to stop for a minute and throw admiring glances at this building.




Fr Sunil Veigas


This church building has been built at a cost of over Rs 3.5 crore. It has enough space to accommodate 600 devotees to offer prayers together. This renovated church will be dedicated to the world at a function being held on May 12 this year.

An idea took birth to construct this building, which has completed eight decades, towards developing this centre of faith in a modern way. Foundation stone for the proposed new building was laid on October 20, 2013. The project cost for the renovated church building including residence for the priests was around Rs 3.5 crore.

'Shilpi' architects based in Kerala designed the building. Sandeep Almeida from the town began to serve as engineer.

As soon as the works began on the new church building, it began to attract everyone's attention. People were curious to know what it would look like. As unique walls were built, huge metal bars rose to the sky, and new kind of shapes and designs began to take shape, people began to conceptualize the church building as per their own ideas. At the end, the building has been completed in a beautiful way.

From outside, this building looks like a star. The church has entrance from three sides through similar doors. The windows have been placed in such a way that they allow abundant light and air to enter into the building. The building is 140 feet wide and 113 feet high with a total area of 10,800 square feet.

A spacious altar has been erected. For anyone who comes near the church, it looks like a star that has been placed vertically. When we enter inside the building and look up, the concept of star is visualized. The concept of fixing a single fan is under consideration. Glass is used in 40 percent of the building. Modern monitor tiles have been used. Glass is being used for outer walls too to the extent of 40 percent. Flooring is provided through attractive granite slabs. For the outer area, interlock is being provided.

The statues of Mother Mary and St Francis Assisi would be installed on left and side of the altar. The statues have been made from Italian marble. In a nutshell, this church has been built with an architectural design that cannot be found anywhere in Karnataka.

Tallur, which is growing fast, has got an addition to its illustrious locales in the form of this attractive church. The church will be an attraction for tourists coming to the region. A large number of people have striven to make the dream of constructing this beautiful, meaningful, St Francis Assisi church, realize. With the blessings and guidance of the 19th priest of the church, Fr Sunil Veigas, and hard work put in by vice president of parish council, Arun Mendonca, secretary, Stany D'Silva, committee members and faithfuls, this church has come up majestically. This is an invaluable gift to the next generation of Christians, which is ideal for offering prayers and celebrating holy Eucharist.

St Francis Assisi church is backed by a long history. There was no prayer centre for Christians from Tallur region before 1929. They had to go to Holy Rosary church in the town to offer prayers. There was a plea from the devotees to set up separate church at Tallur. After this demand was approved in the parish level meeting, in 1934, the church got its first ever priest in the form of Fr Edward Lobo. Since then, Tallur church has grown into a prayer centre of Christians and also a centre of
miracles. Along with religious elevation, the church also set up educational revolution. St Philomena aided higher primary school here has lighted up lives of thousands of students so far. The school continues to command respect and importance by imparting good quality education.

Five villages fall under the jurisdiction of this church, ie Tallur, Uppinakudru, Hemmady, Devalkunda, and Hattinangadi. 896 members spread over 220 families in these villages are served by this church. This church, which has a history of 87 years, is located in the central part of Tallur, and is known as the centre of harmonious coexistence.

Catholic Sabha, St Vincent De Paul organization, Franciscan organization, Young Christian Students Association, Altar Boys Association,18 committees, eight Varado, and eight Gurkars serve the church within its jurisdiction.

As part of the inaugural of the renovated church, Bishop of Udupi diocese, Dr Jerald Issac Lobo, will inaugurate the building at 9 am and deliver benedictory address on May 12. Meeting programme is scheduled at 10.45 am, in which people's representatives and dignitaries representing different religions will take part. At 6.30 pm, 'Cha Parka' artistes will stage a comedy play, 'Heluvanthadalla' as part of cultural programmes.

As the shape of the building itself denotes, this is modelled after star. For the Christian community, star happens to be a sublime symbol of worship. Before the birth of Jesus Christ, wise men saw him descending in the form of a star. This church is shaped after the star. Anyone who enters this building and looks around, gets the feeling of standing inside a star. The building has been designed and shaped so artistically. The three-side doors to the building provide the experience of entering a
star. Fixing of a single fan will add to the unique grandeur of this church.

  

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Comment on this article

  • Flavian, Mangaluru/Kuwait

    Mon, Apr 18 2016

    Magnificent architectural designing and other mind boggling touches/renovation work. I am spell bound with the beauty of the unique church and the background and all around.
    I reminded me of one old Hindi song sung by Yesudas:-
    ‘Jiski rachna itni sunder hai tho who (Bhagwan) kitna sunder hoga’
    God bless all.

    DisAgree [6] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Af,, MANGALORE

    Mon, Apr 18 2016

    5 Star church.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vincent Rodrigues, Frazer Town,B'lore

    Mon, Apr 18 2016

    As we improve,our importance to God also need to be developed which has happened with a beautiful new church at Tallur.Congrats and the abundant blessings of the God on the people around

    DisAgree [5] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • devaraj, Kaup

    Mon, Apr 18 2016

    Beautiful !

    DisAgree [6] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Kuldeep DMello, Kundapur

    Mon, Apr 18 2016

    It's a beautiful structure .. May God bless everyone who helped building this church. It looks really attractive from the road too. It will attract a lot of tourists for sure.

    Blessings will come on everyone who prays from the heart. It does not matter where you pray.

    Let's stop pulling down our own people and criticizing everything. We need to appreciate our people and not pull them down like crabs. This negativity of assuming and contemplating must go. We have encourage our people to come up in life. Encourage their businesses , encourage the work they do for the better society. Let's fill in a lot of positivity in our faith and society. God bless you all ..

    DisAgree [7] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • juliana, udupi

    Mon, Apr 18 2016

    People build beautiful houses for themselves. Why not a beautiful church to worship our creator lord God? Splendid work everybody should follow. God bless all.

    DisAgree [6] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • Karan, Katapadi/Dubai

    Sun, Apr 17 2016

    Looks beautiful... Look forward to see some more pictures from inside as well...

    DisAgree [1] Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • Wilfred J. Lewis, Matpady-Brahmavar/ New York, USA

    Sun, Apr 17 2016

    Nice new Church. Congratulations to the Parishioners, Pastor(s), benefactors and many others who helped to build this new church. This new Church would an added attraction along the Route 66 (NH 17). However, monsoon downpour may affect the beauty of tiles and additional annual maintenance may be required.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [24] Reply Report Abuse

  • Alex, Bombay

    Sun, Apr 17 2016

    Your rite Wilfred they will definitely face heavy maintenance cost, outer look of the structure is beautiful but from inside it is disaster and horrible, it is not only star shaped but it is real star one cannot reach the height, I heard that it is impossible to reach near the cross to change the fused lights, waste of people's hard earned money, hope people don't require umbrellas inside the church during the monsoon.

    DisAgree [11] Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • ALISTEN, DUBAI

    Sun, Apr 24 2016

    My friend our church is not built in such a way that we need to take umbrella during monsoon..who said that its impossible to reach the cross. nothing is impossible. now a days people r reaching moon.in which planet u r?

    DisAgree Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Antony Fernandes, Mangaluru/USA

    Sun, Apr 17 2016

    Beautiful Church building. May the Lord God bless all for their prayers. Thank you Fr. Sunil Veigas for uniting all the people to construct this beautiful church.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [19] Reply Report Abuse

  • ozy crasta & fly, DUBAI, SANTEKATTE, KANNADA KUDRU

    Sun, Apr 17 2016

    MAY GOD BLESS all the parishnors, the PARISH PRIEST, the contractor, builder, and faithful citizens of TALLUR.
    we wish each and every one a peaceful opening ceremony.
    it is a really nice and beautiful building, and hope that it will be '' STAR BUILDING'' for all faiths in and around and off course it will be '' STAR CHURCH'' for the congregation.

    DisAgree [5] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • S.M. Nawaz Kukkikatte, Dubai

    Sun, Apr 17 2016

    Very Nice Architecture..

    DisAgree [3] Agree [31] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Sun, Apr 17 2016

    May this Church bless all people in KUNDAPUR ...

    DisAgree [12] Agree [68] Reply Report Abuse

  • Richard, Pangla / KSA

    Sun, Apr 17 2016

    Mr. Jossy, just a correction church will not bless but God will bless all those who pray at this church

    DisAgree [10] Agree [59] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Sun, Apr 17 2016

    Richard,
    Prayers go Up
    Blessings come Down ...

    DisAgree [7] Agree [41] Reply Report Abuse

  • Glen Mendoca, Tallur

    Sun, Apr 17 2016

    For the devotee design and the shape of structure is not importent.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [23] Reply Report Abuse

  • sam, world

    Mon, Apr 18 2016

    @Glen Mendoca, Tallur
    Design and shape is always important. We worship God in a manner that pleases God. The Old Churches were built with God in mind. The new Churches are built with Man in mind.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [11] Report Abuse

  • Raj, Mangalore

    Sun, Apr 17 2016

    Blessings of 3.5 cr.

    DisAgree [5] Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse


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Title: Kundapur: Tallur - first ever star-shaped church ready for inaugural



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