Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
With Inputs from Media Release
Udupi, Apr 20: The newly-built St Francis Xavier Church of Udyavar is all set to be inaugurated on Thursday, April 28 at 9 am. Native of Udyavar Dr Gerald D’Almeida, presently the bishop of Jabulpur diocese will inaugurate the new Church by opening the main carved door. Bishop of Udupi Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo will conduct the rite of blessing of the new Church along with the holy Mass. Besides these two bishops, Dr Robert Miranda, bishop of Gulburga will preach and concelebrate. A big number of priests, both from Udupi and Mangaluru dioceses and from outside will participate. About 5,000 people are expected to attend.
This was announced at a press meet held here on Wednesday April 20.
To mark the occasion, two events - Hore Kanike and inter-religious 'Sauharda' will be held in afternoon of Sunday, April 24, the latter graced by the bishop of Udupi and Sri Sugunendrateertha Swamiji of Shree Puthige Math.
A fellowship meal at 1.30 pm will be served to all attending the inaugural programme on April 28.
The new Church picked up public attention with the installation 12-ft all weather fiber glass statue of Christ the Redeemer on the top of the 105 feet dome. There are a few more special features inside: the niches above windows and doors are decorated with beautiful stained glasses depicting many Biblical motifs, 14 Stations of the Cross and 20 Mysteries of the Rosary. Two large oil paintings in the front of the side ails depict life and the mission of St Francis Xavier, the Patron of the Church. The main Altar of the former Church with its Corinthian columns are finely fitted into the new Sanctuary of the Church. Church nave has single fan and the walls are mounted with wooden panels for better sound effects. With the 'U' shaped balcony, the whole Church provides for 900 seats with pews for worshipers. Engineer-professors from MIT Dany Pinto, Yogish Chandra Dhar and Gopalkrishna Bhat have designed and directed this new Gothic style Church with dome and bell tower; and contractor Marshal Rodrigues has executed the work.
After the inauguration and blessing ceremony of the Church, a public stage programme will commence at 11.30 am. Eminent local leaders, both religious and secular have assured their participation in it. The prominent dignitaries from public life are: Shobha Karandlaje, MP, Oscar Fernandes, MP, Vinay Kumar Sorake, minister for urban development and minister in charge of Udupi dstrict, U T Khadar, minister for health and family welfare, Pramod Madhwaraj, MLA , J R Lobo, MLA and chairman, backward and minority development committee); Ivan D’Souza, MLC, Sugandhi Shekar, president, Udyavar gram panchayat; Veronica Cornelio, Antony Mendonca, Geogre Castelino Nakre; priest Sri Ranghanath Bhat; Moulana Abdul Raheed Rehamani; Haji Abdul Jaleel Saheb, Dr Jerry Vincent Dias and Udyavarites Dubai founder president Gerald Pereira, Bolje.
A brief history of the Church
The new Church stands in the same location of the Church built in 1909. But the first church was built in 1866 at Melpete, near rock temple where St Francis Xavier English medium school is now located. Udyavar parish has history of 150 years. The Church came into existence thanks to the initiatives of two Udyavarites, the late Dumingo G Pereira and the late Louis Lobo who secured from Goan Archbishop the sanctioning of a new church in Udyavar. Till then the Christians of this area belonged to Milagres Church of Kallianpur. Due to the marshy nature of the site of first Church, Monsignor R F C Mascarenhas shifted the location to Guddeangady (here) and built a new Church which was blessed on January 6, 1909. It was a beautiful Gothic Church, but became too small for the growing community in recent years.
As Msgr R F C Mascarenhas is on his way to be elevated to the honour of Blessedness, much caution was exercised to discern the nature of the new Church. During the tenure of two former parish priests Fr Charles Noronha and Fr Cyprian Pinto the churning went on. Finally consensus emerged in April 2014. It was agreed upon by all stake-holders to build anew the Church in the same site by preserving the main altar of the last Church and extending the structure as wide and as long as possible while paying attention to the Gothic elements. Hence, the new structure has many arches and a dome to crown the Sanctuary. This dome imitates the features of the dome of St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican. Dome is a miniature sky above the earth and symbolizes the communication between humans on earth with God in heaven.
The present parish priest Fr Dr Roque D’Souza having done his doctoral studies in theology in Germany, and having taught theology in Mangaluru seminary has given expressions to the above features in this new Church. Being in touch with all the people, he has taken into confidence the parish consultative bodies and formed the Church building committee. From among them 12 were chosen to form the core committee which steered the entire work. All have supported the work with one heart and one mind. Apart from the Church and new bell tower, many additional works are accomplished, including 10 KV solar power production unit, and 7 pits for harvesting rain water around the Church building. One new house and repairs of three houses for the needy are done as part of service to the poor.
The government of Karnataka has considered favorably our application for aid from the allocation marked for Church renovation, and has sanctioned Rs 50 lac for this work, of which 25 lac has been already paid. Parish priest Fr Roque D’Souza expressed gratitude to the minority department of the government of Karnataka. The building project has been fully supported by generous contributions from the local people.
Parish priest and president of the Church committee Dr Fr Roque D’Souza; vice-president Lawrence D’Sa, secretary Michael D'Souza, building committee coordinator Melwin Norohna, media spokespersons John M D'Souza and Irene Pereira, media coordinator Stephen Colaco, members of core committee, inauguration committee, Church finance committee and engineers Dany Pinto and Yogish Dhar were present at the press meet.