Mangalore: ‘Frad Day’ Celebrates Missionary Zeal of Fr Alexander Dubois
Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
By Praveen Tauro Kulshekar
Daijiworld Media Network—Mangalore (RD/CN)
Mangalore, Dec 12: A memorial proclaiming Christ’s crucifixion erected at Holy Cross parish, Cordel, to mark the bi-centenary birth anniversary of Frad Saib, was inaugurated and blessed by Bishop Robert Miranda of Gulbarga diocese and Bishop Salvador Lobo of Bareipur diocese, Kolkata, on Friday December 11.
‘Frad Day’ celebrations this year were themed ‘The bread and wine transforms as body and blood of Christ in Eucharist through the hands of priest’.
A Eucharistic procession was held on the road near the church and concluded at the altar.
Both the Bishops concelebrated the Eucharistic Celebrations along with several diocesan priests, parish priest Fr Valerian Pinto, assistant parish priests Fr Arun Lobo and Fr Rajesh Rosario, Carmelite priest Fr George Santhumayer, St Joseph’s Engineering College director Fr Valerian D’Souza, Pakshikere parish priest Fr Alban D’Souza, Derebail parish priest Fr Peter D’Souza, Bondel parish priest Fr Anthony Serrao, Fr Vincent Monteiro, and other priests.
Bishop Miranda, in his homily to the faithful, said that Frad Saib was a devout priest with missionary zeal who loved his parishioners and the testimony lies in the newly-built memorial proclaiming Christ’s crucifixion where he had spent many hours in meditation.
“Although the media carried many derogatory reports on priests in Dakshina Kannada district, the priests serve the parishioners from the christening of newborns to serving all sacraments in the life of every faithful. All these tasks are done by a priest in memory of Jesus, as commanded by Him”, he said.
Meanwhile, the corner stones of Holy Cross erected in Cordel–Panjirel forest, which were preserved by Shaba D’Silva family for over 136 years ago, was donated to the parish for posterity.
The holy cross was erected in Panjirel forest and worshiped by the faithful including a priest who took refuge in the jungle to sustain the Christian faith during persecution under Tipu’s rule. The spiritual needs of surviving Christians were met by the lone priest in the jungle who had arranged for the funeral rites of deceased parishioners.
Fr Alexander Dubois, French friar, who was regarded by native Mangaloreans as ‘Frad Saib’ of Franco Cordel, locally known as Kulshekar, and by others as ‘Kullerda Ajjer’, laid the foundation stone of the then Holy Cross Church, Cordel on September 14, 1873.
He was a devout Catholic priest who inspired several people to embrace Christianity owing to his personal charisma in and around the city. His mausoleum at the significant place around the church complex is visited by people of all faiths while a few even take away the pinches of soil from his grave believing that it has miraculous powers to heal diseases.
The locals have legendary tales on ‘Frad Saib’ who used to visit their household in the evenings, in order to recite the family rosary. Moreover, he has spread the special devotion to ‘sacred heart of Jesus’ among the natives.
‘Frad Saib’ had laid the foundation stone for Holy Cross Church, Cordel, when he was serving as parish priest at Milagres Church, located in heart of the town. The symbolic procession of construction materials was held from Milagres to Cordel Church.
On December 11, a similar procession took place from Milagres to Cordel with a difference. It was Frad Saib’s funeral procession. On that day his mortal remains were deposited in the sanctuary close to the incomplete church. Since then, his venerated grave became a permanent feature of Cordel. Even today after 131 years of his death, the day is observed as ‘Frad Saib’s Day’.
Over 5,000 faithful including several priests and nuns from across the city and suburbs attended the occasion to be blessed by Frad Saib’s miraculous powers.