Udupi: Pura Pravesha - Bishop Dr Gerald Lobo Accorded Grand Welcome
Kevin Rodrigues
Pics by Ivan Mascarenhas & Vincent D’Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
Udupi, Oct 18: The Pura Pravesha of Dr Gerald Lobo, the first bishop of Udupi diocese was held in a grand manner here on Wednesday October 17. People of different parishes gathered together to give Dr Gerald a warm welcome, before he occupied his official residence and office.
Fr Fred Mascarenhas, parish priest Mother of Sorrows Church, accompanied by Fr Anil D’Souza, welcomed the bishop with a big garland near Karavali Junction prior to the procession, while vice-pesident of parish pastor council Boniface D’Souza welcomed him in the traditional manner with tabulom'.
Bishop Dr Gerald was taken in an open vehicle from Karavali Junction, Bannanje, Shiribeedu, Service Bus stand, to Mother of Sorrows Church.
Fr Baptist Menezes and Fr Stany Tauro welcomed the bishop with garlands near the Church entrance. After a grand procession a 30-minute Eucharistic Adoration was celebrated in the Church.
During the procession, MP Oscar Fernandes along with his wife Blossom, MLA Raghupati Bhat, Jerry Vincent Dias of Mandavi Builders and president Karavali Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Louis Lobo, president, IFKCA udupi, Kiran Kumar, president, CMC Udupi, Gokuldas Nayak, municipal commissioner of Udupi, Naveen Bhandary, corporator, CMC Udupi, Yashpal Suvarna, president of fishing federation, Devi Prasad Shetty, Jitesh Kediyoor of Hotel Kediyoor, Manohar Shetty of Sai Radha Groups of Concern, Subrahmanya, DGM, Syndicate Bank and many more were present to welcome the bishop with garlands.
Acknowledging the honour, Dr Gerald Lobo thanked each and everyone for the wonderful welcome accorded to him.
"The last two programmes became successful because of the love, sacrifice, and co-operation of the people of Udupi diocese. What you have given me is not for me but to Christ. The love of Udupi people also makes me anxious, the expections would also be more. Udupi is not new to me as I had already visited 47 churches when I was in CODP," he said.
"We should reach the very last person in the diocese and make Udupi the number one diocese not only in Karnataka but in the entire country," he added.
"People of Udupi Diocese are talented and intelligent. Before I start my mission I will visit all the churches. I want to hear suggestions from a small child to the oldest person in the church and diocese before I plan any project for this new diocese," he said.
"This year has been declared as the Year of Faith by Holy Father. So we have to give more importance to our faith and belief," said Bishop Dr Gerald, requesting the people of Udupi diocese to remember him in their daily prayers.
Fr Anil compered the programme and Fr Fred welcomed.
The entire procession was led by Prof Vincent Alva along with members of the parish council of Mother of Sorrows Church, Udupi.
Members of Sthree Sanghatan, Catholic Sabha, ICYM, YCS rendered their support to make this event a memorable one.
Priests from various churches of the diocese, nuns along with them more than 1,500 people accompanied the new bishop to his residence.