Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (RJP)
Mangaluru, Dec 26: Fr Charles Serrao, the provincial superior of the Carmelites of Karnataka-Goa province, will inaugurate the newly-built Infant Mary Church at Bajjodi in Mangaluru on January 2, 2015.
The holy Eucharist will be celebrated and the blessing of the new church will be done by Dr Aloysius Paul D'Souza, the bishop of Mangaluru.
A felicitation function will be held after the holy mass followed by lunch.
Fr Joe Tauro, the superior of St Joseph's Monastery, Carmel hill, Fr Antony Serrao, parish priest of St Sebastian Church, Bendore and Fr Melvin D'Cunha, presently the priest in charge of Infant Mary Church will be present with clergymen and devotees during the inauguration.
A new parish in the diocese
Infant Mary Church, Bajjodi which has been part of the Bendore parish so far will become a new parish after the inauguration of the church. Originally the area of the parish belonged to St Antony orphanage which was later given to the needy people. Most of the people in the Bajjodi parish are migrants and from the poor background. The Carmelite fathers from Infant Jesus Shrine, Carmel Hill always helped them in their spiritual needs as Bendore church was very far for them to visit. Later the Carmelites were entrusted to build a new church when the need arose.
Fr Nelson Pinto took the initiative and helped in the important matters to start the parish. Then Fr Melvin D'Cunha took over from him to begin the construction of the church. Fr Melvin is being assisted by Fr Deep Fernandes. The new independent parish has 6 wards with 360 families.
About the new church
It took three years to complete the church building. The style of architecture is Roman gothic. The church building has four floors which is not a common thing in the region.The building also has a hall and a mini hall.There are sufficient rooms for Sunday catechism. The prayer hall in the church can accommodate 600 people inside and 300 people in the balcony.
The church has a magnificent front door with the picture of Holy Family. Other doors have the pictures of saints. The grills in the balcony depict the 20 mysteries of the Rosary.
Fr Melvin D'Cunha
The soon to be the parish priest of the new parish, Fr Melvin D'Cunha is a dynamic and energetic priest. He was born in 1967 in Madanthyar and ordained as Carmelite priest in 1996. He has rendered pastoral service in Mira Road Mumbai, Kuwait and in Koteshwar. His service in Kuwait for more than a decade is fondly remembered by Kuwait residents.
Fr Melvin D'Cunha in his usual missionary zeal says that only the church building is complete but there are so many other things to do for the new parish.
Fr Melvin had struggle a lot to turn the rocky land into a marvelous church yard. He had to raise funds, win the condfidence of the people who had apprehensions and accomplish so many other tasks associated with a project of this magnitude.
"I have already experienced a miracle from Infant Mary when I was building the grotto. I am confident that the more blessings will be showered in the future." says Fr Melvin.