Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (EP)
Bantwal, Feb 7: After nine days of novena from January 30 to February 7, Our lady of Loretto church in Bantwal will conclude its platinum jubilee celebrations.
Fr Denis Moras Prabhu,Vicar General of Mangaluru diocese will be offering special mass on February 8 at 4 pm.
The offerings will be brought in procession from Bantwal Bye pass road and Sornadu Telecom center to the Church premises along with Band and fire works in gaiety. Devotees from 13 wards and priests from neighbouring Agrar and Modankapu will participate in the celebrations.
Fr Joseph Martis, Rector of Jeppu Seminary will bless the offerings that will be entering the main entrance of the church in procession and lead prayers. Several cultural programmes will be held along with several church associations in the leadership of church welfare committees of Agrar and Modankapu.
The concluding ceremony of the platinum jubilee celebrations of the church will be held on Feb 15 under the leadership of Rev Dr Aloysius Paul D' Souza, Bishop of Mangaluru. A holy mass will be held along will several priests and thousands of devotees. The programme will be held in the evening at 6 pm after light refreshments.
A souvenir will be released and priests who have served in the church in the past and office bearers of church welfare committee will be honoured in the event. The programme will be presided by Rev Dr Aloysius Paul D' Souza.
Member of Rajya Sabha, Oscar Fernandes will be the chief guest. Rev Sr Doreen D' Souza, Superior General of Ursuline Fransiscan Society, Bantwal zonal Vicar var Fr Maxim Noronha, district in charge minister Ramanath Rai, Mangaluru Loksabha constituency MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, Mangaluru south constituency MLA J R Lobo, Vidhana Parishat member Ivan D' Souza, Zilla panchayat member Nalini Shetty, Taluk panchayat member Efrem Sequeira and Amtadi grama panchayat president Babitha Kotian will be participating in the event as guests of honour.
A group of 75 people will be singing a song of platinum jubilee in memory of the celebrations. A drama titled 'Platform No. 3' will be enacted under the leadership of Mangaluru's Arun Raj after the meals.
The church which progressed during the leadership of Fr Antony Lobo and Fr Cyprian Pinto is celebrating the 75th year's celebrations under Fr Elias D' Souza. The parish has 2,500 parishioners and 420 families.
Fr Antony Lobo gets the credit for construction of residence for church priests, temporary hall, Grotto and monthly church organ titled 'Thurbenth'.
Fr Cyprian Pinto is named the sculptor of new Loretto church. He has provided for the needs of poor and downtrodden and won their hearts in material and spiritual needs. He has got the church renovated after undertaking projects worth Rs 3 crores including renovation of the church, new school building, Loretto mother hall, school ground, church main entrance, tarring of the church road and starting of Novenas for Loretto mother. He is presently serving as the parish priest at Vamanjoor church.
In the press conference held on Feb 6, regarding the celebrations,Church parish priest Fr Elias D' Souza, convener of the celebrations Walter Noronha, Secretary Cyprian D' Souza, church welfare committee vice president Richard Menezes, secretary Irene D' Souza and publicity committee organizer Alwyn Pinto were present.