Pics: Kevin Rodrigues
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (JD)

Udupi, Apr 14: The centenary jubilee celebration of St Antony Church, Sasthan was conducted in a subtle manner due to Covid–19 restrictions on Wednesday, April 14.

Dr Gerald Issac Lobo, Bishop, Diocese of Udupi presided over the thanksgiving Holy Eucharistic celebration while Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, Bishop, Diocese of Mangaluru; Msgr Edwin C Pinto, Mount Rosary, Alangar; Fr Stany B Lobo, chancellor, Diocese of Udupi; Fr Valerian Mendonca, rector, Milagres Cathedral, Kallianpur; Fr Stany Tauro, dean, Kundapur Deanery; Fr Chethan Lobo, PRO, Diocese of Udupi; Fr Valerian Fernandes, editor, Raknno; Fr John Walter Mendonca, parish priest, St Antony Church, Sasthan along with other priests from the deanery, diocese and native parish were concelebrants.

In his homily, Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, Bishop Diocese of Mangaluru said "Today we are here to thank God for the great deeds he has done here. St Anthony has performed miracles in this place and every one of us has witnessed them. We are witness to the faith our ancestors have followed. Jubilee means a year of freedom. It is not just a celebration on the surface but it involves internal purity. Word of God is forever. Jubilee is a remembrance. We need to live the faith which was sowed years ago. Faith is a treasure God has put among us. Jubilee year is a year to repent. Repent and belief goes together. It is a year to forgive. Speak the truth but with love. Jubilee as a celebration is the last step. Let us share what we have." 

Dr Peter Paul Saldanha released the prayer book published in memory of the centenary year celebration. On the occasion, Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo released a hymns book for the use of the Church. 

A formal felicitation function was also organized on the occasion.

In his message to the faithful Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, Bishop Diocese of Mangalore said, "The seed which was sown 100 years ago is now grown. I am visiting this church for the first time after becoming a bishop. I had a close relation with Fr Vincent Martis. The parish has grown tremendously over the years. Let the celebration reach every household."

Speaking on the occasion Msgr Edwin Pinto said, "Centenary year is a year to thank God for his blessings showered upon us over the years. Let our faith become stronger. When I was appointed as the parish priest to this parish I was told to have good a relationship with our Christian brothers. I visited every family. The church is not just a building, it is visiting the families of parishioners and spreading the faith. I even visited the houses of Syrian brothers as part of my house visits."

Addressing the gathering Fr Valerian Mendonca, Kallianpur deanery said, "Kallianpur deanery is celebrating this day with Sasthan parish. Let the dream of parishioners to have a new church building soon be a reality."

Former priests of Sasthan Parish Msgr Edwin Pinto and Fr Harold Pereira were honoured on the occasion. Dr Gerald Issac Lobo, Bishop, Diocese of Udupi, Dr Peter Paul Saldanha; Bishop, Diocese of Mangalore, Fr Stany Tauro; Kundapur Deanery, Fr Valerian Mendonca; Kallianpur Deanery Fr Anil D’Souza; Fr Stany B Lobo, chancellor, Diocese of Udupi; Fr Noel Lewis, St Thomas Syrian Church; Sr Michelle, Mission Sisters of Ajmer; director, Karuna Hospital, Mumbai, major donors for the parish scholarship fund, Theodore Furtado and Derick D’Souza, convenor of the centenary year committee were felicitated on the occasion.

In his message to the faithful, Dr Peter Paul Saldanha said, "The seed which was sown 100 years ago is now grown. I am visiting this church for the first time after becoming a bishop. I had a close relation with Fr Vincent Martis, who had served here earlier. Let the celebration reach every household," he said.

In his presidential speech Bishop Dr Gerald Issac Lobo, Diocese of Udupi said, "Today we are celebrating 100 years of Sasthan as an independent parish. Before it was part of Kallianpur and Kundapur parish. As the people faced difficulties in crossing three rivers to attend the church service, an independent Sasthan parish came into existence. The church has developed over the years. There were 23 families in the beginning now the number has gone up to 302 families. Our ancestors preserved their faith. In recent years all the parish priests have worked tremendously for the development of their parish. I congratulate Fr John Walter Mendonca and the whole parish. The diocese mission program is also very well implemented in the parish. Let the centenary year strengthen our faith. Let us mark it with the universal brotherhood."

Fr Stany B Lobo, chancellor, Diocese of Udupi, Fr Stany Tauro, dean, Kundapur Deanery, Fr Valerian Mendonca, rector, Milagres Cathedral, Fr Anil D’Souza, parish Priest, Our Lady of Fathima Church, Perampalli, Fr Noel Lewis, priest of St Thomas Orthodox Syrian Church, Sr Michelle, Fr John Walter Mendonca, parish priest, St Antony Church, Sasthan, Sr Michelle, Mission Sisters of Ajmer, director, Karuna hospital Mumbai, Sr Veronica, Sr Goretti Cuthino, Louis Maxim D’Souza, secretary, Parish Pastoral Committee, Derick D’Souza, convenor of the centenary committee, Janet Banz, convenor 18 commissions were present on the occasion.

Fr John Walter Mendonca welcomed the gathering, Louis Maxim D’Souza gave a brief intro of 100 years, Janet Banz, proposed the vote of thanks, Alwyn Andrade and Glanis Lewis compered the program.