Media Release
Udupi, Aug 3: The golden jubilee celebration of Stella Maris Church, Kalmady and dedication and Proclamation of Our Lady of Vailankanni Centre as Diocesan Shrine programme will be held on Monday, August 15. Fr Baptist Menezes parish priest Stella Maris Church, Kalmady disclosed this in a press meet held on Wednesday, August 3.
He that, "Our Lady of Vailankanni Centre at Kalmady will be officially declared as Udupi Diocesan Shrine on August 15 through the solemn thanksgiving Eucharistic celebration which will be presided over by chief guest Dr Aloysius Paul D'Souza, Emeritus Bishop of Mangaluru and con-celebrated by Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop of Udupi, Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, Bishop of Mangaluru, Dr Francis Serrao, SJ, Bishop of Shivamogga, Dr Robert Miranda, Bishop of Gulbarga, Dr Henry D'Souza, Bishop of Bellary, Dr Lawrence Mukkuzhy, Bishop of Belthangady Dr Geevarghese Mar Makarios Kalayil, Bishop of Puttur, Fr Baptist Menezes, parish priest, Stella Maris Church, Kalmady, Fr Stany B Lobo, chancellor.
Prior to the annual feast of Kalmady church, a novena (nine days prayer) will begin from Saturday, August 6 and it will end on Sunday, August 14. Former minister Pramod Madhwaraj will host the flag on the first day to mark the launching of the novena at 3.45 pm. Udupi MLA Raghupathi Bhat will launch the car procession of Our Lady of Vailankani at Adi Udupi at 2.30 pm.
The church being very close to the Arabian Sea, the name of the church 'Stella Maris' meaning 'Star of the Sea' is apt. Stella Maris church was built and inaugurated in 1972 by the then bishop of Mangaluru Rt Dr Basil D'Souza. With the efforts of Fr Charles D'Souza, the church was constructed in Kalmady. The new church was blessed and inaugurated on February 5, 1972.
The Stella Maris Church Kalmady is celebrating its Golden Jubilee of its existing (1972-2022), on August 15, with the motto 'Golden remembrance of faith: Mother Mary inspires'. The Our Lady of Vailankanni centre at Kalmady, is very famous worldwide for the beautiful statue here.
Sanjay Andrade, vice president, parish priest council, Shobha Mendonca, secretary, parish priest council, Sandeep Andrade, coordinator, jubilee committee and Roshan Agnes Dsouza, member, jubilee committee were present at the press meet.