Daijiworld News Network - GA [Regional]

Udupi-Palimar, Feb 11: The Church of St Pius X will be turning golden on February 20, 2006.

Various cultural activities have been lined up to mark the celebrations. The Bishop Dr Aloysius D'Souza of Mangalore, Union minister Oscar Fernandes, Kaup MLA Lalaji Mendon and other dignitaries will be gracing the program.

Also, the same evening, the 233rd Wilfy Nite will be staged. For many years now, the popular Wilfy Nite has not been organized anywhere in the surrounding parishes. Thousands of music-lovers from the parish and the surrounding parishes are expected to attend the Nite.

Palimar is situated on the quiet banks of river Shambhavi with Mulki and Balkunje on either side. Today Palimar is a well-recognized place with an air of modernity passing through the once-obscure village.

In the last few decades Palimar has changed for the better to a large extent. But some 50 years ago, it was just another remote village, with no proper basic amenities.  For all their needs, people had only the option of goinging to Mulki.  The spiritual needs of the people were catered to by Bolkunje and Mulki parishes.

However, as time passed, a strong need to have a chapel at Palimar was felt and the same was made known to the then Bishop Basil Peres of Mangalore through Mulki parish priest Fr S C Rodrigues.  Having understood the people's plight, Bishop Peres gave approval to start a chapel in Palimar on January 30,1956. 

File Photo: Wilfy Nite to mark the celebration

So the present-day Palimar parish was carved out of Mulki and Bolkunje parishes.  Since the people of Palimar had to cross the Shambhavi (Mulki) river to go to these churches, they, with Fr S.C. Rodrigues of Mulki in the lead, bought 1.22 acres of land and built a presbytery.  Palimar was made an independent chapel and Fr Peter Lobo was appointed resident chaplain on February 12, 1956.  A thatched roof chapel was built.  The foundation stone was laid for the new church in 1957.  Palimar became a full-fledged parish on April 9, 1967.  Fr Peter Lobo (1956-1967) became the first parish priest.  Bishop Basil D'Souza blessed the church on March 27, 1967.

Fr Peter Lobo, the first parish priest of Palimar: He was a visionary of high calibre. Though the chapel was set up 1956, there were only a few Catholic families in the vicinity.  Fr Peter Lobo understood the need of having their own parish structure and set on a trip to Mumbai (then known as Bombay).  His efforts were blessed as the new church was inaugurated on March 27, 1967.

Fr Maurice Paula:  He not only succeeded Fr Peter Lobo, but also continued the mission and vision of the latter.  He established various organizations in the church.  It was during his time that the church saw electricity for the first time.  It was owing to his untiring efforts that the vacant government plot in front the church was handed over to the church.

Fr Casimir Mathias: The belfry and portico of the church were constructed by Fr Casmir Mathias to commemorate the silver jubilee of the church.

Fr Peter Nazareth: Though he was in the church for a short period, he established the Society of Vincent De Paul for the aid of the poor.  Even the sound system and fans were provided during the time of Fr Peter Nazareth to the church.

Fr Hilary Sanctis: It was during his tenure that the church got a hearse and a telephone connection to the presbytery.

Fr Gregory Serrao: Fr Gregory Serrao followed Fr Hilary as the parish priest.  The present church and presbytery were built by Fr Gregory Serrao and these were inaugurated on May 18, 1999 by Bishop Aloysius P. D'Souza of Mangalore.  It was during his term that SJSM nuns set up their convent in Palimar.

Fr Victor Gerald D'Souza: He was the seventh parish priest of the Palimar church.  He has a great concern for the poor and needy.  Accordingly ,he enlivened the parish activities and spiritual movement in the church.  He instrumental in building the new belfry in commemration of the golden jubilee of the church.

Fr Valerian Rodrigues: He is the present parish priest and the pastor of the flock.  Though only a little time has elapsed since he took over, he has shown immense interest in organizing the Golden Jubilee celebrations.  He has also been organizing a number of spiritual as well as social activities and gatherings for the youth, children and elders.  The children's day, senior citizen's day etc have become more meaningful to the parishioners after his coming.

The small town of Palimar is brimming with life largely because of this spiritual centre.

Wilfy Nite - from archives