Udupi: New Sacred Heart Church of Kolalgiri Inaugurated and Blessed
News & Pics by Wilson D'Souza Shirva
for Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (GA)
Udupi, Apr 16: The newly Sacred Heart of Jesus Church of Kolalgiri was inaugurated and blessed by Bishop Aloysius Paul D'Souza of Mangalore on Wednesday April 16.
Episcopal Vicar of Udupi Fr Baptist Menezes, Kallianpur dean Fr Marcel Saldanha, parish priest Fr Jerome Monteiro and several other priests from Kallianpur and other deaneries concelebrated the Holy Eucharist which was celebrated by Bishop Aloysius Paul D'Souza.
Later a short felicitation programme was held. Former Brahmavar MLA K Jayaprakash Hegde was the chief guest on the occasion while Bishop Aloysius Paul D'Souza presided over. Industrialist Pramod Madhwaraj, Amitha Poojary, president of Uppoor gram panchayat, Sanjeev Mayadi, taluk panchayat member were the guests on the occasion.
A Brief History:
Originally Giri was a part of the Milagres church, Kallianpur. In 1887, the majority of Catholics had joined schismatic church of Brahmavar. In 1907, Fr Sebastian Noronha, parish priest of Milagres started a school at Giri and by educating the children he succeeded in getting back their parents, about 61 families, to the Catholic fold.
In 1915 Fr Aloysius J D’Souza of Kallianpur opened a Mission Centre at Giri and appointed Fr Sebastian (Sabas) Joachim Fernandes, his assistant to work at Giri. In 1921 this mission was removed from the jurisdiction of Kallianpur and Fr Sabas Fernandes became its first chaplain. He constructed the Sacred Heart church building in 1925 and converted a large number of schismatic families. He was transferred to Brahmavar in 1935.
Giri became an independent parish in 1935 with Fr Albert V D’Souza, who later became the Arch-bishop of Calcutta as its first parish priest. Fr Harold D’Souza became the parish priest in 1953 and constructed the belfry and the Lourdes Grotto. Perampally became a parish during his time. Fr Isidore Noronha (1974-1982) provided benches and electrified the church.