By Eugene D'Souza, Moodubelle
Pics: Anil Alva

Udupi, Jan 4: The Archbishop of Agra, who hails from Moodudbelle was the chief celebrant of the annual feast mass in St Lawrence Church on Wednesday January 4. The Archbishop was joined by Fr Frederick Mascarenhas, Dean of Udupi Varado and priests from other parishes within and outside Udupi Varado as well as priests from Belle serving in other parts of India especially North India.

The feast mass began at 10 am with a grand procession of the altar servers and concelebrants of the feast Mass followed by Archbishop Most Dr Albert D’Souza. Before the procession entered the church, Alphonse K. Alva, Vice President of the Parish Pastoral Council welcomed the Archbishop, Dean, guest priests and the parishioners and their guests from other parishes.

In his homily, Fr Victor Machado-Assistant Director of Pastoral Institute, Bajjodi, stressed on the theme of building a strong parish family. He said that the annual parish feast is a family feast and a day of thanksgiving for all the favours received by the parish community during the last year. He pointed out that the three reading from the Holy Scriptures were appropriate to indicate the importance of strengthening the parish family.

At the end of the feast mass, Fr Joswey Fernandes extended the greetings of the Annual Parish feast to all parishioners-both within Belle, outside and abroad. He thanked the Archbishop, Dean and all the priests who had participated in the feast mass, choir trained by Fr Paul Sequeira who once again rendered hymns with their beautiful voice and music. He also expressed his gratitude to all those who helped in organising and conducting the annual feaSt

At this occasion, Fr Joswey congratulated Miss. Carol Sonia D’Souza, daughter of Victor and Connie D’Souza for winning the ‘Voice of Udupi’ title in the competition held at Shirva on January 1, 2012.

At the end, Fr Joswey called upon Bernard and Regina D’Souza, who had celebrated the ‘Golden Jubilee’ of their wedding on January 2, 2012 and mentioned that the ‘Golden Couple’ have contributed on lac rupees to St Joseph’s Seminary, Jeppu, Mangalore for training of a candidate for priesthood. Besides they have also donated rupees one and a half lac to the new St Lawrence Arts and Commerce Degree College that is proposed to be started from next academic year 2012-13. Bernard and Regina D’Souza were honoured by Archbishop Albert D’Souza, brother of Bernard D’Souza by offering them a flower bouquet.

Soon after the feast mass, people were see greeting each other and making a beeline to the stalls and ice cream vans to savour the spirit of the ‘santmari’. A number of non-Christians were also seen offering candles at the shrine of St Lawrence.