Media Release
Mangaluru, Apr 9: The third day of the jubilee year celebrations of the Episcopal City Deanery unfolded on a vibrant and spiritually enriching note, radiating joy, creativity, and devotion. With the overarching theme ‘Pilgrims of hope – Weapons of the Gospel,’ the day was marked by a captivating blend of cultural, biblical, and prayerful presentations by various parishes of the deanery.
The event commenced with a prayer dance presented gracefully by the Bethany candidates from Bendur, invoking the Spirit of the Lord and setting a reflective tone for the day. This was followed by a well-enacted skit on the Life of Ruth by the parishioners of Valencia, beautifully capturing the essence of loyalty, faith, and divine providence.
Continuing the sacred ambiance, the parishioners of Bejai offered melodious renditions of Psalm 61 and Psalm 62, drawing the audience into a meditative and prayerful mood.
The parishioners of Milagres took the stage next, presenting a moving skit on the Holy Family, emphasizing the values of love, obedience, and unity in family life. They were followed by the Urwa parishioners, who sang Psalms 52 and 55, resonating messages of trust and God’s deliverance.
The afternoon witnessed an emotionally rich skit titled ‘Infancy of the Lord’ by the Jeppu parishioners, drawing attention to the humble birth and early life of Jesus Christ. The sequence continued with Psalm singing by Ashok Nagar parishioners, who rendered Psalm 56 and Psalm 59, highlighting the plea for mercy and protection amidst adversity.
A dynamic biblical dramatization of the life of Moses was then portrayed by the Cassia parishioners, showcasing themes of faith, leadership, and divine guidance.
The day’s events were smoothly conducted under the lively compering of Brother Joyal Monteiro, while Roshal Fernandes from Bejai served as the master of ceremonies for the final stage programme.
The solemn welcome address was delivered by Fr Ronald Serrao, who extended warm greetings to the dignitaries present:
Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, bishop Emeritus of Mangaluru
Dr Victor George D’Souza, chancellor of the diocese
Fr Daniel Veigas, Episcopal vicar for the religious
John D'Silva, secretary, diocesan Pastoral Council
Sr Shanthi Priya BS, assistant general, Bethany Congregation
Fr Vijay Victor Lobo, parish priest of Kulur, took a moment to express gratitude and honour the generous donors whose support made the event possible.
Fr Maxim D’Souza, parish priest of Jeppu, acknowledged all those who contributed to the grand success of the event, while Fr Bonaventure Nazareth, vicar vara of the Deanery, extended his heartfelt thanks and honored the organizing teams. In a touching gesture, bishop Aloysius Paul D’Souza presented mementos to all those involved in the planning and execution of the day’s programme.
In his address to the gathering, bishop Aloysius commended the depth, creativity, and spirituality of the presentations. He thanked everyone for their dedication and enthusiasm and encouraged all present to continue their journey as ‘Pilgrims of hope’, embodying the values of the Gospel and spreading its light as true disciples of Christ.
The highlight of the evening was the much-anticipated declaration of prizes, announced by Fr Arun Wilson Lobo, principal of Padua College and secretary of the organizing committee. He revealed that the top five parishes would receive a cash prize of Rs 30,000, while the next five parishes would receive Rs 25,000 each.
Best five presentations:
1. St Sebastian Church, Bendur
2. St Dominic Church, Ashok Nagar
3. St Francis Xavier Church, Bejai
4. Our Lady of Miracles Church, Milagres
5. St Vincent Ferrer Church, Valencia
Second best five presentations:
1. St Antony Church, Kulur
2. Our Lady of Fatima Church, Tannirbavi
3. Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church, Urwa
4. St Joseph Church, Jeppu
5. St Rita Church, Cassia
The grand day concluded with a heartfelt hymn to St Joseph, sung with devotion by the Jeppu Parish Choir, bringing the day’s events to a prayerful close.
The third day of the jubilee year programme truly lived up to its theme, as participants and attendees alike were inspired to continue their faith journey as pilgrims of hope, armed with the transforming power of the Gospel.