Mangalore: Centenary Celebrations of Bejai Church Conclude on High Note
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (NM)
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Mangalore, Oct 14: The centenary celebrations of St Francis Xavier's Church, Bejai drew to a close with a grand ceremony at the Church premises here on Sunday October 14.
The celebrations began with the centenary thanksgiving Eucharistic Mass, with bishop of Mangalore Dr Aloysius Paul D'Souza as the main celebrant. He also inaugurated the Adoration Chapel and blessed the new grotto of Mother Mary.
The Mass was followed by a stage programme, where postmaster general of Goa and former parishioner of Bejai Charles Lobo was the chief guest.
Though the bishop was to preside over the programme, he left after the Mass to receive Apolistic Nuncio of India Dr Salvatore Pennacchio who arrived in the city to attend the installation of Udupi diocese to be held on Monday October 15.
Addressing the gathering, Charles Lobo said that 22 years ago, he had been the first parishioner from Bejai Church to get into the civil services. "But even after all these years, not many have tried to get into civil services, but instead opt for banking, IT and other sectors," he lamented, urging the parishioners to get into government jobs and work towards development.
He also recollected the days he spent as parishioner of Bejai church and said that literary people like Micky Max and others who belonged to the Church had helped him to mould his personality.
He also remembered former parish priest Fr Bernard D'Souza, and said that he was the architect of Bejai Church who had brought great changes and development to the parish, including starting a school. "Fr Bernard was a visionary," he said.
In the absence of Bishop Dr Aloysius Paul D'Souza, Bejai Church parish priest Fr Victor Machado presided over the programme and also welcomed the gathering.
In his address, Fr Machado thanked everyone and said that it was because of the support of the donors that such a grand programme could be organized.
He said that to mark the centenary celebrations of the Church, Adoration Chapel and a new grotto of Mother Mary have been built. He urged the parishioners to visit and pray there.
He also spoke of a lady who used to donate some amount from her savings regularly to the Church. 'When I counted her contribution one day, it had reached Rs 50,000. Now when I counted it again recently, it had reached Rs 80,000. It is because of donors like her that we are able to celebrate this special occasion," he said, adding that lady had requested him not to reveal her identity.
Fr Ferdinand Gonsalves, Fr Anil Roshan Lobo, Fr Richard D'Souza, and Charlotte Patrao, secretary of parish council shared the dais
A power presentation detailing the achievements and programmes of Bejai Church over the past 100 years was shown on the occasion.
There was also a musical play depicting the life of St Francis Xavier, the patron saint of the Church.
Former parish priests, assistant priests, vice-presidents, ward gurkars and Church association presidents were honoured on the occasion. Those who have contributed to the Church and parishioners who were achievers in various fields were also felicitated.
Augustine Rodrigues thanked the gathering. A special jubilee song with hundred singers was rendered on the occasion.
On Saturday October 13, tableaux depicting stories from the Bible, Christian culture, Christmas and on Bejai Church was taken from the Circuit House to the Church premises. Over a thousand people had participated.
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