News : Fr Kenneth Crasta

Pics: Wilfred Mendonca

Moodbidri, May 27: A memorial for Fr Faustine Corti SJ a missionary was erected at Holy Rosary Church, Alangar. This memorial was reconstructed by using the remains of the old house in which Fr Corti had lived.

Fr Corti would spend few days every month in this house and catechize the local people, of which about 50-60 families still remain. The memorial was blessed by Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, Bishop of Mangaluru and was inaugurated by Fr Stany D’Souza SJ, Jesuit Provincial, Karnataka.

This memorial reminds the great missionary zeal of Fr Corti, which knew no limits. Keeping Naravi as the base, his missionary activities covered the surrounding areas Mudukodi, Perady, Shirthady, Alangar, Arva, Badyar, Venur, Madanthyar, Ujire, Penchar, Nellikar, Vamadapadav etc. He also started the school of St Thomas which today has flourished into a group of educational institutions.

The formal function was presided over by Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, Fr Stany D’Souza, Fr Austin Peres (Vicar-Var Moodbidri Deanary), Fr Basil Vas, Parish Priest Alangar, Fr Kenneth Crasta, Asst Parish Priest Alangar Church, Sri Gerald Lobo, Vice President Alangar Church, Jagadish Adhikari, Vice President Mangalore district BJP, Eshwar Bhat, Sri Mahalingeshwara temple Alangar, Mohammed Ali Abbas, Proprietor Abbas Saw Mills, and B Vishwanatha Purohith, Sri Jagadguru Ayya Swamy Math, Alangar.

The Dignitaries were welcomed Fr Basil Vas. There was a depiction of a scene from the life of Fr Corti, presented by Santhosh Rodrigues and Team, Lourdes Ward. The dignitaries spoke on the importance of living in communal harmony as brothers and sisters for the common good of all. Donors of this memorial and the dignitaries were felicitated during the programme. Gerald Lobo thanked everyone for their support in making this program a success.