Platinum Jubilee Celebrations of Thottam Church Begin in Grand Style

Report by Melka Miyar – pics - Praveen Tauro and Austin Pinto
for Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi/Thottam (GA)

Udupi, Apr 24: The much-awaited platinum jubilee celebrations of St Anne’s Church at Thottam near here began on a grand note on Tuesday April 24 morning.

Parishioners had gathered in the church campus on time with devotion and in anticipation of Bishop Aloysius Paul D'Souza of Mangalore.  As soon as he arrived, he was welcomed by parish priest Fr Louis D'Sa on behalf of the parishioners.

Bishop was escorted to the church on procession with brass band and crackers.  The environment clearly indicated the jubilation and celebration that was in the hearts of the parishioners.

The solemn Eucharistic celebration began at 10 am with Bishop Aloysius Paul D'Souza of Mangalore as the main celebrant.  In his introductory message he congratulated the parishioners for keeping alive the seeds of faith sown by the ancestors 75 years ago and exhorted them to strive towards perfection in spiritual life.  "Be one in the manner of the Trinity and be united ever to build a strong parish where faith and love pervades everything else," he added.

Fr Denis Moraes Prabhu, chancellor of Mangalore diocese, delivered the sermon and called the parishioners to maintain the same unity and also strive to reach out to each other in need and in deed.

The melodious choir under the Alwyn Fernandes Udyavar helped the devotees to participate in the Eucharist in a more meaningful way.

Priests and religious from various parishes of Kallianpur, Udupi deaneries joined Bishop in concelebrating the Eucharist.

It was as if all roads were leading to Thottam as devotees thronged in large numbers to the feet of St Anne and joined the parishioners in thanking God for the bountiful blessings bestowed on them through the intercession of St Anne in the last 75 years.