Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (GA)
Pics - Wilson Shirva
Udupi, May 18: The renovated Saud Mai Old Church of Shirva near here was inaugurated and blessed on Thursday May 17.
The renovated church dedicated to the patronage of Saud Mai (Our Lady of Health) was inaugurated by Jerald Fernandes, member and opposition leader of Udupi ZP. Kaup MLA Lalaji R Mendon was the chief guest on the occasion.
Bishop Aloysius Paul D'Souza of Mangalore blessed the church and offered the first Holy Eucharist in the renovated church.
Parish priest Fr Valerian Pinto, assistant parish priest Fr Edwin Correa and other priests of Shirva deanery as well as from surrounding areas concelebrated the Eucharist.
A small felicitation programme was held after the mass which was presided over by Bishop Aloysius Paul D'Souza of Mangalore. Parish council vice-president Norbert Machado was also present on the occasion. More than 1,500 parishioners participated in this ceremony.
A delicious family meal was served to the entire gathering in the afternoon.
The renovated church is the original church of Shirva. However, after the construction of new church at about one and half kilometres distance, the old church was not used for any worship on regular basis. However, there used to be 3-4 Holy Eucharist celebrated in a year.
During the Padraodo Propaganda controversy, the Catholics loyal to Vatican built a small chapel in about the year 1856 dedicating it to St Francis Xavier. The original church dedicated to Our Lady of Health which was built in about 1750, remained under the jurisdiction of Goa and the church of St Francis Xavier under the Verapoly jurisdiction.
On September 15, 1910 both the parish priests Fr Gregory D’Souza of the original church and Fr Casmir Mathias of St Xavier’s church met together and amalgamated the two parishes. Both the churches were dismantled and the foundation stone for a new church was laid on November 9, 1911. The present new church was blessed by Bishop Paul Perini on February 9, 1915. Fr Gregory D’Souza was the first parish priest of the new church.