Media Release
Udupi, Apr 14: Bishop Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo on Thursday April 14 laid the foundation stone for Infant Jesus Church, Pilar, Shirva, along with Vinay Kumar Sorake, minister for urban development and district in-charge, clergy and parishioners.
Addressing the gathering, Vinay Kumar Sorake said that the offerings and service made to god are always remembered, and that the donors who have donated land and the parishnores who are relentlessly working for the church's development deserve appreciation. "The new church should serve the people through offering prayers to god and rendering service to society," he added.
"Basic facilities are the need of the hour in this part of the district. Katapady to Shirva road will be developed at a cost of Rs 8.5 crore and later it will be developed till Belman. The work is on for Athrady to Bajpe airport road costing Rs 15 crore. Roads will also be developed in Pilar region," he added.
Lauding the Catholic community for its service to society, Sorake said, "Catholic educational institutions have imparted quality education to people and enlightening them. CM Siddaramaiah has allocated Rs 125 crore for the development of the Christian community. The necessary recommendations will be made to the government for the release of the grants for the construction of the new church."
Sorake also said that he will release his grant for the borewell of the new church.
Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo in his presidential address said that the inauguration of the new church will be held in January 2018 during the feast of Infant Jesus. "The construction of the new church should be filled with enthusiasm and supported with prayers," he said.
The bishop gave a call to the faithful to pray for the new church and parishioners during the daily rosary. He appreciated the efforts of the Salesian community in serving Pilar.
Yellur ZP member Shilpa Gangadhar Suvarna, Mudarangadi TP member Michael Ramesh D'Souza, Mudarangadi gram panchayat president David D'Souza, Udupi diocese vicar general Msgr Baptist Menezes, Udupi diocese chancellor Fr Valerian Mendonca, provincial of Salesians of Don Bosco Konkan province Fr Ian Figueiredo, Fr Mark Mathias, Fr Kiran Fernandes, parish pastoral council vice-president Wilson D'Souza, parish pastoral council secretary William Machado, Shirva ZP member Wilson D'Souza, assistant priests of Our Lady of Health Church Shirva Fr Anil Castelino, and others were present.
In a programme after the Eucharistic celebration held at Infant Jesus Chapel, Pilar, the bishop blessed the foundation stone of the new church and offered prayers.
Fr Stany Tauro, parish priest of Our Lady of Health Church, Shirva delivered the keynote address. Valerian Machado, convener of Pilar chapel committee welcomed the gathering, while Fr Simao Fernandes, priest in-charge of Infant Jesus Chapel, Pilar proposed the vote of thanks. Emilda Mathias and Ida D'Souza compered the programme.