Mangalore: Kuppepadavu Church Turns Golden - Undertakes Developmental Projects
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (MM)
Mangalore, Apr 27: A small parish comprising 135 families at Kuppepadavu has completed 50 years in the spiritual service of the faithful which has given a great occasion for the church to rejoice. Kuppepadavu has unique features like laterite stone quarries, hills and turns, areca and coconut trees. Moreover, it is a challenging task for anyone to walk from one house to another because of the long distance.
Earlier, the Christian families here were largely depended on agriculture. But now the situation has changed and the parishioners of Kuppepadavu have spread their wings all over the world. The financial condition of the people has also improved in the last few decades. Therefore, the church too has moved from strength to strength in many ways.
Before the church could be built in the year 1958, Kuppepadavu was part of Hospet parish. But the faithful here had to walk about 10 miles to participate in the religious activities. Some elders would travel one day in advance to Hospet and stay there during the night to participate in the mass. During rainy season, their condition was so terrible that they had to face great difficulties to cross rivers and streams. Therefore, the then parish priest of Hospet Fr John Pinto began offering mass in the house of Agnes Moras at Kuppepadavu. Finally, the faithful planned to build a separate church and the dream came true in 1958. This parish, which was dedicated to the patronage to Immaculate Heart of Mary, included some families of Ferar, Hospet and Loretto also.
The parish has gradually developed in the last 50 years with the spiritual support given by Fr John Pinto (founder priest), Fr Abel Coelho (1958-66), Fr Felix Concesso (1966-69), Fr Fredrick Lobo (1969-76), Fr John R Noronha (1976-82), Fr Valerian Frank (1982-85), Fr Peter Lobo (1985-94), Fr John Walter Mendonca (1994-2001) and Fr Assisi Rebello (2001-2008) who served here as parish priests. The parish has played major role in uplifting the parishioners spiritually, economically and academically. The church has helped even non-Christians whenever needed. The parish priests who served here helped the parishioners to build their houses, educate their children etc. ‘Mariagiri Health Centre’ which is located close to the church has been serving the poor and deprived in their needs.
Though the church consists of only 135 families, it has contributed considerable number of priests and nuns for religious service. A total of 16 priests and 9 nuns hailing from this parish have been serving God in various parts of the world. It is worth mentioning that Dr Bernard Moras, archbishop of Bangalore also hails from Kuppepadavu.
The church parish council has decided to celebrate the golden jubilee in a grand manner with a few developmental works. Renovation of the church building and belfry, renovating the houses of poor families, forming a fund for the education of poor students, medical aid fund, distribution of religious books to every family and bringing out a souvenir to commemorate the jubilee are some of the projects which have been undertaken as part of golden jubilee celebrations. Moreover, the church committee has taken a major step to uplift the parishioners spiritually.
The Golden Jubilee celebrations will be held on Sunday April 27 and Monday April 28.