Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (RD)

Udupi, May 18: St Vincent De Paul church, located just few furlongs away from Katpady town, set up on May 23, 1948, with 130 families, lies on the threshold of diamond jubilee celebrations.  The church is situated in the pristine surroundings of nearby river on the south, Boliye and Pangala hamlets on the north while Kallapu Bridge lies on the west.  

On this auspicious day Fr Rosario Fernandes offered the Holy Mass in a make-shift church.  However, the joy remained only for few moments after the Bishop issued a decree with-holding the appointment of of priest to the newly-formed church.

The golden era began with the appointment of Fr Norbert D’Mello CSC, clergy of Holy Cross congregation on May 14, 2001.  The church was equipped with wedding hall, new portico, new altar, ceiling to altar, generator facility. Repairs to the existing building gave a new facelift to the church. , Scholarship worth Rs 1 lac to needy students regardless of caste and creed, houses to four deserving poor families have been donated every year since 2003.  Church has extended financial assistance to a cancer patient by collecting blood and money for the treatment.  Parishioner Hilary Pinto, assistant parish priest Fr Aloysius D’Silva and vice-president of parish council Andrew D’Silva, played significant role in this regard.

Fr Ronald Fernandes, who took over as parish priest on July 2, 2007, has shouldered the responsibility of diamond jubilee celebrations, planned to set up ‘health fund’ and ‘education fund’ from the proceeds after meeting the expenses of organizing the diamond jubilee celebrations.  

The parish community led by parish priest Fr Ronald Fernandes, assistant parish priest Fr Norbert including vice-president of parish council Catherine Rodrigues and secretary Theresa Lobo, are putting in their efforts to take the church to greater heights in the future.