Udupi: Newly Renovated Our Lady of Vailankani Pilgrimage Centre Inaugurated
Pics: Sany Digitals, Kalmady
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (VA)
Udupi, Aug 16: Fr Francis Serrao, provincial of Karnataka Jesuit Province, inaugurated the newly renovated ‘Our Lady of Vailankani Pilgrimage Centre’ on Sunday August 15.
Bishop of Mangalore Diocese Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza blessed the occasion. The newly built concrete vault cemetery was also inaugurated by Episcopal Vicar of Udupi Fr Baptist Menezes and blessed by Dr D’Souza.
Our Lady of Assumption Feast Celebrated
The annual feast of Our Lady of Assumption was celebrated with great religious fervour. The Bishop celebrated the festal holy mass, along with the Provincial Fr Francis Serravo, Episcopal Vicar of Udupi Fr Baptist Menezes, and dean of Udupi Denary Fr Mathew Vaz.
Speaking about the noble life and sacrifices of mother of Jesus in his Homily Fr Serrao said that it is because of her blessings we are enjoying freedom today and it is remarkable that we are celebrating the feast of Our Lady of Assumption and our country’s Independence on the same occasion.
The novenas to Our Lady of Vailankani were held at the pilgrimage centre from Friday August 6 to Saturday August 14 on regularly at 4.00 pm. The festal theme was ‘Let thy will be done unto me.’ Capuchin priest Fr Richard Quadros was the preacher for the novena service.
The devotion to Our Lady of Vailankani began since August 15 1988, when the late Bishop Basil D’Souza blessed the statue of Mother Mary at Stella Maris Church, Kalmady, here. Since then the feast of Our Lady of Assumption is celebrated on the Independence Day.
The former priests, Fr Denis Castelino, late Fr Robert Pinto, Fr Ivan D’Mello and Fr Richard Mascarenhas all strived to promote the pilgrimage centre as a significant worship centre of Our Lady of Vailankani in the entire Mangalore diocese.
Fr Maxim Misquith is the present parish priest of Kalmady parish, assisted by parish council vice-president Louis Lobo, secretary Franklin Menezes. The parishioners have contributed remarkably to promote the devotion of Our Lady of Vailankani by improving the infrastructure.
Fr Misquith felicitated Bishop Dr D’Souza for his support and help in developing the pilgrimage centre. All the other priests, sponsors, engineers among others who have extended their support and help to promote the centre were felicitated on the occasion.
As many as 1500 devotes gathered to witness the inaugural ceremony and to celebrate the feast.