Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore (SB)
Bangalore, Sep 19: The dream project of Bangalore Archdiocese Dr Bernard Moras, the Archdiocesan pastoral centre, ”Paalana Bhavana” was inaugurated with much fanfare at the annexes of the Archbishop’s residence here on Friday September 17 to coincide with the sixth anniversary of his Episcopacy.
The majestic edifice with four storeys that can house under one roof the offices of all the seventeen commissions of the Archdiocese apart from several pious organizations, Lay Apostolate Archdiocesan periodical TABOR etc, has a beautiful chapel to accommodate 150 faithful and three conference halls to house 200 people with six board rooms, many office rooms and several other facilities including modern day gadgets of communication network, computers with Internet facility etc.
The Archbishop joined by his two vicar generals and Fr Paul Puthanangady, vicar for religious, Msgr C Francis and Msgr S Jayanathan along with hundreds of religious priests and nuns and laity blessed all the floors of the building by sprinkling holy water. Finally he blessed the stone tablet of the Paalana Bhavana and declared it open at 10.30 am. He dedicated the Bhavan to all the Christians in the state and to the country and said that it is for the greater glory of God.
Thereafter a solemn High Mass joined by all the priests, nuns dignitaries and laity was concelebrated during which the Archbishop concelebrated the altar and blessed the entire chapel. In his homily the Archbishop thanked god Almighty for making his dream come true and said that he was happy that all the wings of the Archdiocese could now function under a single roof.
After the mass a felicitation function was arranged in the adjoining conference hall. Msgr Jayanathan in his address mentioned that the chief promoter, architect and motivator of the Bhavan was Dr Bernard Moras to which the entire audience applauded. Thereafter he made a power point presentation which explained in detail the various floors, their purpose and the myriad facilities that the Bhavan would provide not only to the Archdiocese commissions but to the entire Christian community of the Archdiocese.
Later all those who were involved in building the Bhavana were felicitated by the Archbishop with shawls, garlands and momentos. Msgr Paul Puthanangady, the Episcopal vicar praised the project as a gift of the lord to the Archdiocese and hailed the industriousness, the dexterity and the commitment of the Archbishop to the people of the Archdiocese in raising such a huge landmark.
He also congratulated the Archbishop and honoured him by draping a shawl and garlanding him as a token of love and affection. Later the Archbishop felicitated all the three Monsignors. Regarding the Paalana Bhavan the Archbishop stressed the necessity of one such structure to bring all the commissions under one roof and also to provide facilities to other Archdiocesan bodies and organizations. He reminded that the foundation was laid on September 17 2005 and it took full five years to complete construction.
He profusely thanked God Almighty and all those who collaborated with him in seeing the Bhavan’s completion and the fruitions of his labour.
Fr Devadass proposed the vote of thanks while Fr Cyril Victor compered.