Media Release
Bangalore, Nov 3: The much awaited St Peter's Church at Rustham Bagh Layout was finally blessed and inaugurated on October 26.
"This is the day that the Lord has made,we will be glad and rejoice in it" a few words of an English hymn was recalled fondly and gratefully by thousands of devotees assembled at the venue in the church premises.
First Arch Bishop Dr Bernard Moras along with the parish priest Fr J Arokianathan, 24 guest priests, members of different groups in the parish council, altar boys and girls and devotees took out a procession to reach to the new Church and gathered in front of the New Church to bless the New Bell.
Later he ascended up the new staircase into the church and the flock followed him.
Cutting the new church ribbon, the Arch Bishop invited the people to enter into the new church.The church's English choir led by Mangalorean Jerome Mascarenhas sang the entrance hymn solemnly while the Arch Bishop took his place at the Altar with the 24 priests to concelebrate the High Mass.
It was recalled during the Mass on how the people of HAL area, Kodihalli, Murugesh Palya, Koneagrahara, Rustham Bagh, SR Nagar and surrounding areas used to celebrate Sunday Mass, Holy Week, Easter, Monti Festh, Mission Sunday and Christmas at the near by Cheshire Home with the help of the Salesian Fathers of Kristhu Jyothi College,KR Puram, Bangalore and Parish Priests of St Sebastian Church HAL.
Nearly 400 people used to attend Sunday Mass with around 90% of the attendees standing in the corridors.
On seeing the devotees' plight and on the great urgency that arose subsequently, Community Hall was inaugurated in 2002 here in Rustam Bagh.
Thereafter, as usual every Sunday the Mass was celebrated by Fr T V Mathew of Kristu Jyothi College,KR Puram B'lore who also accompanied the committee in collection of donations for the construction of Community Hall to continue the same religious activities there.
From 2002 three priests served the Church until June 16 2008 wih the present priest Fr Arokia Nathan took the charge of this Parish.
During the High Mass on Church inauguration the Arch Bishop blessed the Church building,crucifix and the Eucharistic Altar.
The hallmark of the dedication ceremony was the anointing of the new altar.At the end the main dignitaries including local BJP corporater Reddy were thanked and honoured with mementos.
The release of new souvenira,launching of new website www.stpetersparish.in were other highlights of the day.
Roy D'Cunha the Liturgy Commission Secretary of the Parish was one of the outstanding persons who stood as fortress in organizing the liturgical service on this great day.
At the end the whole ceremony ended with gaiety among the faithful and all were fed with a festival lunch.