Pics: Meryick D'Silva
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (MD)
Mangaluru, Apr 23: The post-centenary golden jubilee celebrations of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church, Urwa will culminate with a grand event at the Church premises on Friday May 1.
This was announced by Urwa Church parish priest Fr Victor D'Mello at a press meet here on Thursday April 23. He unveiled the invitation on this occasion.
Addressing the media after releasing the invitation, Fr Victor went down the memory lane and said, "Immaculate Conception Church was estblished in 1865. So far 26 parish priests and 39 assistant parish priests have rendered their services in this church. Initially, there were only 75 to 100 families in the parish, but once the Church started developing, the number of families started increasing and in 1912, a few families became part of Bejai Church. In 1939 a few more families joined the Derebail Church and in 1971 some more became part of Ashoknagar Church. Right now, Urwa parish has a total 640 families."
"On April 26, Ashoknagar St Dominic Church members will bring 'Hore Kanike' in a procession from their parish to Urwa. On May 1 at 4:30 pm the newly-built belfry and Lady of Lourdes grotto will be inaugurated and blessed. At 5 pm thanksgiving Eucharist mass will be offered by bishop of Mangaluru Dr Aloysius Paul D'Souza, and homily will be deliviered by bishop of Shivamogga Dr Francis Serrao. At 6:45 pm, the post-centenary golden jubilee finale will be held in which Dr Aloysius Paul D'Souza will preside," he added.
Elias Fernandes, Hilary D'Souza, Jeneview Mathias, Kevin Martis and others were present.