Udupi: The inauguration ceremony of the newly built Infant Jesus Church, Pilar, Shirva will be held on Tuesday January 2, 2018 at 9.00 am.
According to the press release issued by Fr. Stany Tauro, parish priest of Our Lady of Health Church, Shirva, the inauguration of the new Church will be done by Rev. Dr. Gerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop of Udupi Diocese. Later, the Bishop will offer the first Eucharistic service in the new church in the presence of Rev. Anthony Fernandes, Bishop Emeritus of Bareilly, priests, nuns, and thousands of people – Christians as well as non-Christians.
The newly built Infant Jesus Church, Pilar, Shirva was earlier a part of the Shirva parish. Since 2007, the priests of Salesian Don Bosco were helping the surrounding people in their religious ceremonies. Fr. Stany Tauro, who is the present parish priest of Shirva, felt the need to build a new church for the convenience of the people. His vision has ultimately turned into a reality with the construction of the new church which is spacious enough to comfortably accommodate 800 faithful. In addition, the new church has a presbytery by its side for the priests, and a belfry.
Due to the continuous efforts of the faithful since last two years, along with support from the government, the new church, presbytery and belfry have been completed. Under the leadership and supervision of Fr. Stany Tauro (Parish Priest), Fr. Kiran Nazareth, SDB (Director of Don Bosco Youth Center, Shirva), Wilson D’Souza (vice president PPC), Leena Machado (Secretary PPC), Melwin Aranha (Convener of 18 commissions), and Valreian Machado (Co-ordintor of the Chapel), the church construction work has been completed smoothly.
After the inauguration and blessing ceremony of the Church, a public stage programme will commence at 11.00 am. Eminent local leaders, both religious and secular have assured of their participation.
Rev. Dr. Gerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop of Udupi Diocese, will preside over the function. Rev. Anthony Fernandes, Bishop Emeritus of Bareilly, Mosgr. Dr. Baptist Menezes, Vicar General of Udupi Diocese, Fr. Felix Ferandes, Provincial of Salesian Don Bosco Konkan Goa Province, Fr. Valerian Mendonca, Chancellor Udupi Diocese, Pramod Madhwaraj, Udupi district minister in-charge, Shobha Karandlaje, MP Udupi-Chikkamagaluru, Ivan D’Souza, Chief Whip Karnataka legislative Council, Vinay Kumar Sorake, MLA Kaup, J R Lobo, MLA Mangaluru, David D’Souza, president Mudarangadi Grama Panchayat, Wilson Rodrigues and Shilpa Suvarna, ZP member, and Michal Ramesh D’Souza, TP member, will be present as chief guests of the function.
The stage programme will be followed by a fellowship meal.
