Udupi: The much awaited inauguration and blessing of the newly built Stella Maris Church, Kalmady will be held on January 6, 2018. It will be ‘Destination Kalmady’ especially for the Catholic Community of the Udupi Diocese and for all the well wishers.
Addressing the media at the Kalmady Church premises on Saturday, December 30, Rev. Fr. Alban D’Souza, the parish priest who has been involved in this new building project, said that it is an enduring legacy for the people of Kalmady. Fr. D’Souza feels that the newly built Church is an architectural marvel and has all the elements of history, mystery and majesty.
Stella Maris Church had a humble beginning way back on February 6, 1972, consequent to the collective wisdom and initiative of a handful of faithful, who until then were parishioners partly of Udupi and partly of Thottam. Capt (Retd) late Rev Fr. Charles D’Souza, a deeply religious person and a philanthropist, was the first officiating priest at Kalmady. It was during the tenure of Fr. Denis Castelino that Stella Maris gained devotional acclaim. This devotion was further animated and enhanced by Fr. Castelino by the installation of the Icon of Our Lady of Vailankanni in 1988. Today, this devotion has grown in leaps and bounds and has reached beyond the boundaries of Udupi. It draws devotees from near and far to pursue their spiritual cause.
For the past 29 years pilgrims have benefited immensely from their visits and constant prayers, in particular through the novenas held every Saturday at the Shrine. The parishioners and the visiting devotees have recorded testimonies of miracles and special favours received from Our Lady of Vailankani. People from all walks of life come to pray in the church.
As a prelude to the inauguration program, the customary HORE KAANIKE PROCESSION will be flagged off at 2.30 pm on Wednesday, January 3, from the Malpe Bus stop junction by Pramod Madhwaraj, Minister for Fisheries, Sports and Youth Empowerment, Government of Karnataka, along with Jerry Vincent Dias, MD, Mandavi Real Estate Developers. The procession will culminate at the church grounds followed by an Inter Religious meet at 4.30 pm.
Bishop of Udupi diocese, Rev. Dr. Gerald Issac Lobo will preside over the Inter Religious Meet. Sri Sri Sri Dr. Vidyavachaspati Vishwa Santhosh Bharathi Sripadaru, Pontiff of Shree Barkur Mahasamshathanam, Rev Fr. Valerian Mendonca, Chancellor of Udupi Diocese and Mohammed Yaseen Malpe, Udupi District Muslim Union President, will be the guests of honour for the meet.
The inauguration of the newly build church will commence at 9 am on January 6, followed by a solemn thanks giving Eucharistic celebration. The following will lead the worship along with the priests and faithful: Rev. Dr. Gerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop of Udupi, Rev. Dr. Aloysius Paul D’Souza, Bishop of Mangaluru, Rev. Dr. Francis Serrao, SJ, Bishop of Shimoga, and Rev. Dr. Robert Miranda, Bishop of Gulbarga.
A feliciation program will follow the Eucharistic celebration. Pramodh Madhwaraj, , Shobha Karandlaje, MP Udupi –Chickmagalur Constituency, Oscar Fernandes, Rajya Sabha Member, Ivan D’Souza MLC & Government Chief Whip in the state legislative council, Govt. of Karnataka, Meenakshi Madhav Bannanje, President, Udupi CMC, Narayan P Kundar, member of Udupi CMC and dignitaries will be present. The formal program will conclude with a fellowship meal.
More than 10,000 devotees are expected to take part in the inauguration function and fellowship meal. On account of the historic church inauguration function, there will be a musical extravaganza ‘Wilfy Nite’ in the evening at 5.30 pm.
Fr Alban D’Souza, the parish priest desires to make this a special event to convey the enduring message of Christmas to find and promote peace, compassion and a sense of community, a chance to feel connected, a chance to feel loved and a chance to feel remembered.
Sanjay Andrade, Vice President of Parish Pastoral Council, Shobha Mendonca, Secretary of Parish Pastoral Council, Louis Lobo Convener of Church Building committee and others were present during the press meet.
