Divine Mercy Church inaugurated at Fatima Retreat House

Divine Mercy Church inaugurated at Fatima Retreat House

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, June 8, 2014: Fatima Retreat House (FRH) at Valencia, run by the Jesuits (SJs) is a well liked and known place even to those just visiting Mangalore. The young, aged, children all have a soft corner for this peaceful, cool and spacious spot  in the middle of a busy hub of education, medical aid and more; once a corner corner of the city it is today buzzing with activity. Without prejudice to religious leanings, language, culture people from far and near make this hallowed place their nest and retreat many a time. Be it a religious pilgrimage, educational conference, or just a visit to good old Mangalore with it’s special delights and ancestors it is one place that is counted upon for solace and shelter with grace.  On June 7  after noon, the new Jesuit  Bishop of Shimoga Dr Francis Serrao, blessed and inaugurated the Divine Mercy Church at Fatima Retreat House, Jeppu Mangalore. The official inauguration was followed by a solemn holy mass led by  Dr Francis Serrao along with Bishop of Mangalore Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza concelebrated by a large number of priests.

In his homily Bishop Francis Serrao highlighted  three special peaks of devotion,  hope and seek  God’s mercy, trust in God without reservations and to be merciful and pardon  fellow men. There was a large congregation in the beutiful spacious church which has no pillars - indeed for Mangalore it is sure to earn many firsts. The effort to raise this church is credited to the many donors from all walks of life world over  and  the Jesuits of Karnataka.

Among the many dignataries and donors present were: former union minister Oscar Fernandes for whom this is a second home.  Karnataka Minister for health and family welfare U T Khadar.  District in-charge minister Ramanath Rai. Bishop Dr Francis Serrao and Provincial of Karnataka Jesuit Province Dr Stany D’Souza appreciated  the resident Jesuits of Fatima Retreat House and blessed blessed. Bishop Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza too conveyed his best wishes and blessings. He said that the church is a second home to Christians and added that those who come to pray at the church would be blessed abundantly. The contractor of the church building, architect Chris Noronha, engineers and electricians workers were felicitated on the occasion. Divine mercy has a special significance for the Catholics of Mangalore and surroundings.

During the last about 65 years, countless Jesuits and other priests too have been based here. At present Fr Eugene Lobo SJ is the director of Fatima Retreat House, he has passed through a glorious innings as a Principal of Colleges, recently serving at the Vatican radio too. Other older Jesuit priests living at FRH are also pioneers and ex-directors like Fr.Eugene and seniors too. Just to name most of them, Fr Lawrence Castelino SJ (Procurator), Fr Stany Miranda SJ, Fr Santosh Kamath SJ (former Director and walking encyclopedia and linguist), Fr Denis Rasquinha SJ (former director), Fr Stany Vas SJ (first PhD in Chemistry from USA - now an active nonagenarian),  Fr Francis D`Souza SJ, and Fr Lawrence Pinto SJ. The collective biographies of these saints can run into a dozen volumes or more, it is left for you to seek and conquer.