Rosario edifice - Centenary Finale today, Sunday April 12

mangaloretoday.com

Mangaluru, Apr 12, 2015:  As an integral part of the centenary celebrations,  April 11, 2015 was observed as the ’Parish Day’. A family  celebration prevails in the vicinity of the cathedral today in preparation for the  festivities which started in the evening. The people of the parish from all corners came together to cook a festive traditional meal. The Church was spruced up  from all angles.

 

 

At 4.30 pm in the evening a midst a full strength of parishioners filling the large church,  the evening started with a prayerful Eucharistic mass  with main celebrant Rev. Dr. Ignatius D’Souza, Bishop of Barielly who came all the way to grace the occasion.

It was immediately followed by a stage programme  whose aim was to honour and felicitate the leaders and contributors of the  functions and projects that marked this centenary celebration through one year 2014-15. each and every one who played a role and specially the children and youth who participated in the programmes over the one year  were all given prizes, it was a matter of thoughtful encouragement. Also those who served the parish in many ways day in and day out were specially remembered. People from far and near have made donations in support of the occasion and in order to refurbish the church on a major scale. It was announced that supported by the efforts of the local MLA, the Govt has approved a good amount towards the renovations works of the cathedral recently.

 All concerned expressed that the church must continue to be fruitful for another one hundred years and more by God’s grace. The  evening concluded with all taking part in a festive meal.  Several  personalities including Fr. Denis Moras, MLA J R Lobo, M P Noronha,  Roy Castelino, Fr.J B Crasta PP, priests of the parish, President and Secretary of the Parish Parishad and so on. President of the evening, Bishop of Mangalore Rev Dr Aloysius P D’Souza could not reach in time due to unavoidable reasons.
 
 The grand finale of the  on going  centenary celebrations of Rosario Cathedral,  Mangalore,  will be held on April 12, Sunday.   The 100-year celebration highlights of  completion the present  edufice/building opened in 1915; the parish  is much older with rich history dating back to 1568. It’s location  before 1874  would not have been the same spot as per historians.

In 1799, Canara Christians returned to Mangalore after release from 15 year captivity.  A small church was raised  not far from the British HQ with the help from the British, that church would have under gone several expansions, in 1850 it was declared a Cathedral.  In 1910, under the guidance of Father Henry Buzzoni and Brother Divo, the old church was demolished and the present church edifice was constructed. Paul Perrini, the then Bishop, blessed the church in 1915, but some works were still going on.

This huge church is not only the Centre of the Diocese of Mangalore but also the Bishop’s official seat. Many  annual rituals are held here under the Bishops authority. Deceased Bishops’  are buried here and their tombs are found inside the church around the high alter.  The Konkani Catholics refer to the patroness of the church as ’Ruzar Mai’  derived from ’Mother of the Holy Rosary’,

On April 9 and 10,  solemn masses were celebrated by Mangalore Bishop Rev Dr Aloysius P D’Souza.  On April 10, Friday all religious associated with the Cathedral in the past years were facilitated; i e : Parish Priests, Asst PPs, Headmasters/Principals,  heads of all institutions of the Parish, all  religious who originally hailed from the parish and so on.......... On April 11, the Parish Day is being observed, all lay people who have contributed and served this Cathedral Church will be felicitated after the Holy Eucharust.  The Final Programme is as follows:

April 12, 2015. Sunday :  CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS GRAND FINALE:
Holy Eucharist : 4.30 pm. Main Celebrant : Rev Dr.Aloysius Paul D’Souza, Bishop of Mangalore.

Homily: Rev Dr. Gerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop of Udupi.

Concelebrants:  Bishops: Rev. Lawrence Mukkuzhy (Belthangady), Rev.Peter Machado (Belgaum)),Rev. Robert Miranda (Gulbarga), Rev. Henry D’Souza (Bellary) ,Rev. Francis D’Souza (Shimoga),  Rev. Ignatius D’Souza (Bareilly).

FELICITATIONS, RELEASE of SOUVENIR, SOUND and LIGHT  PROGRAMME:  6. PM:
President : Rev Dr.Aloysius Paul D’Souza, Bishop of Mangalore.

Chief Guests: Rev.Msgr. Denis Moras Prabhu, Vicar General, Rev. Fr. Stanislaus D’Souza S.J. (Jesuit Provincial), Rev. Sr. Mary Susheela AC (Superior General, ACs),  Rev Sr. Doreen D’Souza UFS (Superior General.UFC), Octavia Albuquerque,  Ex MLC,

Guests of Honour: Ramanath Rai, Minister for Forest, Environment & Ecology, Govt Karnataka Minister, U T Khader,  Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Oscar Fernandes MP (RS), Nalin Kumar Kateel MP (DK),  J R Lobo MLA, Ivan D’Souza MLC, Capt.  Ganesh Karnik, MLC, Roy Castelino, President of Konkani Sahitya Academy,  M P Noronha, Secretary, Pastoral Parishad, Diocese of Mangalore.