Valencia church celebrates platinum jubilee

Valencia church celebrates platinum jubilee

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Jan 27: The platinum jubilee celebrations of St. Vincent Ferrer Church of Valencia, which was established on Jan 9, 1944, were inaugurated on the evening of Jan 26, Tuesday in the church hall. 

Dean of the Episcopal City Varado, Fr. Stany Goveas, hoisted the parish jubilee flag and celebrated the Eucharist, after which the church bells were rung. The parishioners sang the hymn to the patron saint as the bells rang. 

A formal function was conducted after the mass. Fr Stany Goveas and Sr Lenita D’Souza, who has been recently elected as the provincial superior of the Ursuline Franciscan Congregation of Sisters, were the chief guests. While Sr. Lenita unveiled the logo, the choir sang the jubilee anthem under the guidance of Eric Ozerio. 

The 16 ward leaders of the parish brought 16 symbolic bricks, which were blessed by Parish Priest Fr. Bonaventure Nazareth. The bricks were meant to be used as the symbolic foundation stones for the extension of the church. After this programme, Fr. Goveas released the Jubilee Year Programmes and Arun Raj Rodrigues read them. 

Fr. Stany Goveas as well as Sr. Lenita made speeches. Fr. Maxim Rosario welcomed the gathering. Arun Raj proposed the vote of thanks. Patrick D’Souza was the master of ceremonies. A Konkani play called “Ables” was staged by the Mandd Sobhann team. The impressive jubilee choir comprised 75 members and a number of instrumentalists.