Karkala: Christ the King Parish-Karkala Town to celebrate Platinum Jubilee on 23 November

By Eugene DSouza
Bellevision Media Network

Karkal, 16 Nov 2016: Christ the King Parish, Karkala Town will be celebrating Platinum Jubilee of the foundation of the parish on Wednesday, 23 November 2016 which also happens to be the annual parish feast. On this occasion special religious and cultural functions will be organized.  Rev. Fr. Joswey Fernandes, Parish Priest of Christ the King Church along with the Vice President and Secretary of the Parish Pastoral Council-Mrs. Elsie D’Souza and Antony Aranha respectively in association with the Parish Council and parishioners have made elaborate preparations for the grand celebration of the Platinum Jubilee of the parish.

 

    

Fr. Joswey Fernandes                       Mrs. Elsie D’Souza                     Antony Aranha
Parish Priest                                 Vice President PPC                     Secretary PPC

Brief History of  Christ the King Church:

Originally, the region that is presently included in Christ the King Parish, Karkala Town was a part of the extensive St. Lawrence Parish, Attur-Karkala. As the people of this region had dificulties to fulfil thair religious obligation due to long distance, religious services were conducted in the vacant house of late Chevalier S.L. Mathias since 1928.

 

Fr. Salvadore D’Souza, Parish Priest  of Attur,  realising the difficulties of people living in distant regions built chapels to conduct religious services. These included chapels at Naravi (1927), Nellikar (1936), Miyar, Ajekar and Karkala-Town (1940).  The chapel at the Karkala Town was dedicated to Christ the King. On 23 December, 1941, this chapel was canonically erected into an independent parish by Bihsop Victor Fernandes.  Fr. Salvadore  D’Souza became the first Parish Priest of Christ the King Church, Karkala Town. He also continued to be the Parish priest of Attur.

 

Fr. Aloysius J.F. Colaco, Assistant Parish Priest  of Attur was appointed as the first resident Parish Priest of Karkala Town Parish from 1943 to 1948.  Electrification work and cementing the floor of the church was done during the time of Fr. Joseph A. Noronha (1948-1961).

 

Fr Joachim Emmanuel  D’Souza, affectionately known as ‘Monna Padryab’ (1961-1975) constructed the new church, which was blessed by Bishop Basil S. D’Souza and inaugurated by Archbishop Albert V. D’Souza of Calcutta.

 

Under successive Parish priests Christ the King Parish has made progress in various fields. The present church that was constructed way back in 1960s has been renovated. In view of the Platinum Jubilee celebration, Rev. Fr. Joswey Fernandes who took charge as the Parish Priest in 2015 undertook the task of renovating the main altar, building a new office structure, new Grotto and most notably the construction of new façade to the church which looks aesthetic and elelgant. Rev. Fr. Joswey Fernandes had also erected the iconic facade of St. Lawrence Minor Basilica, Attur-Karkala when he was the Parish Priest of the Shrine.

 

 

Platinum Jubilee Programme:

The Platinum Jubilee and the Annual Parish Feast Programmes of Christ the King Parish will begin from the morning of 20 November 2016 and end on the evening of 23 November 2016.

 

Confraternity Sunday, 20 November: The new Groot and the newly erected façade of the church will be inaugurated at 8 am by Rev. Fr. George D’Souza-Rector of St. Lawrence Minor Basilica, Attur-Karkala. At 8.30 am solemn Confraternity Mass will be concelebrated with Rev. Dr. Baptist Menezes-Professor at St. Joseph’s Seminary, Jeppu, Mangalore as the Chief Celebrant.

 

Remebrance of Departed Souls of the Parishioners, Monday, 21 November:  At 7 am, Requiem mass in memory of the departed souls of the parishioners will be concelebrated by Rev. Fr. Ronald D’Souza-Manager of Codilabail Press, Mangalore as the Chief Celebrant.

 

Day of the Religious, Tuesday, 22 November:  At 10 am Holy Mass will be concelebrated with Rev. Dr. Frederick D’Souza-Director of Caritas, New Delhi as the Chief Celebrant. Rev. Fr. Rakesh Mathias CSSR-Parish Priest of Saverapura will deliver the Homily. At 11.30 am get-together of Religious priests and brothers and sisters will be organized. At 6 pm Vespers in preparation of the Annual Parish Feast will be held. Rev. Fr. Vijay D’Souza-Assistant Parish Priest of Attur-Karkala will conduct the liturgy of the Vespers. Stage Programme will be held at 7 pm presided over by Rev. Fr. Vincent D’Souza-Dean of Bela. Prizes will be distributed during the stage programme. This will be followed by cultural programme prsented by the artists from the parish.

 

Platinum Jubilee Programme, Wednesday, 23 November:  Most Rev. Dr. Gerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop of Udupi Diocese who will the Chief Celebrant of the solemn Platinum Jubilee Mass will be welcomed by Rev. Fr. Joswey Fernandes at 9.15 am. Solemn Platinum Jubilee Mass will be concelebrated at 9.30 am. Stage Programme will be held at 11.15 am in the open ground in the premises of the church presided over by Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo. Rev. Dr. Frederick D’Souza- Director of Caritas, New Delhi will inaugurate the programme.  Chief Guests for the programme will include: Rev. Fr. Dolphy Paes (OFM Cap)-Provincial of the Capuchins and Rev. Sr. Cecilia Mendonca BS-Provincial of Bethany Sisters. The stage programme will be followed by vegetarisn lunch.

 

In the evening at 6 pm stage function will be organized in the open ground of the church school. Rev. Msgr. Baptist Menezes-Vicar General of Udupi Diocese will preside over the programme. The Chief Guests for the programme will include: Mr. V. Sunil Kumar-MLA, Karkala, Mr. H. Gopala Bhandary-Ex-MLA, Karkala and Mrs. Anita R. Anchan-President of Karkala Municipal Council. The stage programme will be followed by “Wilson Olivera Nite” including songs, dance and skits.