Stella Maris Church to Celebrate Golden Jubilee on 15 August

Media Release
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 05 Aug 2022 Stella Maris Church, Kalmady is a place well known to devotees of Coastal Karnataka and visited by people of all religions. The church located on the right of the Malpe - Thirthahalli National Highway is just 3 km away from the National Highway 66 (Karavali Bye-pass).

 

 Church being very close to the Arabian Sea the name of the church ‘Stella Maris’ meaning ‘Star of the Sea’ is apt. Stella Maris church was built in the year 1972 and inaugurated on 1972, by then Bishop of Mangalore Rt Rev. Dr Basil D’Souza. Prior to that, the people of Kalmady had to visit St Anne’s Church, Thottam or Mother of Sorrows Church, Udupi for their spiritual needs. With the efforts of Fr Charles D’Souza, the church was constructed in Kalmady.

 

 

Fr Charles D’Souza, a native of Kalmady, bought land for the church. Fr Charles was ordained by Pope John Paul VI. With the combined efforts of Fr Charles and faithful of Kalmady, a new church was built and it was blessed and inaugurated on February 5, 1972. But the church was under Udupi parish. Priests of Udupi and Kallianpur parish used to come to conduct Eucharistic Mass on Sunday.

 

Fr Denis Castelino was the first resident priest of Kalmady, took charge in 1987. In 1991, Bishop of Mangalore declared Stella Maris Church, Kalmady as a independent parish. Fr Robert Pinto who came after Fr Denis also strived hard to develop the church. After him, Fr Ivan D’Mello took charge and during his tenure he purchased a land for the church adjoining the existing church property.

 

For some years the parish was in hands of Jesuit priests. With many developmental works the Jesuit priests took the church to new heights. Some of the developmental works are construction of much needed cemetery, Grotto for our Lady of Vailankanni etc: Fr Richard Mascarenhas, Fr Joseph D’souza, Fr Maxim Misquith were the Jesuit Priests who served in the church.

 

In June, 2012, Fr Alban D’Souza took charge as parish priest. Inspired by the Noah’s Ark, Fr Alban D’Souza started to construct a new building of Stella Maris Church in Kalmady, in the shape of a boat and also has a bell tower in the shape of a lighthouse.

 

The unique architectural masterpiece was inaugurated in a grand ceremony on January 6, in the presence of Rt Rev. Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop of Udupi, Rt Rev. Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, Bishop of Mangaluru, Rt Rev. Dr Francis Serrao SJ, Bishop of Shivamogga and Rt Rev. Dr Robert Miranda, Bishop of Gulbarga.

 

On July 5th, 2021, Rev Fr Alban D’Souza was transferred to St Lawrence Minor Basilica at Attur, as a Rector of the Minor Basilica and Rev Fr Baptist Menezes took charge as the Parish Priest and Rev Fr Roy Lobo as the Asst Parish Priest.

 

The Stella Maris Church Kalmady is celebrating its Golden Jubilee of its existing (1972-2022), on 15th, August 2022, with the motto ’Golden remembrance of faith: Mother Mary inspires’.

 

The details of the programme are in the invitation and Handbill.

 

Dedication and Proclamation of Our Lady of Vailankanni Centre as Diocesan Shrine:

 

The Our Lady of Vailankanni centre at Kalmady, is very famous worldwide. The Statue of Our Lady of Vailankanni was brought in procession from Udupi church on August 15, 1988. The statue was donated by Rev. Fr Wilson D’Souza, and was brought from Vailankanni Shrine, Tamil Nadu.

 

The then Mangalore Bishop Rt Rev Dr Basil D’Souza installed the statue at Kalmady on August 15, 1988. After the installation, to this day many miracles have happened at the Centre.

 

From a chapel to its present status the Centre has come a long way. The priests who served here and the parishioners are the main reason why this place is famous today.

 

The Our Lady of Vailankanni Centre at Kalmady will be officially declared as Udupi Diocesan Shrine on 15th August 2022.

 

The Proclamation and Dedication of Our Lady of Vailankanni center as Diocesan Shrine will take place on 15th August 2022 commencing from 10.00am during the Solemn Thanks giving Eucharistic con-celebration by:

Most Rev. Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop of Udupi

Most Rev. Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, Bishop of Mangalore

Most Rev. Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, Emeritus Bishop of Mangalore

Most Rev. Dr Francis Serrao, SJ, Bishop of Shimoga

Most Rev. Dr Robert Miranda, Bishop of Gulbarga

Most Rev. Dr Henry D’Souza, Bishop of Bellary

Most Rev. Dr Lawrence Mukkuzhy, Bishop of Belthangady

Most Rev. Dr Geevarghese Makarios Kalayil, Bishop of Puttur

 

The details are available in the invitation and handbills

 

      Rev Fr. Baptist Menezes

      Parish Priest

      Stella Maris Church, Kalmady