Udupi: Thousands attend ‘Anna Santharpane’ in Pangala Parish as part of Centenary Programme

By Alphonse Mendonca
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi/Shankerpura, 16 Dec 2022: On the occasion of the  Centenary Celebration of Pangla (Shankerpura) St. John the Evangelist Parish, which will be celebrated on 20 December 2022, an ‘Anna Santharpane’ (Community Meal) for all the people of Shankerpura and neighbouring villages was organized at Shankerpura Church compound on Thursday 15 December 2022. More than four thousand people participated in the community meal.

 

Earlier, Holy Eucharistic Mass was offered at the St. John Evangelist Church concelebrated by Rev. Fr. Louise D’Sa (Director of the Diocesan Inter Religious Dialogue) along with Rev. Fr. Dr. Rayan D’Souza (Monsignor at Vatican Service, Rome), Rev. Fr. Ferdinand Gonsalves (Parish Priest), Rev. Anil Pinto (Assistant Priest), Rev. Fr. Vijay D’Souza (Asst, Priest) and Rev. Fr. Vivin Noronha (Parishioner).

 

A short ‘Sarva-Dharma-Sammellan’ was organized prior to the ‘anna-Santharpane’ attended by well-known dignitaries namely Rev. F Rev. Fr. Louise D’Sa (Director the Inter-Religious Dialogue), Mr. Abu Baker (VP, Katpadi Gram Panchayat), Mr Ashok Rao (Katpadi Gram Panchayat member), Rev. Fr. Ferdinand Gonsalves (Parish Priest), Rev. Anil Pinto (Assistant Priest), Rev. Fr. Vijay D’Souza (Asst, Priest), Ms. Agnes D’Sa (President-Sarva Dharma Sammellan), Mr. Naveen Ameen, (Secretary, Sarva Dharma Sammellan), Mr. John Rodrigues (VP, Parish Council), Ms, Anitha D’Souza (Secretary, Parish Council) Ms, Seema Margaret D’Souza(President-20-commisions).

 

The brief ‘Sarva Dharma Sammelana’ programme began with a prayer by Pangala choir group followed by welcome speech by Mrs. Agnes D’Sa who accorded a warm welcome to all the dignitaries on the dais. All the prominent guests were offered shawls by prominent personalities of Shankerpura.

 

 

While welcoming the guests on the dais, Fr. Ferdinand Gonsalves narrated in brief how a hundred years ago a small village called Shankerpura was established. He said it was Fr. Gregory D’Souza who was the parish priest of Shirva bought 6.5 acres of the land at Shankerpura to build the church which was mainly forest area. However, it was in 1922, Fr. Basil Peres laid the foundation to the old church on November 22, 1922. Thereafter, steadily the development of the parish began with Primary School, High School and to the level of the Pre-University College. He also highlighted that in the beginning, the farming families and some young men working in the nearby towns for their livelihood. Looking at the pathetic conditions of his parishioners, Fr. Basil Peres (who later became the Bishop of Mangalore Diocese) introduced Jasmine Flowers cultivation. The Jasmine saplings were brought from Bhatkal by some senior parishioners of that time (which is about 100 kms away) by carrying them on their heads and walking the entire distance. This Jasmine cultivation made people self-reliant and today it is earning livelihood for not only Catholics and but all people of Shankerpura.

 

Speaking on the occasion Ashok Rao said that just like how teachers teach students from class one, this parish has been growing steadily and developed by several priests who worked here. He also said that Shankerpura church is very disciplined and the entire area is clean of any papers of plastics. He also said that the through Jasmine flowers the people of Shankerpura have come up hard away and today they are very successful.

 

Abu Baker, another prominent guest said that he was proud to say that Shankerpura has been his Jjanma Bhoomi’, Dharma Bhoomi and Vidhya Bhoomi. The Shankerpura Jasmines have been very famous all over the nation and also all the Gulf countries.

 

In his key address Fr. Louis D’Sa said that only when we live in unity in diversity, we can move forward and that is the foundation of sarva dharma unity. The unity helps has to unite each other, binds us in solidarity and gives us strength to live in harmony and prosperity. We must always stand united and work together for peace and happiness.

 

Fr. Anil Pinto invoked blessings through prayers and Mr. Naveen Ameen proposed he vote of thanks.

 

The ‘anna Santharpane’ was served systematically for over a four thousand people.