Journey with St. Lawrence to the wards of Moodubelle Parish

Report and Pictures by Dr. Eugene D’Souza, Moodubelle

Moodubelle, 02 March 2010: As an integral part of the Centenary Celebrations of St. Lawrence Parish, Moodubelle, the pilgrim statue of St. Lawrence has been on a spiritual journey to different Wards of the parish. This spiritual journey was inaugurated on Sunday, 21st February 2010 with a grand procession of about 150 parishioners to Fatima Ward. During the week this statue has been making rounds to different homes in the Fatima Ward.

On this occasion along with St. Lawrence, Bellevision will make its journey to all the 22 Wards of the parish and endeavour to give information about each of the Wards, its office bearers, the men and women who have dedicated themselves to the service of God and church, various activities during the week that the statue of St. Lawrence was venerated in the Ward, etc.

1.     Fatima Ward:

The patroness of this Ward is Our Lady of Fatima. She has been also referred as Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima. The title ‘Our Lady of Fatima’ has been given to the Blessed Virgin Mary with respect to her reported apparitions to three shepherd children at Fatima in Portugal on the 13th day of six consecutive months in 1917, starting on May 13. The three children were Lucia Santos and her cousins Jacinta and Francisco Marto. The events at Fatima gained particular fame due to their elements of prophecy with regard to possible world war and the conversion of Russia. The reported apparitions at Fatima were officially declared ‘worthy of belief’ by the Catholic Church.

The Fatima Ward comprises of Padubettu and Orwadi regions and has only 16 houses. The coordinator (Gurkar) of this Ward is Mr. Henry Fernandes who is also the Vice President of the Parish Pastoral council. He is also a member of the Kodibettu Grama Panchayat. The other two Ward representatives are: Mr. Godwin Prashant Mathias and Mrs. Reshma Lobo.

Sr. Maria Louisa and Sr. Juliet Castelino

Mr. Henry Fernandes (Gurkar and Vice President of Parish Council)

Mr. Godwin Mathias and Mrs. Reshma Lobo (Representatives)

There have been two vocations from the Fatima Ward. Sr. Juliet Castelino, daughter of Casmir and Cecil Castelino has joined the Bethany Convent. She has done Bachelor in Ayurveda Medicine (BAM) course and is presently in Vamanjoor. Sr. Maria Louisa, daughter of Gabriel and Celestine D’Souza is a member of the Sisters of Charity Congregation and is presently works as a teacher at Arehalli Belur in Hassan District.

Since Sunday, 21st February 2010, the pilgrim statue of St. Lawrence was making its rounds in the Fatima Ward. 

According to Mr. Henry Fernandes to whichever home the statue was taken prayers were offered for the welfare of all the persons of the family those present and also who are abroad followed by the novena prayer and hymns.  During the last week on Tuesday and Wednesday, Fr. Joswey Fernandes visited each and every home in the Ward and conducted the blessing of the houses. On Thursday, 24th February 2010, Fr. Paul Sequeira offered Mass for the benefit of the sick and the elderly of the Ward who are otherwise have not been able to go to the church.

On Sunday, 28th February 2010, the last day of the presence of the statue of St. Lawrence in the Ward, the Ward Day (Vadyacho Dhees) was celebrated at around 12 noon. All the members of the Ward assembled in the house of Mr. Henry Fernandes. Fr. Joswey, Fr. Paul, Fr. Maxim and Sisters from the Bethany Convent were also present for the occasion.

Following the prayers conducted by Fr. Joswey Fernandes in front of the Statue of St. Lawrence decked in flowers, Mr. Henry Fernandes welcomed the gathering and conducted few quiz and lucky games. Fr. Joswey presented prizes to the winners and on behalf of the church gave to each family a Rosary emphasising the fact that in the Centenary year of the Moodubelle parish there should be an increased devotion to Rosary and the need to grow spiritually. He also stressed on the importance of family prayers. Fr. Paul appreciated the work done by Mr. Henry Fernandes and the representatives-Mr.  Godwin Mathias and Mrs. Reshma Lobo. Fr. Maxim recited the prayers before meal following which all the guests and Ward members were served lunch.

In the evening at around 5pm, the pilgrim statue of St. Lawrence was taken into procession by the Fatima Ward members and was handed over to the members of the neighbouring St. John the Baptist I ward, who in turn have taken the statue to the residence of the Gurkarn of the Ward, Mrs. Theresa Lobo from where it will be taken to other homes during this week.