Journey With St. Lawrence to the Wards of Moodubelle Parish-VI

Report by Dr. Eugene Dsouza, Moodubelle
Pictures by Anil Alva
Bellevision Media Network

6. Christ the King (Jesu Rai) Ward

Moodubelle, 14 April 2010:

Christ the King: Christ the King is the title of Jesus based on several passages of Scripture such as ‘King Eternal’, ‘King of Israel’, ‘King of the Jews’, ‘King of Kings’, ‘King of the Ages’ and ‘Ruler of the Kings of the Earth’. The title,  ‘Christ the King’ is generally used by all Christians. The feast of Christ the King is celebrated on the last Sunday of the liturgical year prior to the First Sunday of Advent, the earliest date of which is 27th November. Thus, the feast of Christ the King falls between 20 and 26 November. Originally, prior to the Vatican II Council, the feast used to be celebrated on the last Sunday of October before All Saints Day. The Catholics and many Protestant denominations including Anglicans, Presbyterians, Lutherans and Methodists celebrate the feast of Christ the King.

The ideological movement of Christ’s Kingship was addressed in the encyclical ‘Quas Prima’ of  Pope Pius XI, published in 1925. This encyclical has been called "possibly one of the most misunderstood and ignored encyclicals of all time."  The Pope’s encyclical quotes with approval Cyril of Alexandria, noting that the Kingship of Jesus is not obtained by violence: He says, “Christ has dominion over all creatures, a dominion not seized by violence nor usurped, but his by essence and by nature." Pope Pius XI instituted the feast of Christ the King in 1925 to remind Christians that their allegiance was to their spiritual ruler in heaven as opposed to earthly supremacy, which was claimed by Benito Mussolini, the then dictator of Italy.

In 1969, Pope Paul VI gave the celebration a new title: “Our Lord Jesus Christ King of the Universe”. He also gave it a new date: the last Sunday in the liturgical year, before a new year begins with the First Sunday in Advent.

The present Pope Benedict XVI has remarked that Christ’s Kingship is not based on ‘human power’ but on loving and serving others. The perfect exemplar of that acceptance, he pointed out, is the Virgin Mary. Her humble and unconditional acceptance of God’s will in her life, the Pope noted, was the reason that "God exalted her over all other creatures, and Christ crowned her Queen of heaven and earth."

About the Ward: Christ the King Ward is comprised of Teacher’s Colony, Madikettu and part of Thirlapalke. Its boundary towards the south is the Moodubelle-Udupi Main Road, north-Holy Family Ward, St. Isidore Ward to the west and the lower side of the Belle Village Panchayat Office in the east. There are 33 houses in the Ward.

Jacintha Lobo(gurkarn)

Lilly Quadros & Voilet Fernandes 

Mrs. Jacinta Lobo of Goan Villa is the Gurkarn of the Christ the King Ward. She has been the member of the Parish Council. Formerly, Mrs. Jacinta had been the Charter member of the Lions Club, Moodubelle and had served as its Secretary and Treasurer. Mrs. Jacinta is being assisted in the service of the Ward by two able representatives, Mrs. Lilly Quadros and Mrs. Violet Fernandes.

Sr.Maurice A.C & Sr.Florine Lobo.F.M.M.

Sr.Juliana Mathias A.C & Sr.Gretta D’Souza 

Bro.Apoli D’Souza
 

The Christ the King Ward has been quite fertile in terms of vocations to religious orders.  Sr. Maurice (A.C.) the daughter of late Joseph Castelino and  Lilly Castelino of Madikettu was teaching in Mysore and is  presently a visiting superior of prayer ministry. Sr. Gretta D’Souza (Ursuline Sisters), the daughter of late Joseph and Angeline D’Souza is presently serving in Nagaland. Bro. Apoli D’Souza, brother of Sr. Gretta is a member of the Congregation of St. Gabriel Brothers at Calangute, Goa. Sr. Florine Lobo (F.M.M.) is the sister of Mr. Elias Lobo. Presently she is the Provincial of Bangalore Province. Sr.Juliana Mathias (A.C.), daughter of late Casmir and late Seraphin Martis is at Vijaya Mari Convent, Konchady, Mangalore.

Emmanuel Cornelo

Lilly Lobo & Pracilla Lobo

Baptist Miranda & Hilda Miranda

There are a number of teachers who reside in the Christ the King Ward as a part of the Ward is known as the Teachers’ Colony. The teachers include: Mr. John Baptist Miranda, who retired as the Principal of St. Mary’s Junior College, Shirva, his wife-Mrs. Hilda Aranha, Mrs. Pricilla Lobo, Mrs. Lilly Lobo, Mr. Emmanuel Cornelio (Retired PT Master). Mr. Roshan Joy Martis, son of Robert and Jacinta Martis is a Senior Researcher doing Ph.D. in the School of Medical Science and Technology at the Indian Institute of Technology at Kharagpur in West Bengal. Mr. Edward D’Almeida is studying for engineering in the Regional Engineering College, Suratkal.

Johnson Miranda & Roshan Joy Martis

Mr.A.G.D’Souza & Simon DSouza

Besides these teachers and students, there are also eminent persons in the Christ the King Ward who have made a mark in various fields such as: Andrew Gilbert D’Souza, member of the Belle Grama Panchayat and a reputed building contractor, his brother-Mr. Simon D’Souza is the present President of Bellevision-Muscat, Mr. Elias Lobo was the former President of Lions Club, Moodubelle. Mr. Philip Castelino, son of late Joseph Castelino and Lilly Castelino had been working in higher position in the American Carrier Company and is presently residing in the United States. Mr. Johnson Miranda is one of the chief Correspondents of Bellevision.com

Visit of St. Lawrence to the Ward: On 4th April 2010, Easter Sunday, the statue of St. Lawrence was brought in  procession by the members of St. Thomas Ward I in the evening at around 5pm and was handed over to the members of the Christ the King (Jesu Rai) Ward led by Gurkarn Mrs. Jacinta Lobo. Fr. Joswey Fernandes, the Parish Priest of Moodubelle was present at this occasion who conducted prayer service at the residence of Mrs. Jacinta Lobo.  Thereafter, during the week, the statue of St. Lawrence was taken to different houses of the Ward and prayers were recited and hymns were sung. Mass for the sick and elderly people was also offered, confessions were heard and Holy Communion was given to the sick and elderly. Fr. Joswey conducted the blessings of the houses on different days.

 

The valedictory function of the visit of St. Lawrence to the Christ the King Ward was organised on Sunday, 11th April 2010 at the residence of Mr. Peter Paul and Mrs. Pricilla Lobo. The priests of the parish and sister of the Loreto Convent were present for the programme. Dr. Norbert Lobo, brother of Mr. Peter Paul Lobo and lecturer in St. Aloysius College, Mangalore who attended the programme as a guest welcomed the gathering. Mrs. Lilly Lobo conducted the programme and Mr. A.G. D’Souza proposed the vote of thanks. For entertainment, housie game was organised.

Later, the statue of St. Lawrence was given a warn send off to Mother Theresa Ward.