Udupi/M’Belle: Dream Project-St. Lawrence Parish Community Hall To Be Inaugurated and Blessed on Sunday, 2 December

By Dr. Eugene DSouza
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi/M’Belle, 24 Nov 2018: The dream project of St. Lawrence Parish, Moodubelle,  the ultra-modern, spacious and elegant Community Hall will be inaugurated on Sunday, 2 December 2018 in the presence of two Bishops, priests, religious, parishioners and villagers.

 

 

The inauguration function will precede by a solemn Thanksgiving Mass at 10 am offered by Most Rev. Dr. Gerlad Isaac Lobo, Bishop of Udupi Diocese as the main celebrant along with Most Rev. Dr. Albert D’Souza, Archbishop of Agra and other priests.

 

 

The solemn Thanksgiving Mass will be followed by the Inauguration and Blessing of the new Community Hall by Most Rev. Dr. Gerald Isaac Lobo at 11.30 am. Thereafter, the felicitation function will be held at 11.45 am in the newly inaugurated and blessed hall. 

 

The felicitation fuantion will be presided over by Most Rev. Dr. Albert D’Souza. Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo, Rt. Rev. Msgr. Baptist Menezes-Vicar General, Uudpi Diocese and Shri Lalaji R. Mendon-MLA Kaup Constituency will be the chief guests. The guests of honour list includes Rev. Fr. Valerian Mendonca-Dean of Udupi Varado, Mrs. Priyanka Mary Francis-D.C. Udupi District, Shri Vinay Kumar Sorake-Former MLA, Kaup Constituency, Shri J.R. Lobo-Former MLA, Mangalore South Constituency, Mrs. Ranjani Hegde-President, Belle Grama Panchayat, Shri William Aranha-Businessman and Philanthropist-Qatar, Shri Ronald Sabi D’Souza- Businessman and Philanthropist, Dubai,  Shri Wilfred Menezes- Businessman and Philanthropist, Dubai.

 

 

 

 

Background: 

On the auspicious occasion of the inauguration and blessing of the newly constructed St. Lawrence Community Hall, it is important to recall the background under which the the entire project was visualised and implemented. 

 

Moodubelle has a long history of over a hundred year of catholic Community. With the establishment of a separate parish way back in 1910, the progress of Moodubelle and surrounding regions became possible with the establishment of educational institutions. St. Lawrence Church became the centre of spiritual, educational, economic and social development. 

 

Realising the need of the people for various social functions, a parish hall was constructed in 2000   when Fr. Charles Lewis was the parish priest. However, with changing times and needs of the people, the amenities provided in the existing hall  felt to be inadequate and outdated. Hence, some of the parishioners were compelled to shift the venue of their functions  to other places outside Moodubelle. This caused inconvenience and additional expenditure to the organizers of the functions. Realizing these difficulties, majority of the parishioners felt that a new hall  with more capacity, modern amenities and aesthetic look should be constructed in the church premises. 

 

The proposal for the construction of a new and modern hall  was unanimously approved by the Parish Pastoral Council and the General Body of the Parishioners. Efforts were made to avail the Backward Castes and Minority Department Grants from the Karnataka Government. 

 

Laying of the Foundation Stone: 

The long standing dream of St. Lawrence Parishioners of Moodubelle to have an enlarged parish hall with modern amenities and aesthetic look was set on the right path by laying the foundation stone on Sunday, 13 November 2016 soon after the 7.30 am mass. Rev. Fr. Valerian D’Souza, former Parish Priest and builder of the new church along with Rev. Fr. Clement Mascarenhas, present Parish Priest of Moodubelle conducted the prayer service, blessed the foundation stones and laid these stones in a specially dug pit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alphonse Alva-Vice President of Parish Pastoral Council, Mrs. Latha D’Mello-Secretary, Elias D’Souza-Engineer and builder of the new hall, members of the Parish Pastoral Council and a large number of parishioners were present for the ceremony of the laying of the foundation stone for the new parish hall.

 

Speaking to this reporter, Rev. Fr. Valerian D’Souza briefly narrated the developmental work that has taken place in Moodueblle parish starting from the rebuilding of the church. He pointed out that one by one new projects were undertaken under successive parish priests. During his tenure the new presbytery, bell-tower, St. Lawrence English Medium High School and the retaining wall of the parish orchard were constructed.   A new hall with modern amenities was included in the original master plan of the church premises. He expressed happiness for being a part of the foundation laying ceremony of the new hall and said that people would definitely whole heartedly support such a project. He expressed confidence in Engineer Elias D’Souza who had beautifully completed the work of the renovation of the cemetery. He hoped that Elias D’Souza would complete the task of the construction of the new hall in record time.

 

The entire plan of the new hall was conceptualized and implemented by Elias D’Souza, a well experienced  Engineer who had served for nearly 25 years in Dubai in reputed engineering firm. The construction work of the hall started with right earnest. Under the overall supervision of Fr. Clement Mascarenhas, Fr. Lawrence Cutinha and Vincent Fernandes, the present Vice President of the Parish Pastoral Council, Elias D’Souza executed the engineering work as per the schedule. 

 

Fr. Clement Mascarenhas along with Fr. Lawrence Cutinha and Vincent Fernandes visited each and every house in the parish soliciting donations to this dream project. People came forward to contribute their mite to the project. Besides, one Tulu Drama and State Level Volleyball Tournament were organized to raise funds for the construction of the hall. 

 

With the efforts of all, especially Engineer Elias D’Souza the dream project, the Community Hall is nearing completion and awaiting the grand inauguration and blessing ceremony on 2 December 2018. The Community Hall has emerged as a jewel from the ground. There are to halls in the complex, the main ground hall with a capacity of 1200. The basement hall can host 600 people. The main hall is fully air-conditioned.  According to Elias D’Souza, the entire hall is designed on contemporary concepts. Acoustic sound proof walls, cladding ACP stage, PVC ceiling, modern amenities and aesthetically designed facade  are the chief features  of the newly constructed Community Hall. Besides, the entire open area in front of the hall and landscaping which will be designed and executed later will add to the beauty and majesty of the Community Hall. 

 

About Elias D’Souza:

Elias D’Souza was born on 3 August 1966 as the first among four children, 3 sons one daughter,  of Peter D’Souza and Late Eliza D’Souza at Moodubelle. He has his Primary and Secondary school education in St. Lawrence High School Moodubelle, Pre University in St. Aloysius College,  Mangalore, B.E. in Civil Engineering and M.Tech in Construction Engineering and Management at M.I.T Manipal.

 

 

Soon after acquiring M.Tech. degree, Elias started working Udupi. Realizing that he did not have much future in Udupi, Elias decided to move to Dubai like many other youth from his village. Arriving at Dubai, Elias worked for Al Naboodah Construction company for 20 years, occupying various positions like Estimator, Project Engineer, Project Co-ordinator, Planning Manager, etc. During this period Elias gathered a lot of experience in construction industry. His  dedication to work, innovative thinking and leadership qualities earned him respect and  higher positions in the company. 

 

Besides his professional work, Elias D’Souza devoted much of his free time in social activities. Along with like-minded people from Moodubelle, Elias was instrumental in bringing together Belleans living and working in Dubai and other Emirates under the umbrella of Bellevision (UAE). He served the association as president and held other posts as well at different times. He was also one of the founders of Bellevision.com web-portal and has been its Editor-in-chief since its inception, 15 years ago. After returning to native place, Elias D’Souza joined the Lions Club of Moodubelle. He served the club as the President and a year later was appointed as the Zone Chairman. 

 

Elias D’Souza married  Jacintha Nathalia D’Souza who is lecturer in Commerce at St. Lawrence P U College, Moodubelle. They have been blessed with two daughters who are pursuing their studies. Along with his family, Elias presently resides at Santekatte, Kallianpur. 

 

 Realizing his responsibility towards family, Elias D’Souza gave up his successful career in Dubai and returned to his native place in 2014.  With his vast experience in construction industry in Dubai, Elias decided to continue his profession in native place and started his own firm Civitech-Civil Engineering and Project Management Company. He has being doing various residential, commercial and industrial projects in and around Udupi. Under his supervision the cemetery of  St. Lawrence Parish, Moodubelle was thoroughly renovated. The Community Hall is the major project which Elias D’Souza has succeeded in executing it with excellent professionalism adhering to perfect time schedule. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

St. Lawrence Parish Community Hall awiting inauguration and blessing on Sunday, 2 Decembeer 2018