Udupi/M’Belle: St. Roque Ward members celebrate the feast of their patron Saint

By Eugene DSouza
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi/M’Belle, 14 Apr 2015: The members of St. Roque First and Second Ward assembled in a small chapel in the remote forest area in Mattar belonging to Belle Parish to celebrate the feast of their patron saint on Tuesday, 14 April 2015 at 4.30 pm. Rev. Fr. Joswey Fernandes, Parish Priest of St. Lawrence Church, Moodubelle along with Rev. Fr. Vincent Fernandes (OFM Cap) of Assisi Nilaya offered the feast mass. In his homily, Rev. Fr. Joswey Fernandes briefly narrated the life, mission and saintliness of St. Roque.

 

Soon after the mass, members of both the wards assembled in front of the chapel for a short programme. Mrs. Meera Lobo welcomed the gathering and compeered the programme. Prizes were distributed to the winners of Crib competition held in December 2014. Spot games were organized and mementos were given to the guests.

 

In his message, Rev. Fr. Joswey Fernandes said that it was a miracle that on short notice the feast mass could be offered at the chapel after a long time. In future the same chapel may develop into a church and parish dedicated to St. Roque.

 

Jerome D’Souza, Gurkar of St. Roque I Ward and Mrs. Helen D’Souza, Gurkarn of St. Roque II Ward had made the arrangements for the mass and get-together of their respective ward members.

 

Sr. Irene Viegas, Superior of Loreto Convent and Mrs. Gladys Rebello, President of Catholic Sabha, Moodubelle Unit were present. Mrs. Helen D’Souza proposed the vote of thanks.

 

 

The land measuring around three acres was granted to Moodubelle parish by the government long ago. It was during the tenure of Rev. Fr. Alexander Lobo a well endowed with sufficient water was dug. Late Salvador D’Souza was the caretaker of the land. He was very keen to have a chapel there and during the tenure of Rev. Fr. Charles Lewis he got the small chapel constructed.

 

About St. Roque:

St. Roque was born at Montpellier in France towards 1295 and died 1327. His father was governor of that city. At his birth St. Roque is said to have been found miraculously marked on the breast with a red cross.

 

Deprived of his parents when about twenty years old, Roque distributed his fortune among the poor, handed over to his uncle the government of Montpellier and in the disguise of a mendicant pilgrim, set out for Italy, but stopped at Aquapendente, which was stricken by the plague and devoted himself to the plague-stricken, curing them with the sign of the cross.

 

Roque next visited Cesena and other neighbouring cities and then Rome. Everywhere the terrible scourge disappeared before his miraculous power. He visited Mantua, Modena, Parma, and other cities with the same results.

 

 At Piacenza, Roque himself was stricken with the plague. He withdrew to a hut in the neighbouring forest, where his wants were supplied by a gentleman named Gothard, who by a miracle learned the place of his retreat. After his recovery Roque returned to France.

 

Arriving at Montpellier and refusing to disclose his identity, he was taken for a spy in the disguise of a pilgrim, and cast into prison by order of the governor,  his own uncle, some writers say,  where five years later he died. The miraculous cross on his breast as well as a document found in his possession helped in his identification. He was accordingly given a public funeral, and numerous miracles attested his sanctity.

 

In 1414, during the Council of Constance, the plague having broken out in that city, the Fathers of the Council ordered public prayers and processions in honour of the saint, and immediately the plague ceased. His relics, according to Wadding, were carried  to Venice in 1485, where they are still venerated.