Udupi: Our Lady of Health parish, Shirva at threshold of centenary celebrations


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Udupi, 24 Jan 2015: Shirva is also known as Manchakal that the locals knew and also found in the display board of buses. Meanwhile, Shirva is well known in education sphere, banking and government department. It’s lush with farmlands, plantations, jasmine gardens and also abode of peace. It’s significant that Hindu, Muslim and Christians are equal numbers in Shirva.

 

‘Christianity set its foot in Shirva during 1600 AD,’ say the history. It’s believed that Christians who are known to hard work and honesty were fostered by the royals of Bidanoor Nayak. The locals acknowledge that king Venkappa Nayak granted land for Christians to build a church here. A church was built dedicated to Our Lady of Health at Kodi, about 5 kilometres away from Shirva. The devotion to Our Lady of Health thrived among the people of different faith in the locality. Meanwile, a childless devotee from Bunt community was granted the gift of healthy child owing to his unfailing devotion to Our Lady of Health given away a piece of land at Kodi to build a church there. There was one more church at Manettu near Kutyar. It was believed that Tipu Sultan, the ruler of Mysore kingdom issued orders to his soldiers to vandalize the churches because he hated British forces taking stronghold in his kingdom. 

 

There were 2 churches in Shirva by the end of 1800 AD to 1900 AD. It was the result of politicking of 2 bishops who formed 2 groups, one church dedicated to Our Lady of Health existed at Halehitlu and another dedicated to St Francis at the existing cemetery. The parish priests of both the churches along with their flock determined not to join the divisive forces and convinced the authorities to have one only church at Shirva. Fr Gregory and Fr Casmir play key role in this regard. The bishop of that time announced the unification of church at Shirva during 1910.

 

 

The Christian community that was facing hunger, poverty and hardship faced the challenge of demolishing 2 churches and building a new church. They were determined to build a church dedicated to Our Lady of Health, because they had solid faith in Mother Mary who will grant them good health to their families and livestock. They laboured for three-years-and-three-months to build the church using lime, jiggery and laterite stone. The same church is now at the threshold of centenary celebrations. Eleven parish priests have served at the church in 100 years. Among them Monsignor Hilary Gonsalves who served the parish for 38 years and created revolution in education sphere in Shirva and laid foundation for modern Shirva. He fostered communal bonds among people of different faith, caste and creed, established first high school in Shirva, founded Nativity Convent at Pernal, Mudarangady, Pamboor, Kalattoor and Shirva. He was revered by people of different faith, case and creed.  His statue has been laid at Shirva parish hall. Now, Shirva is a fast growing town. There are institutions from nurseries to postgraduate studies under Shirva parish. A total of 2,587 students and 137 teaching staff are at the service here, where mid-day meals facility existed long before the state government launched Akshara Dasoha facility in all schools across Karnataka. Over 1,200 students are availing the facility here. The parish priests Fr Aloysius Rosario, Fr Lawrence Gomes, Fr Valerian Pinto and Fr Richard Coelho all contributed for its growth. The parish has been blessed with vocational calling, wherein hundreds of priests and religious nuns are serving across the nation and worldwide. About hundreds of assistant parish priests also served at Shirva, among them is the Udupi bishop Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo. Fr Stany Tauro is serving as parish priest now.

 

Udupi bishop Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo and state urban and Udupi district-in-charge minister Vinay Kumar Sorake will offer motion for centenary celebrations at Shirva parish here on Monday February 2.

 

Fr Tauro has been successful in retaining the glory of church to its original form despite the modernity. The focus has been laid to provide houses to poor parishioners and also toilet facilities. The education institutions were provided with pure drinking water and also installed CCTV. The parish has been promoting spirituality by organizing retreats, bible quiz, Altar Boy’s day, house visits to parishioners, senior citizens day etc.

 

   

 

 

The centenary celebration Committee headed by Fr Tauro, assistant parish priests Fr Gerald, Fr Wilson and Fr Anil, parish council vice president Wilson, secretary William Machado are striving to make six-day celebrations memorable. The votive procession, free food offerings, glory of Word of God and the celebrations will conclude on Wednesday February 4.

 

Udupi bishop Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo will preside the stage programme.

 

Udupi diocesan vicar general Monsignor Baptist Menezes, Karnataka state home minister K J George, minister Vinay Kumar Sorake, MP Shobha Karandlaje, Rajya Sabha member Oscar Fernadnes, Mangalore south MLA J R Lobo, MLC Ivan D’Souza, Shirva gram panchayat president Hasanabba Shaikh, ZP member Ida Gilbert D’Souza, TP member Krishna Poojary will be the chief guests of the occasion.

 

The retired bishop Dr Anthony Fernandes of Bareily, UP will preside the Religious Day celebrations at Shirva parish here on Friday January 30.

 

Udupi diocesan chancellor Fr Valerian Mendonca will deliver the keynote address.

 

Mangalore diocesan vicar general Monsignor Denis Moras Prabhu, bishop Dr Aloysius P D’Souza will celebrate the Eucharistic celebrations on the occasion.

 

Bishop Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo will deliver the homily.

 

 

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