Shirva: Centenary of the Unity of Two Churches Celebrated

By Dr. Eugene DSouza, Moodubelle
Bellevision Media Network

Shirva, 25 September 2010: It was exactly 100 years ago on 15 September 1910 that the two separate churches of Shirva, the one dedicated to Our Lady of Health and the one dedicated to St. Francis Xavier known as Lower Church and Upper Church respectively were unified as one parish under one church dedicated to Our Lady of Health. The celebration of this century of unity by offering a thanksgiving Holy Mass was held on Saturday, 25th September 2010 at 4 pm which was attended by not only Shirva parishioners but also by the people from the neighbouring parishes.

 

It was a colourful gathering with altar servers-both boys and girls in their respective white and red and white and blue dresses waited eagerly outside the church in the portico for the grand celebratory procession with the priests and the Archbishop of Bhopal, Rt. Rev. Dr. Leo Cornelio would begin.

 

Before the entry of the procession in to the church, Mr. Norbert Machado-the Vice President of the Parish pastoral Council welcomed the dignitaries-Archbishop Rt. Rev. Dr. Leo Cornelio, Rt. Rev. Msgr. Denis Moras Prabhu-Vicar general of Mangalore Diocese, Rev. Dr. Baptist Menezes-Episcopal Vicar of Udupi Varado, Rev. Fr. Richard Coelho-former Parish Priest of Shirva and presently the Administrator of Fr. Muller’s Medical College Hospital, Mangalore, priests from the neighbouring parishes and all the parishioners and people from the neighbouring parishes.

 

In a brief introductory note, Mr. Norbert Machado narrated the circumstances that led to the unity between the two churches of Shirva hundred years ago. He said that the Christian faith was alive in the coastal region including Shirva from the beginning of the 16th century. It was during the rule of Rama Venkata Nayaka of Bednore (1586-1630) the Christians who were expert agriculturists took the advatange and built churches. The first church in Shirva was constructed in 1750. In 1815, the church dedicated to Our Lady of Health was constructed at Hale Hithlu near the present temple of Mahalasa Narayani. In 1859 another church dedicated to St. Francis Xavier was raised at the place where the present cemetery of Shirva parish is located.

 

It was a period of differences and conflict between two church authorities known as Padrevadho and Propaganda. There were two Bishops in the Canara region. While the church dedicated to Our Lady of Health was under the control of Padrevadho of Goa, the church dedicated to St. Francis Xavier was under the Propaganda affiliated to the Bishop of Verapoly in Kearala. Thus, the two churches had their own jurisdiction and the division among the Catholics seemed to be unbridgeable.

 

 

Under these circumstances Fr. Gregory D’Souza came as the parish priest of Our Lady of Health Church also known as the Lower Church in 1906. Meanwhile, Fr. Casmir Fernandes became the parish priest of the Church dedicated to St. Francis Xavier also known as the Upper Church. As both these priests were broadminded and felt strongly for the unity of both the churches they attempted to bring about the reconciliation and unity between these two churches as a result of which both the churches were united as one parish dedicated to Our Lady of Health on 15th September 1910. To mark this centenary the thanksgiving solemn Mass was held on Saturday 25th September 2010 at 4pm.

 

Before the commencement of the concelebrated Holy Mass, Rev. Fr. Stany Tauro welcomed Rt. Rev. Dr. Leo Cornelio, the Archbishop of the Bhopal Archdiocese by offering him a jasmine garland and said that as the Bishop of Mangalore, Rt. Rev. Dr. Aloysius D’Souza could not attend the Centenary celebration of the unity of the two churches in Shirva due to ill-health, the Archbishop, Rt. Rev. Dr. Leo Cornelio, a native of Kallianpur who was in Bangalore for a meeting, when contacted readily agreed to participate as the chief celebrant of the thanksgiving Holy Mass. Similarly, Rt.Rev. Msgr. Denis Moras Prabhu-the Vicar General of Mangalore Diocese and Rev. Dr. Baptist Menezes-Episcopal Vicar of Udupi were also welcomed with jasmine garlands.

 

Delivering the Centenary Celebration Homily, Rev. Dr. Baptist Menezes said that history is an important part of the life of every person, every family, every parish and every nation. Thus, Shirva parish as any other parish has a history and that history is that of first separation and later unity between two churches hundred years ago. This unity has to continue in the life of every parishioner and the families. He emphasised that it should be the unity of forgiveness, unity of faith and unity of love.

 

Following the end of the Holy Mass, Rt. Rev. Msgr. Denis Moras Prabhu conveyed the best wishes and blessings from Rt. Rev. Dr. Aloysius D’Souza, Bishop of Mangalore on the occasion of the centenary Celebration of the Unity of the two Church of Shirva and his own best wishes to all the parishioners. Archbishop Rt. Rev. Dr. Leo Cornelio also expressed his happiness to be a part of the centenary Celebrations and conveyed his compliments to all. The Parish priest of Shirva, Rev. Fr. Stany Tauro thanked the Archbishop, Monsignor, Episcopal Vicar, all the priests and the people who had gathered in large number to commemorate the Centenary of the Unity.