Message of the Parish Priest-Fr. Joswey Fernandes on the eve of the Parish Day

Bellevision Media Network

 

Dear parishioners of Belle,

 

 

First of all on behalf of my  priest colleagues and myself I extend warm greetings on the occasion of the celebration of the Parish Day on 1 November 2010 to commemorate the Centenary of the foundation of the independent parish of Belle dedicated to St. Lawrence on 2 November 1910. The Parish Day will give us an opportunity to give thanks to Almighty God for the gift of the parish with a solemn Thanksgiving Mass and an opportunity to manifest our solidarity and unity as parishioners by partaking in the community meal that would be prepared by the parishioners themselves in association with four reputed caterers of the parish. In this way, besides giving thanks to God we will be showing our gratitude to our forefathers from whom we have received the gift of faith, love and solidarity.

 

When the Centenary Year Celebrations were inaugurated during the Annual Parish Feast in the first week of January 2009, we had chosen as our ideal “Building the Parish Family Unitedly”. In all the programmes that we had undertaken so far and the programmes that we will be undertaking during the remaining part of the Centenary Year, we have been attempting to achieve the ideal of a United Parish Family. As the external symbol of this objective the entire parish community will be joining in offering the Thanksgiving Mass on 1 November 2010 and thereafter will be participating in the community lunch that  has been made possible by a large number of sponsors and volunteers.

 

 

I am happy to inform that in this year of the Centenary celebration we have undertaken a number of spiritual and cultural activities. The parish has enriched itself by the journey of St. Lawrence, the patron saint of this parish through all the 22 wards visiting each and every house of the parish from February to July of this year. This has helped in a great way in the spiritual revival and promotion of unity and cooperation among the families and individuals within each ward.

 

The parishioners of Belle have been of generous disposition and they have been contributing whole heartedly to developmental work in the parish. As lasting memorial to the Centenary Year celebrations we have already started giving a new look to the Cross Hill by leveling the top portion and providing better access to it. Besides this there is a proposal to purchase a vehicle to provide transport facility to the students of the educational institutions, especially for St. Lawrence English Medium School.

 

 

Besides the celebration of the Parish Day on 1 November 2010, there will be other spiritual and cultural programmes chalked out for the rest of the Centenary Year. On 23 and 24 October 2010, Fr. Ronald Serrao, the former Director of Mangala Jyothi and presently Professor in St. Joseph’s Seminary, Mangalore instructed the parish community how it can actively and meaningfully participate in the liturgical services in the church.

 

On 7 November 2010, the ICYM Unit of the parish will be organizing an inter-parish cultural competition in which the neighboring parishes will be participating. From 9 to 19 November 2010 a number of parishioners along with me will be undertaking a pilgrimage to the Holy Land spread over in Israel, Egypt and Jordan. A Retreat will be preached between 12 to 16 December 2010. The Christmas will be celebrated with a renewed spirit and enthusiasm.

 

On 31 December 2010, the parishioners will be participating in the procession in which people will voluntarily bring various consumer items such as vegetables, grains, etc. to the church which will be used for a common meal on 2 January 2011. The Confraternity Sunday will be observed in the morning of 2 January  2011 following which there will be ‘Annasantarpane’ (Common meal) in which all the parishioners and people from neighbouring parishes and also non-Christian brethren of the village will participate.

 

 

On 3 January 2011 ‘Religious Day’ will be observed during which a get-together of all the religious men and women from the parish will be organized. On 4 January 2011 the vespers will be celebrated with great devotion and exhibition of fireworks. On 5 January 2011, the valedictory function of the Centenary Year will be held following the solemn Annual Parish Feast which will be concelebrated by a large number of priests led by  Rt. Rev. Dr. Aloysius D’Souza, Bishop of Mangalore. On the same day in the evening a  public function will be held which will be presided over by Most Rev.Dr.Albert D’Souza, Archbishop of Agra who belongs to our parish.

 

With these above programmes the Centenary Year of the foundation of the Parish of Belle will come to a formal end. However, the spirit of the Centenary Year, that is, the spiritual revival and community bond will linger for years to come.

 

As we celebrate the Centenary Year of the foundation of St. Lawrence Parish, Belle, my thoughts go beyond the parish to all those parishioners of Belle who are working hard in different cities of India, Gulf countries and other parts of the world. Through Bellevision.com, I extend a warm welcome to all the parishioners within India and abroad to make it a point to participate in the Parish Day celebration as well as other Centenary Programmes that will be held in the near future. I earnestly hope that a large number of parishioners will attend the Annual Parish Feast and the closing function of the Centenary Year. Pray that St. Lawrence, our patron saint bless you all and grant you and your families good health and happiness.

 

Fr. Joswey Fernandes,
Parish Priest,
St. Lawrence Parish Belle