Moodubelle: St. Antony’s Shrine inaugurated and blessed at Kuntalnagar

By Dr. Eugene DSouza, Moodubelle
Bellevision Media Network

Moodubelle, 12 May 2012: The long standing dream of the parish priest of Kuntalnagar, Fr. Jerome Monteiro and the parishioners was fulfilled on Friday, May 11, 2012 when Most Rev. Dr. Aloysius P. D’Souza, Bishop of Mangalore inaugurated the artistically erected Shrine dedicated to St. Antony, the patron saint of Kuntalnagar parish.

 

Prior to the inauguration of the Shrine, Fr. Jerome Monteiro along with the office bearers of the Parish Pastoral Council received the Bishop of Mangalore at the entrance of the church at 4.25 pm. The Bishop, along with Rev. Fr. Frederick Mascarenhas, Dean of the Udupi Deanery and other priests of the Udupi Deanery concelebrated the Mass.

 

 

In his introduction before the Mass, Theodore Mendonca, Secretary of the Parish Pastoral Council said that the parish of Kuntalnagar was fortunate to have threefold celebration on the day: inauguration and blessing of the Shrine dedicated to St. Antony; beginning of the Decennial celebration of the church which will complete ten years on May 17,2013; and the Parish Day.

 

Following the Mass, the parishioners of Kuntalnagar and other devotees of St. Antony from other parishes assembled in front of the Shrine that was inaugurated and blessed by Dr. Aloysius P. D’Souza.

 

Soon after the inauguration and blessing of the Shrine, stage programme was organized in the picturesque compound of the church. The cool evening breeze and the coulourful sky with the sun setting in the western horizon provided an pleasant ambience to the programme.

 

Following the prayer dance, the Bishop, Rev. Fr. Frederick Mascarenhas, Fr. Jerome Monteiro, Valerian Mathais-Vice President of the Parish Pastoral Council and Theodore Mendonca-Secretary occupied the dais.

 

Fr. Jerome Monteiro welcomed the guests and the parishioners and honoured the dignitaries on the dais by offering them jasmine garlands.  

 

In his brief message, Rev. Fr. Frederick Mascarenhas complimented the parish priest and the parishioners of Kuntalnagar for building the beautiful Shrine to St. Antony and elaborated the attributes of their patron saint. Further he said that he has been observing the material and spiritual development of the parish.

 

The donors and sponsors of the Shrine were felicitated by the Bishop by offering them decorated candles. He also honoured Melwyn Noronha who had supervised the construction of the Shrine.

 

As the Bishop would complete 16 years of his service as the Bishop of Mangalore on May 15, 2012, Fr. Jerome Monteiro, on behalf of the parishioners of Kuntalnagar honoured  him by offering him shawl and garland.

 

In his address, the Bishop expressed his gratitude for honouring him on the occasion of his completion of 16 years as the  Bishop of Mangalore. Tracing the development of the parish of Kuntalnagar, the Bishop recalled that when he had inaugurated the church nine years ago, there was barren land and he had made an appeal to the people then that they had constructed a church, but they have to build a parish. He expressed his satisfaction that during the last nine years, the barren hill-top has come to life. Further he said that under the leadership of Fr. Jerome Monteiro two important landmarks have been created: the outdoor Stations of the Cross which he had inaugurated and blessed in February last during Lent and now the erection of the Shrine of St. Antony.  He wished the parishioners well and made an appeal to promote vocations to priesthood and religious life.

 

The stage programme was followed by entertainment programme presented by the youth of the parish.

 

The entire programme was compeered by Alban D’Souza and the vote of thanks was proposed by Valerian Mathias.