Post Centenary Platinum Jubilee of Taccode Church

Mark Cyril Pinto, Taccode
Bellevision Media Network

Taccode, 10 Jan 2013: “The faith you have received from your forefathers has to be handed over to the next generation” were the presidential words of address by Most Rev. Dr. Aloysius Paul D’Souza, the Bishop of Mangalore on Sunday 23-12-2012. He was speaking on the occasion of the Post Centenary Platinum (175 years) Jubilee celebration of the existence of Holy Cross Church, Taccode.

 

Earlier, the Bishop offered the solemn Eucharistic celebration along with many priests, nuns and people. After the Euchuristic celebration all the guests and the chief guests were escorted to the decorated open air ground with the solemn music of brass band, Nasik band, YCS and ICYM volunteers. The school children of Adarsh High School performed a welcome dance on a separate cultural stage to all the guests. When all the guests were invited to occupy the honourable seats on the well decorated stage, the Parish Priest Rev. Dr. Mark Castelino welcomed all the guests. All the guests were welcomed with flower bouquets. The secretary of parish pastoral council Mr. Valerian Moras presented a brief history of 175 years of the existence of the Holy Cross Church and its service to humanity. Then Mr. Abhayachandra Jain, the local MLA and the chief whip of opposition party in Karnataka Government, distributed the individual prizes to the winners of various games and addressed the crowd. He highlighted the selfless and dedicated services of the Churches in various fields especially in health and education in India in general and in Dakshina Kannada district in particular. In this context he highlighted the selfless services of Holy Cross Church to all the people around Taccode, especially in the fields of education by teaching to read and write to the vast mass of humanity at and around Taccode, for more than 130 years.
The prizes for group games of the parishioners were distributed by Mr. Amarnath Shetty, former MLA and Minister of Karnataka Government and said that 175 years of the existence of Taccode Church has established its goodness in the local society by teaching basic human values.

 

 

The Post Centenary Platinum Jubilee souvenir of Holy Cross Church, Taccode, was brought to the stage by the Editor Mr. Mark Cyril Pinto and it was released by the Parish Priest Rev. Dr. Mark Castelino in the presence of all the guests.The past and the present parish priests were honoured by the Bishop on this special occasion of Post Centenary Platinum Jubilee Celebration for their selfess service to the Holy Cross Church, Taccode. While speaking on behalf of the honoured parish priests, the senior most existing Parish Priest Rev. Fr. Clifford D’Souza said that the people of Taccode had received faith more than 175 years back and it needs to be continued to be handed over to the next generation and there is an urgency of fostering vocations at Taccode. The vicar forane of Moodbidri Varado Rev.Fr.Austin Peres honoured the past and the present vice presidents and secretaries of parish pastoral council of Taccode and in his address he acclaimed the pastoral and missionary work of 42 Parish Priests at Taccode. He also congratulated the Taccode Church in taking the lead to give birth to new Churches at Shirthady, Venur and Gantalkatte. He also rendered praise worthy words to the Taccode Parish Priests for spreading the pastoral service up to Moodbidri, Alangar, Siddakatte, Belthangady, Karkal and up to the border of Mangalore-Milagres since no Churches existed between Mangalore-Milagrese and Taccode hundred years back.

 

The former Gurkars of the Taccode Church were honoured by Mrs. Flavia Mendes, the member of Hosabettu Grama Panchayath; and Mr. Chandrahasa Sanil, the President of Hosabettu Grama Panchayat, honoured the existing Gurkars of Holy Cross Church, Taccode. The overall championship was given by the Bishop.Mr. John Rego, the vice president of the Parish Pastoral Council gave vote of
thanks. Rev. Fr. Stany B. Lobo said the grace before the meals and the Parish Priest Rev. Dr. Mark Castelino invited all to participate in the fellowship meal. A magnanimous fireworks was the centre of attraction starting from the commencement of the programme till the end.

 

Mr. Lynel Rego, from Rambail, and Miss Jenitha D’Costa, from Arambody, conducted the whole programme as Master of Ceremonies. Mr. Rolson Cardoza, the president of ICYM, displayed various photographs of different competitions held on 18 &25 November 2012 on LCD during the meals. Mr. Praveen Pereira, from Kakkebettu, was the M.C. for the cultural programme, which included magic show, dances, etc. At the end a konkani play ‘Melya Upraanth’ was staged by Mand Sobhan.