Udupi: Newly-built Christ Church, Manipal all set to inaugurate on December 5

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Udupi: The newly built Christ Church at Manipal is all set for inauguration on December 5

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The name ‘Manipal’ is derived from the word ‘Mannu’ and ‘Palla’ which means ‘mud’ and ‘lake’ in the Tulu language. This lake, to which Manipal owes its name, is place of pride for the people in this university town. The city, which was once a barren hill with few trees, came into the limelight in the 1950s, when Dr TMA Pai, a doctor, banker, educator, industrialist and philanthropist, transformed this barren hillock into a world-famous university town. The place also has religious significance as it is very close to Udupi. Udupi has been a very imperative pilgrim spot in India and is noted for the wide array of temples and churches. The history of Manipal Christ Church goes back to the history of Christianity in this part of the region. The Church of Nossa Senhora de Milagres, now popularly called the Milagres Church of Kallianpur, reveals the history of Christianity in Udupi district today. The church, built with the help of the local queen, gradually grew to accommodate more and more Christians in and around Udupi and Manipal.

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Today, Manipal is known globally and has become the abode of an international community. With the opening of the Kasturba Medical College in 1953, a few Catholic students arrived here. Later, when the Engineering College came up, the number of Catholic students increased. They had to travel to Udupi to attend Sunday Service and to fulfill their religious needs. Most of them were non-Konkani speaking people and the service in Udupi Church was in Konkani. It was Fr Sylvester D’Souza, the then Chaplain of St Cecily’s Convent, who realized the need of religious services in English. When he approached Dr TMA Pai with this problem, permission was granted to him to conduct the Holy Eucharistic Service on Sundays and other days of obligation in the Kannada Primary School, Manipal. Such a service was celebrated for the first time on 12th July, 1959. Thus, the Catholic Community of Manipal came into existence officially on that day.

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Within a year, there arose the need for a church in Manipal. Fr Sylvester moved from pillar to post to get some land at a convenient distance from the centre of Manipal. Late R M Andrade, Convent View, Udupi was generous enough to donate 12 cents of land opposite to the English Primary School, Manipal to build the church. Even the foundation stone was laid at this site. But due to certain difficulties, an alternate site had to be obtained. Overcoming all hurdles, he finally managed to get the present site of Christ Church, a two acre plot, from the Government of Karnataka.

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The plans for the construction of a church were finalized, and on Palm Sunday, 22-3-1964, the foundation stone was laid. Hoping for co-operation and liberal donations from the student community, their parents and well wishers from in and around Manipal and with trust in providence, Fr Sylvester went ahead with the construction.

Through the mediation of John, Sripapthy Acharya of Bharath Construction Udupi agreed to complete the church building without any advance payment. Without their help, the building of Christ Church would not have been a reality.

The church was inaugurated on 17th January 1967 by late Cardinal Valerian Gracias, Archbishop of Bombay. The church was ready but the presbytery had to be built. This work was also undertaken by Fr Sylvester. The building with six rooms and a kitchen came up soon. Finally, from 1st May 1968, Fr Sylvester took residence in Manipal.

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Fr Sylvester now dreamt of a Youth Centre for various activities for the youth of Manipal. With a donation from the Propagation of Faith, the foundation stone of the Youth Centre was laid on 11th January, 1970. With the amount available and personal loans, Fr Sylvester could complete the first phase of the Youth Centre Building.

In the meantime, the work of improving the two acre plot was undertaken at a considerable cost. Just at this juncture, at the invitation of the parents and the old boys of Manipal, from Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei, Fr Sylvester went on a three month tour. On his return, the second phase of the Youth Centre Building was completed in December 1978. The Youth Centre was formally inaugurated on 3rd December 1978 by His Grace Tan Sri Dominic Vendargon, former Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Fr Sylvester was transferred from Manipal on 26th May 1979 and Fr Stany Tauro came to Manipal as the next parish priest. Fr Stany happened to be an ideal person in the midst of the youth of Manipal. He revived the Youth Centre.

Fr John Mendonca took charge of this parish as the parish priest on 14th May 1983, on Fr Stany’s transfer to Fr Muller Hospital as Asst. Director. Fr John built the community with diverse socio-spiritual activities. It was during the tenure of Fr John that the Christ Church completed the Silver Chapter.

Fr Walter D’Mello took over from Fr John in the year 1987. The Parochial House and the Universal Counseling Centre is the result of his hard work. Fr Harold Mascarenhas succeeded Fr Walter in 1994. He dreamt of an English Medium School and made a small beginning. The Youth Centre swelled with students. Fr Joseph Cardoza then took charge from Fr Harold in the year 2001. Fr Joseph, a trained counselor, revived the Universal Counseling Centre. Christ School, an English medium school under the State Board, also came into existence.

Fr Francis Lewis succeeded Fr Joseph in the year 2008. The whole campus was given a new outlook. Christ School was upgraded from State Board to Central Board. The infrastructure of the school gave a new look. An Adoration Chapel was built to help people to spend more time with the Lord.

The Church was now renovated to accommodate more people. Due to the increasing number of parishioners in the community, the church faced constraint of space especially during the Sunday congregation. Thus, a need for a bigger church was felt by the parish council and the parishioners. The Foundation stone for this new church was laid by the Bishop of Udupi on November 13, 2014. In a record time of less than a year, the church was built. The new church is now ready for inauguration.

On December 5, at 5 pm, Bishop of Udupi Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo and Bishop of Shivamogga Dr Francis Serrao will take part in the inauguration, blessing and Holy Eucharist.

Manipal: Bishop Gerald lays Foundation Stone for New Christ Church Building


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16 Comments

  1. Intolerant India!!! LOL

    Well, I was just trying to make a point here. Congratulations on newly built church!!

    • Original R.Pai – “Intolerant India!!! LOL Well, I was just trying to make a point here.”

      The point is that RSS has “NOT YET” prohibited building church or mosque.

      MR. RSS PAI, THIS IS NOT A CHARITY BY THE RSS!

      IT IS THE GIFT OF CONGRESS TO THE NATION, BY ENACTING A SECULAR CONSTITUTION FOR INDIA. HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR THE CONSTITUTIONAL HURDLE FACED BY YOU, YOU WOULD HAVE STOPPED CONSTRUCTIONS OF RELIGIOUS STRUCTURES AND PRAYERS BY NON-HINDUS. AS CLANDESTINELY DONE IN AYODHYA, YOU WOULD DO MANY MORE SUCH THINGS OPENLY AND FEARLESSLY.

      PAIMAAM, PLEASE WAIT FOR SOME TIME. THE PEOPLE OF INDIA WOULD GIVE THE CONSTITUTION AMENDING SPECIAL MAJORITY TO THE RSS AND BJP. THEN YOU CAN MAKE INDIA “COMPULSORILY TOLERANT”. THE IT/BT ELITE AND THE YOUTH VOTERS WOULD DO IT FOR YOU SOON!

      LET THE MUSLIMS, CHRISTIANS AND DALITS VOTE AGAINST THE CONGRESS, AND YOU WOULD HAVE THE HINDU INDIA OF YOUR DREAMS, SOONER THAN LATER! CONGRATULATIONS.

      • “IT IS THE GIFT OF CONGRESS TO THE NATION…” writes revisionist historian, pro-sharia Pincode Pai.

        Someone needs to remind Pincode Pai that Christianity came to Bharatha long before his cult of Congress. It was the tolerant sanaathana dharma culture that allowed foreign religions to reach Bharatha and survive for centuries!! However, Pincode Pai, true to his painfully ignorant past and dishonest behavior, tries to credit Congress(Indira) for secular nature of Bharath.

        I’m all for secular constitution. Unfortunately, it is folks like Pincode Pai and Congress party engaged in communal politics. For example – I fully support mocking, ridiculing all religions, religious traditions, symbols and gods. Does Pincode Pai believe in this true secular idea? NO!!!! I believe in equal rights and Uniform Civil Code for all. Does Pincode Pai support this idea? NO!!!!

        • Original R.Pai – “It was the tolerant sanaathana dharma culture that allowed foreign religions to reach Bharatha and survive for centuries!!”

          ORIGINAL RSS CLAIMS THAT “tolerant sanaathana dharma culture that allowed foreign religions to reach Bharatha and survive for centuries”. HE DOES NOT KNOW THE SUBJECT, NOR HE KNOWS THE MEANING OF THE WORD “SANATANA”

          NEITHER THE AGGRESSIVE CHRISTIANS NOR THE AGGRESSIVE MUSLIMS ALLOWED ANY OTHER RELIGIONS TO SURVIVE ANY WHERE IN THE WORLD, WHERE THEY RULED EVEN FOR A BRIEF PERIOD. TOLERANCE DID NOT DO ANY THING.

          IT IS THE INTRINSIC STRENGTH AND INDESTRUCTIBILITY OF THE SANATANA DHARMA, WHICH MADE THE RELIGION SURVIVE ONE THOUSAND YEARS OF CONTINUOUS CRUEL RULE BY THE ALIEN AGGRESSORS.

          IT DID NOT SURVIVE BECAUSE OF RSS, AS DUPLICATE PAI TELLS BY HIS MAKE BELIEVE STORY. WHY HAS RSS JOINED HANDS WITH THE ANTI HINDU SEPARATIST MUSLIM GROUP TO FORM THE GOVERNMENT IN KASHMIR? WHY THE RSS HAS JOINED HANDS WITH THE CHRISTIANS IN GOA, NORTH EASTERN STATES, ETC? WHY RSS IS NOT IMPOSING BAN ON COW SLAUGHTER IN THOSE STATES? WHY BJP IMPOSES BAN ON COW SLAUGHTER ONLY IN HINDU MAJORITY STATES?

          STOP FOOLING HINDUS TO ENABLE RSS TO ENJOY POWER TO RULE ON FALSE ALARMS AND FALSE PROMISES.

          RSS WANTS TO RULE INDIANS BY CREATING A HOAX OF “HINDUS REQUIRING PROTECTION FROM OTHER RELIGIONS WHICH ARE ANTI HINDUS AND SUPPORTED BY THE CONGRESS” AND, THEY JOIN HANDS WITH THE ANTI HINDUS AND ANTI NATIONALS TO RULE THE COUNTRY BY FOOLING THE HINDUS!

  2. Hi Pai Maam, November 30th, Monday Australia will have a biggest hindu temple, Modi on his visit to U.A.E wanted a hindu temple in a complete Islamic State and it is granted, millions of hindu’s are living ,working making lot of money some even funding the RSS, but for who funds this organisation would not have been where it is, take a broader view or else people like u will totally be isolated, RSS is a weak organisation who can only shout at soft target, they can’t take the people like ISIS, their chaddis have become smaller since the BJP is come to power and the rat is acting like a tiger

  3. Ruchi,

    Your RSS hatred is clouding your ability think clearly. There is nothing great in Australia allowing one more Hindu temple. It is a secular country like India. Nobody is crying ‘intolerance’ at Australia, right? As far as UAE goes, I’m not sure why you have such a low standards for Islamic societies? Is it the soft bigotry of low expectations? Gulf region has millions of Hindus. Why does it take a Prime Minister to request for a temple? That in itself shows how intolerant other religions are!! You should realize this simple truth. Instead, you are acting as if UAE did something great in this modern age!! How pathetic.

    As far as your hatred on RSS goes, you have the right to do so. It doesn’t mean that you are right. What do you mean by RSS taking on ISIS ? This shows the immaturity of your argument. Do you want RSS to take up arms and go to Syria? Is it a state to do this? You guys are calling RSS every possible name simply for expressing their political views. I can only imagine the outrage if they arm themselves like Jihaadist!!

  4. Do you want RSS to take up arms and go to Syria? Is it a state to do this? -Atheist Original Pai to Ruchi

    Sir, RSS is the ‘Social organisation’ right? Will you please enlighten us why do they need military style weapons training in Trishul,Swords,twirling lati and bombs to keep them fit when ‘Yoga’ is at their disposal?Why do they need British police ‘Chadi’ and Hitler style oath both are against Indian culture?

    Since RSS formation date of September 27, 1925,will you please give one name fought for India’s Independence struggle behind Father of nation Mahatma Gandhi and sacrificed for India?

    How Savarkar escaped the gallows
    http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/how-savarkar-escaped-the-gallows/article4358048.ece

    The Iconisation Of Savarkar
    http://www.countercurrents.org/gatade290514.htm

    Did Veer Savarkar cut a deal with British at Kala Paani?
    https://www.quora.com/Did-Veer-Savarkar-cut-a-deal-with-British-at-Kala-Paani

    SAVARKAR’S MERCY PETITION

    http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl2207/stories/20050408001903700.htm

    In a letter dated November 14, 1913 Savarkar (convict no. 32778) wrote to the Home Minister of the Government of India:

    “I hereby acknowledge that I had a fair trial and just sentence. I heartily abhor meth-ods of violence resorted to in days gone by and I feel myself duty bound to uphold law and constitution [British] to the best of my powers and am willing to make the re-form [i.e., the Montague-Chelmsford reforms of 1919 which did not satisfy the de-mands of the nationalist movement] a success in so far as I may be allowed to do so in future” (From facsimile of Savarkar’s letter, Frontline, April 7, 1995. Italics added).

    We read again:
    “If the government in their manifold beneficence and mercy release me, I for one cannot but be the staunchest advocate of constitutional progress and loyalty to the English government which is the foremost condition of that progress […] Moreover, my conversion to the constitutional line would bring back all those mislead young men in India and abroad who were once looking up to me as their guide […] The Mighty alone can afford to be merciful and therefore where else can the prodigal son return but to the parental doors of the government” (From facsimile of Savarkar’s letter, Frontline, April 7, 1995. Italics added).

    Vallabhbhai Patel was vindicated. He had written to Nehru on February 27, 1948: “I have kept myself almost in daily touch with the progress of the investigation regarding Bapu’s assassination case.” His conclusion was: “It was a fanatical wing of the Hindu Mahasabha directly under Savarkar that [hatched] the conspiracy and saw it through.”

    Many years later, the BJP had his portrait hung in Parliament House beside Mahatma Gandhi.

    “Hey Ram! The Politics of Gandhi’s Last Words”.For BJP ‘Ram Janma bhoomi’ is the only survival to remain in politics.

    Jai Hind

  5. You guys are calling RSS every possible name simply for expressing their political views. I can only imagine the outrage if they arm themselves like Jihaadist!!-Atheist Mr.Original to Ruchita

    Sir, Jihadis described by the mass media has no religion. Terrorism is their only religion.The Arabic word “jihad” is often translated as “holy war,” but in a purely linguistic sense, the word ” jihad” means struggling or striving.

    If only Savarkar’s bodyguard and his secretary had testified against him in court, he would have been convicted for Gandhi’s murder.

    Savarkar and Gandhi’s murder

    http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl2919/stories/20121005291911400.htm

    Morarji’s disclosure should cause no surprise. This is what Robert Payne wrote of Savarkar in The Life and Death of Mahatma Gandhi in 1969: “Among those who sat in the dock he alone seemed to be well cast for the role he was playing. Some inner fire burned in him, in that deathly pale face which had been reduced by illness and suffering to the dimensions of a skull. He had been placed under house arrest within eight hours of the assassination, and the only surprising thing is that he was not arrested earlier, for he was the prime suspect, the one man who would inevitably be suspected of the crime. Suspicion would have fastened on him even if he had been living in London.

    Gandhi’s murder was also one in a series—Curzon Wylie’s in London in 1909, A.T.M. Jackson, Collector of Nashik, in 1910; and the attempted murder of Acting Governor of Bombay Ernest Hotson in 1931. In each case Savarkar used others as his pawns.

    Those who laud him ignore this long and consistent record from 1911 to 1950 because they value his doctrine.

    Did BJP hanged portrait of Veer Savarkar in Parliament for treachery or in honour of British raj is question.

    Jai Hind

  6. “NEITHER THE AGGRESSIVE CHRISTIANS NOR THE AGGRESSIVE MUSLIMS ALLOWED ANY OTHER RELIGIONS TO SURVIVE ANY WHERE IN THE WORLD, WHERE THEY RULED EVEN FOR A BRIEF PERIOD. TOLERANCE DID NOT DO ANY THING.

    IT IS THE INTRINSIC STRENGTH AND INDESTRUCTIBILITY OF THE SANATANA DHARMA, WHICH MADE THE RELIGION SURVIVE ONE THOUSAND YEARS OF CONTINUOUS CRUEL RULE BY THE ALIEN AGGRESSORS.” writes Pincode Pai.

    wow!! For once, i do agree with Pincode Pai for stating the historic truth. I’m sure this will make sharia Pandita, AS Beef Mathew, Manga, Roy, Joker and others on this forum very upset as they have a serious allergy towards truth and facts!!

    • Duplicate
      If Christians & muslims are not tolerant they wouldn’t have left the people with dhoogla chaddi doing palayana enter the country. Where as your dhogla chaddi guys burnt a missionary,blamed a mnc company noodles to promote goo mutra fame noodles without FDA approval.
      For your info Aryans are not from india,dravidans are Indians.so please know history before you speak.
      Here is the link
      http://www.ancient.eu/Aryan/

    • Original R.Pai – “wow!! For once, i do agree with Pincode Pai for stating the historic truth.”

      Sir, I have stated the whole truth, which included the fact “IT DID NOT SURVIVE BECAUSE OF RSS”

      NOW, I AM REALLY WORRIED. YOU ARE DAMAGING THE RELIGION BY YOUR “HALF TRUTHS”!

  7. “Sir, I have stated the whole truth” repeats our friend Pincode Pai.

    Yes, sir – you did. Let me repeat it for readers again:

    “NEITHER THE AGGRESSIVE CHRISTIANS NOR THE AGGRESSIVE MUSLIMS ALLOWED ANY OTHER RELIGIONS TO SURVIVE ANY WHERE IN THE WORLD, WHERE THEY RULED EVEN FOR A BRIEF PERIOD. TOLERANCE DID NOT DO ANY THING.

    IT IS THE INTRINSIC STRENGTH AND INDESTRUCTIBILITY OF THE SANATANA DHARMA, WHICH MADE THE RELIGION SURVIVE ONE THOUSAND YEARS OF CONTINUOUS CRUEL RULE BY THE ALIEN AGGRESSORS.”

  8. “If Christians & muslims are not tolerant they wouldn’t have left the people with dhoogla chaddi …” writes Nicholas

    Dear Nicholas,
    You don’t sound intelligent for multiple reasons. Pincode was not talking about today’s West. Today’s West is very liberal because of liberal, progressive movement over the past century, not because of any religion!!! Pincode Pai was referring to historical India in relation to historical Europe and Middle east. If your masters were very tolerant, what did happen to all those religions worshiped by native Greek, Romans, German and other tribes in Europe before 2nd century? What happened to god and religions followed by native americans in US, Canada? What happened to religious beliefs in Latin america? Were they all catholic when white man landed? As I have told you many times, you need to read something other than free magazines at the local church!!

    • Original R.Pai – “Pincode Pai was referring to historical India in relation to historical Europe and Middle east.”

      Sir, I was talking about the religious resilience and tenacity of Sanatana Dharma; which really is perpetual and self perpetuating, (JUST LIKE THE PROPAGATION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION EVEN IN VACUUM, WITHOUT DEPENDING ON ANY MEDIUM TO SUSTAIN ITSELF, AND TO PERPETUITY. THEREFORE, SELF STYLED RSS MEDIUM IS UNNECESSARY!)

      I was telling that, that Dharma, which withstood the every ruthless adversity and which is still vibrant and vital – not due to any king or organised bull-work to protect it, but due to sheer intrinsic strength and the spirit of accommodation and inclusiveness built in it, and the indestructible faith in it reposed by its followers – requires no protection of self styled protectors, who pretend to be its sole protectors, with ulterior motive to enslave them for their GRAND DESIGN FOR political selfishness and ambition.

      Congress represents that great religion by its flexibility and indestructibility. And, the RSS is hard and brittle, and is the one which wants to enslave the followers of that religion. Just read the book written by Nehru by the name “Discovery of India” and you would be a better Indian.

      AGAIN, I WANT TO REITERATE THAT HINDU RELIGION IS THE PROUD AND UNIQUE RELIGION, WHICH COULD NOT BE DESTROYED BY ISLAM OR CHRISTIANITY OR ANY OTHER RELIGION OR FORCE, FORCIBLY IMPOSING ITSELF ON IT.

      THEREFORE, RSS – DO NOT FORCE ON IT. YOUR AGGRESSIVE FORCE WOULD BE DISAPPEARING IN TO THE THIN AIR, ONCE THE BREAKING POINT IS REACHED!

    • original
      I think you have problem with IQ, Better read properly before replying, not selective blind. What happened to adhivasis from india. For your kind info aryans / sanathana was from Iraq & not india. Better understand history (Not written by chaddi) before expressing ur idea.
      Speaking of US, Canada still the tribals like inuit follow their tradition , just taught them how to read & write, missionaries built schools & also preached bible as the hare ram,hare krishna do in US.

      • Dear Nicholas,

        There is no general consensus amongst the historians about the roots of Aryans or from where they came from and certainly Iraq has not been mentioned by any of them.

        Scholars have given the names of different countries as the origins of Aryans, viz. Central Asia, Arctic Region, Punjab, Tibet, Southern Russia and other places. You have mentioned Iraq as the place that Aryans originated from, which may not be right.

        When it comes to Canada and U.S.A., the sons-of-soil are the Red Indians, namely Apache, Sioux, Mohawks, Innuits, Eskimos and many others.

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