Udupi, Jan 3: Most Rev. Gerald Isaac Lobo at Pilar-Shirva, the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Udupi on Tuesday inaugurated the constructed Infant Jesus Church at Pilar in Udupi district in the presence of a large number of priests and parishioners.
According to a release issued by the Diocese here, the ceremony of the inauguration and blessing of the church commenced as Dr. Lobo along with Fr. Stany Tauro, Parish Priest of Our Lady of Health Church, Shirva, came in procession in front of the church. Dr. Lobo along with Fr. Tauro and Fr. Valerian Mendonca, inaugurated the new building of the church by cutting the ribbon.
Then, the Bishop conducted a brief prayer service in front of the main door and formally opened the doors and entered the church along with the priests followed by altar servers and parishioners.
The blessing and dedication of the new church commenced with the Bishop blessing the water and sprinkling the Holy Water on the people. This was followed by the celebration of the Holy Mass singing “Gloria…” by the choir.
In his homily, Dr. Lobo said that the dream of the Pilar parishioners to have a new church building had been realised. “It is the symbol of hope, aspirations, hard work and sacrifice of many parishioners,” he said.
Soon after the homily, the ritual of blessing, consecration and dedication of the new church continued with the recitation of the “Litany of the Saints”. The Bishop anointed the sacrificial altar with Chrism Oil and anointed four points on the walls of the church, thus sanctifying the entire church. He handed over the lighted candle to Fr. Tauro representing the Light of Christ.
After the Holy Communion, the Bishop blessed and concreted the Tabernacle and placed the ciborium consisting of the Blessed Eucharist inside the Tabernacle.
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