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Udupi : The much awaited event of the inauguration and Blessing of the newly built church building of Stella Maris Church, Kalmady will be held on Saturday, 6^th January, 2018. It will be ‘Destination Kalmady’ especially for the Catholic Community of Udupi Diocese and for all the well wishers of Udupi region.

Addressing to media persons at Kalmady Church premises on Saturday, 30^th December, Rev Fr. Alban D’Souza, the parish priest who has fully invested and involved in this new building project said that it is an enduring legacy for the people of Kalmady. With deep profound sentiment, great esteem and respect for all benefactors, Fr. D’Souza feels that the newly built Church is an architectural marvel and has all the incarnation elements of history, mystery and majesty. History that reminds from Nova to the Nazarene’ mystery because God’s will has worked in such a magnanimous way in such a short period of time and majesty in the sense of imposing structure that heightens one’s spiritual consciousness to give honor and glory to God.

Stella Maris Church has a humble beginning way back on 6^th February 1972, consequent to the collective wisdom and initiative of a handful of faithful, who until then were parishioners partly of Udupi and partly of Thottam. Capt (Retd) late Rev Fr. Charles D’Souza, a deeply religious and philanthropist was the first officiating priest at Kalmady. It was during the tenure of Fr. Denis Castelino that Stella Maris gained devotional acclaim. This devotion was further animated and enhanced by Fr. Castelino by the solemn installation of the Icon of Our Lady of Vailankanni in 1988. Today this devotion has grown in leaps and has reached beyond the boundaries of Udupi. It is drawing devotees from near and far to pursue their spiritual cause.

For the past 29 years pilgrims have benefitted immensely by their visit and constant prayers, in particular through the Novenas held on every Saturday at the Shrine. The parishioners and the visiting devotees have recorded testimonies of miracles and special favours received from Our Lady of Vailankani. People from all walks of life come to pray in the church.

As a prelude to the inauguration program, the customary HORE KAANIKE PROCESSION will be flagged off at 2.30 pm on Wednesday, 3^rd January, 2018 from Malpe Bus stop junction by Shri Pramod Madhwaraj, Hon’ble Minister for Fisheries, Sports and Youth Empowerment, Government of Karnataka in the presence of Jerry Vincent Dias, MD, Mandavi Real Estate Developers. The procession will culminate at the church grounds followed by Inter Religious meet at 4.30 pm.

Bishop of Udupi diocese Most Rev Dr. Gerald Issac Lobo will preside over Inter Religious Meet. Sri Sri Sri Dr. Vidyavachaspati Vishwa Santhosh Bharathi Sripadaru, Pontiff of Shree Barkur Mahasamshathanam, Very Rev Fr, Valerian Mendonca, Chancellor of Udupi Diocese and Mr Mohammed Yaseen Malpe, Udupi District Muslim Union President will be the guests of honour for the meet.

The inauguration of the newly build church will commence at 9 a.m. on Saturday, 6^th January 2018 followed by Solemn Thanks giving Eucharistic celebration. The following will lead the worship along with priests and faithful. Most Rev Dr. Gerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop of Udupi, Most Rev Dr. Aloysius Paul D’Souza, Bishop of Mangaluru, Most Rev Dr. Francis Serrao, SJ, Bishop of Shimoga, Most Rev Dr. Robert Miranda, Bishop of Gulbarga.

Feliciation program will follow the Eucharistic celebration. Sri Pramodh Madhwaraj, the Hon’ble Minister, Ms Shobha Karandlaje, MP Udupi –Chickmagalur Constituency, Sri Oscar Fernandes, Rajya Sabha Member, Sri Ivan D’Souza MLC & Government Chief Whip in the state legislative council, Govt. of Karnataka, Smt Meenakshi Madhav Bannanje, President, Udupi CMC, Narayan P Kundar, member of Udupi CMC and dignitaries will be present. The formal program will conclude with a fellowship meal.

More than 10,000 devotees are expected to take part in the inauguration function and fellowship meal. On account of the historic church inauguration function, there will be a musical extravaganza ‘Wilfy Nite’ in the evening at 5.30pm.

Fr Alban D’Souza, the parish priest desires to make this a special event to convey the enduring message of Christmas to find and promote peace, compassion and a sense of community, a chance to feel connected, a chance to feel loved and a chance to feel remembered.

Sanjay Andrade, Vice President of Parish Pastoral Council, Shobha Mendonca, Secretary of Parish Pastoral Council, Louis Lobo Convener of Church Building committee and others were present during the press meet.

THE BOAT SHAPED CHURCH

The book of Genesis in the Old Testament, Chapters 6-9, narrates the story of Noah and the Ark. The story of Noah and the flood represents the personal struggle and temptations that each of us face in the life and suggests the ways we can protect ourselves in times of spiritual trials. The book Secrets of Heaven explains the inner meaning of this story: the ark that Noah, his family, and the animals go into for protection from the flood represents the church that carries us through hard times.

“By the ‘flood of waters’ is signified the beginning of temptation”. The flood represents the temptations that come in life and threaten to wipe out everything good if we give in to them. It is further explained that, “ Noah went into the ark, from before the waters of the flood’ signifies that he was protected in temptations.” In the story, Noah’s wife, his sons, and his sons’ wives came with him into the ark because they represent the resources Noah had to help him resist temptations. Noah’s wife represents goods, his sons represent truths, and his sons’ wives represent truths that are connected to goods, We can see that while the story seems literally impossible, it stands for something very real in our lives-turning to the church and the goods and truths that sustain us when we are faced with temptations.

The ark has “rooms” for the animals (Genesis 6:14); Jesus says that his father’s house has “many rooms” ( John 14 : 2).

The ark had one door (Genesis 6:16); Jesus claimed himself to be “the door” to salvation (John 10:9).

God invited Noah to come into the ark (Genesis 7:1)’ Jesus said, “Come to me, all you that are weary” (Mathew 11”28).

The ark was made of wood (Genesis 6:14) just as the cross was.

 Because God saved him, Noah “remained alive” (Genesis 7:23); Jesus gives us eternal life (John 10:28).

Literally speaking, the Ark of Noah is the vessel through which the world (Noah and the animals of creation) is saved from destruction. Mary, the Mother of God becomes the Ark in the New Testament – the vessel through whom Jesus (God) becomes man and creation is saved from destruction. Therefore, the Ark of Noah foreshadows the incarnation of Christ through His mother Mary. The Ark also represents the Church, through which all of Creation is preserved from the raging the flood. We go to the church and find refuge.

Belfry in the form of a Light House

A lighthouse is a tower topped with a very bright light called a beacon. The beacon is used by sailors to help guide their ships at night. It is usually located on the coast, on islands or in the middle of busy harbors. No matter where it is located, the purpose of a lighthouse is always the same’ to warn ships of danger and guide them safely on their way.

The belfry is a structure enclosing bells for ringing. A church bell in the Christian tradition is a bell which is rung in a church for a variety of church purposes, and can be heart outside the building. Traditionally, they were used to call worshippers’ to the church for a community service, and to announce times of daily prayer. They are also rung on special occasions such as a wedding, or a funeral service. In our liturgy, to signify to people that a particular part of the service has been reached. The ringing of church bells, in the Christian tradition, was also believed to drive out demons.

The Lighthouse 9tower) and the Belfry (tower) serves the purpose of elevating a light or a belt respectively.

Just as the light from the lighthouse guides the travelers safely to the shores, the constant ringing of the bell from the belfry reminds people of God, calls them to prayer and worship that leads them to God.

The people of God are collectively called the Church. Our Church building is in the form of a boat which represents the life of the people of God. In the Gospel (Mark 4:35-41) and Mathew 8:23-27) there is the miracle of Jesus calming the storm and saving the Apostles from destruction in the sea as they were sailing in the boat. This world symbolizes the sea. The temptations are the storms of destruction. The bells remind us of going to Jesus, the Son of God in times of dangers. Jesus saves us when we call upon Him.