Infant Jesus Chapel at Pavoor celebrates Golden Jubilee

Infant Jesus Chapel at Pavoor celebrates Golden Jubilee

Mangaluru: April 15, was an auspicious day for the people of Pavoor Uliya island as they celebrated the Golden Jubilee of the erection of the chapel dedicated to Infant Jesus. His Lordship Aloysius Paul D’Souza, the bishop of Mangalore celebrated the Eucharist together with 25 priests most of them Capuchins from all over Karnataka. 3 boys and one girl received the First Holy Communion during the Eucharist from the Holy hands of the bishop. There were more than thousand people to participate in the Eucharist and a sumptuous meal prepared by the people themselves was served to all gathered. In the evening a film called “Veera Marana, Raktha Sakshi – John de Britto” in Kannada was screened as a part of entertainment in which people of all the religion participated and celebrated the event in a joyful manner.

A brief history of this island: It was in 1966, the then bishop of Mangalore requested the Capuchin Friars from Monte Mariano Farangipet to take care of the spiritual needs of this small island which was a part of Fajir Church dedicated to Our Lady of Mercy. There were 52 families on the island and all were Catholics. Being an island it was very difficult to go to the parish church at Fajir and the people would hardly frequent the Fajir Chuch. Therefore, this island a ward in itself dedicated to St. Antony of Padua was separated from the main parish and given to the Capuchins for all spiritual needs. Once the Capuchins plunged into the ministry, Fr Apollinaris Pinto, OFM Cap. the pioneer of this mission planned to build a modest chapel. In the year 1968, Fr Liguory Noronha, OFM Cap. completed the work of the chapel dedicated to Infant Jesus. For the past 50 years, several friars from Monte Mariano together with the Capuchin Novice Brothers have taken keen interest to educate the people in various fields. As this is an island the government did not show much care and interest to put up a bridge to this island. However, the Capuchins with the help of the people around put a hanging bridge during every summer. This year too to celebrate the golden jubilee of the existence of this chapel, Fr Gerald Lobo, OFM Cap. the superior of Monte Mariano constructed a temporary bridge at the cost of Rs 2.5 lakhs and it was a great adventure by the Capuchins and the people of Uliya.

Considering the keen interest of the people and the adventurous efforts of the Capuchins, His Lordship Aloysius Paul D’Souza was all in praise of the Capuchins and during the celebrations, he pronounced the word “Capuchins” more than 50 times. In addition, he declared this island as an independent quasi-parish and separated it from Fajir Church and handed over to the Capuchins on a permanent basis (ad Perpetuum). A decree of the promulgation of an independent parish (Fr Gerald Lobo, OFM Cap. as the first parish priest) was read out by Fr Paul Melwyn D’Souza, OFM Cap. the superior of St. Ann’s Friary, Mangalore. Fr Valerian Pinto the parish priest of Fajir Church was present and expressed his heartfelt thanks for the Capuchins. Consequently, it would be a parish of Bantval Varado, hence the vicar vara of Bantval varado, Fr Maxim Noronha welcomed the parishioners of Uliya parish to his varado and thanked the Capuchins for taking keen interest and promised every support and encouragement. Fr Joseph Dolphy Pais, OFM Cap. the provincial of the Capuchins thanked the bishop and all gathered for giving the Capuchins a chance to work in this island. The melodious choir by the parishioners of Uliya animated by Fr. Prashanth Noronha, OFM Cap. added sweetness to the entire Eucharistic celebration. The friends and well-wishers who contributed generously towards the entire expenses of the celebration were felicitated by the bishop and the provincial.

Future plans: Fr Gerald Lobo, OFM Cap. Who is also the present parish priest of this small parish has several plans for this small island. He wants to set the legal land records of the people staying there. A herculean task would be to construct a permanent bridge which will be a permanent gift to the Uliya people. On this auspicious day, he has requested all the people of good will to come forward to help in every way possible to put up a bridge and later to make it a shrine dedicated to Infant Jesus. Your personal prayer to fulfill this task is very much solicited that the government agencies open their eyes to uplift these people and get a proper path to the mainland.