Vinay Kumar Sorake inaugurates renovated Cemetery at Moodubelle Church

Vinay Kumar Sorake inaugurates renovated Cemetery at Moodubelle Church

Udupi: Vinay Kumar Sorake (MLA Kaup and Ex Minister) inaugurated the newly renovated Cemetery of St Lawrence Church Moodubelle while it was blessed by Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo (Bishop, Udupi Diocese) on November 2.

Speaking on the occasion Sorake said, “I am pleased to be in the Holy Place of St Lawrence Church which is well known for providing good education to the students and for educational institutions. It is also known for other religious activities and maintaining peace and harmony in the society”.

He further said, “Today we have honoured Engineer Elias D’Souza and the sponsors for providing the newly renovated cemetery for the people of Moodubelle. It is the fruit of their hard work”. He also said that a lot of work on widening and inter-connecting roads from Belle towards Manipura and Karkala has to be done which will soon be a reality.

A brief welcoming and honouring ceremony was held prior to the inaugural function. Alphonse K Alva (VP Parish Council St Lawrence Church) accorded a warm welcome to the Guests of the day Vinay Kumar Sorake, Dr Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo, Fr Valerian D’Souza (Former Parish Priest St Lawrence Church), Fr Denis D’Sa (PRO Udupi Diocese), Wilfred Rodrigues (Member Zilla Panchayat Udupi), Elias D’Souza (Engineer) and Fr Alphonse D’Lima (Rector; Minor Seminary Moodubelle). All the guests on the dais were honoured with floral bouquets by Fr Clement Mascarenhas (Parish Priest, St Lawrence Church Moodubelle). All the donors and sponsors especially Wilfred Menezes and his Father Cashmir Menezes were honoured for the main sponsors of the cemetery on the occasion.

The architect of the state of the art newly renovated cemetery Engineer Elias D’Souza was honoured by Sorake and Bishop Gerald Lobo.

Latha D’Mello delivered the vote of thanks and Meera Lobo compered the programme.

The blessing of the new cemetery began at 5:30pm with a prayer service followed by the blessing of the cemetery by Bishop Gerald Lobo. The holy Eucharistic mass was concelebrated at the newly built dome in the cemetery. The Holy Mass was concelebrated by Bishop Gerald Lobo along with Fr Clement Mascarenhas and Fr Valerian D’Souza.

In his brief homily the Bishop said that death is not the end of our existence but a new transformation into eternity. We feel sad when our dear ones depart but we should think that is the only way we can reach the Lord. He quoted many examples of human life here on earth and compared them to Flowers as to their beauty and attraction and eventually withering of their petals and dying, similarly, the green grass which is very beautiful but eventually in months it will dry and die but new grass will grow on earth. We should not worry about death but do our work here honestly and serve people and when we die, we can reap the fruit of our life in the presence of God Almighty.

In his concluding message Bishop compared the cemetery to a beautiful place and said that he felt like staying here as it has plants around the cemetery and looks like a park. He further said that the Cemetery is the second holy place after the church and he has been stressing upon all other parishes to give importance to the cemetery as many parishes ignore them and think it is only a burial place. He requested the parishioners of St Lawrence church to visit the cemetery regularly and pray for the departed souls and also maintain the beautiful cemetery well. He congratulated everyone involved with the building of the cemetery.

Fr Clement thanked each and every one and especially the donors for their kind donations to build the beautiful cemetery.

After the Holy Mass the bishop blessed the graves of all the departed. All members of the parish gathered around the decorated graves of their loved ones.

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