Ferrar parish centenary celebration comes to end on Dec. 3

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Nov 23, 2012: St. Francis Xavier Church of Ferrar will complete its centenary year celebration on December 3, 2012.

Addressing reporters at Press Club today, Fr. Dr. Fidelis Pinto, parish priest of Ferrar, said that the parish once formed part of Pezar before Rev. Paul Pereni, then bishop of Mangalore, consulted the vicar of Pezar and separated Ferrar from Pezar, giving it the status of a separate parish and establishing a brand new church in Ferar in 1912.

Fr. Reginald Pinto, assistant parish priest of Pezar, was the first parish priest of the new church. Fr. Reginald Pinto launched a primary school for the local children that same year. Recently some parts of Ferrar parish were merged with newly formed parishes such as Sampige, Kuppepadavu, Neerude, and Kaudoor.

Ferrar parish comprises 13 wards and 452 families, with a total population of 2,500 parishioners. The parish has produced several nuns and priests, who are currently serving in different parts of the world.

The bishop of Mangalore launched the centenary year on the occasion of the feast of St. Francis Xavier on Dec 3, 2011. The grand finale of the centenary year will be held on Dec 1 – 3, 2012.

The parish organized a wide range of cultural, social, and religious programs throughout the centenary years. Some of the projects taken up were the renovation of houses of poor parishioners, building toilets, providing financial assistance for animal husbandry, medical camps, construction of new bus stands, and others.

The parish will organize a Souharda vehicle rally, VOJEM procession, inter-religious meet, and Konkani cultural evening in association with the Kudubi community. The grand finale will begin in the presence of eminent guests such as Dr. Bernard Moras, archbishop of Bangalore; Dr. Aloysius Paul D’Souza, bishop of Mangalore; Dr. Henry D’Souza, bishop of Bellary; Dr. Mohan Alva, chairman of Alva’s Institutions; and others.

Several leaders of Ferrar parish such as William D’Souza, Lancy Cutinha, Laveena Fernandes, and others were present at the press conference.