2011-1886 AD - 125 YEARS OF THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF MANGALORE

2011-1886 AD - 125 YEARS OF THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF MANGALORE

Mangalore Today News Network

-I J Saldanha-Shet. (Programme & Projects follow)
                                                                             
Mangalore, Feb 6, 2012: A Press Meet by the Catholic Diocese of Mangalore at the Bishops House headed by V Rev Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza Bishop of Mangalore, Key church functionaries, Congress leader Ivan D’Souza and the entire executive committee of the  Celebrations today (Feb 6,2012) detailed the official programme to mark the 125 years (Post Centenary Silver Jubilee) since the Diocese came into existence in 1887. The back ground and information on this occasion follows: 

 

CANARA - From Kundapur in the North to Kasargod in the South - a major part of Tulunadu,  has been home to  Konkani Roman Catholics as early as 1550 (probably even earlier). An independent Vicarate under Bishop Michael Anthony ocd came into being on 15 March 1853., since then the church of Mangalore has grown in all dimensions. Most Rev. Nicholas Maria Pagani sj then the Vicar Apostolic became the first Bishop of Mangalore in 1887. The Catholic Church has been a part of the land since long before in different ways as need of the times.  The  125 years - Post centenary silver Jubilee Grand Finale is set to be ceremoniously marked on 11 & 12 February, 2012 ,  under the guidance of the present Bishop of Mangalore, Rt.Rev.Dr.Aloysius P D’Souza, the detailed programmes follows here. The theme of the Jubilee "Come let us join hands to build our community".

A brief narration from an authentic record ‘The History of the Diocese of Mangalore’  By Fr.Moore , SJ  Published  in January 1905.  Excerpt of relevant information:Pages: 202 & 203. “On September 1, 1886, Pope Leo XIII  issued his Apostolic Letter Humane Salus Auctor establishing a Hierarchy in India. The official proclamation was made in the Council of Bangalore,  January 25,1887, where the Bishops of  Southern India assembled under the Presidency of  Monsignor Antony Agliardi, Apostolic Delegate and Archbishop of Caesarea. ……. Canara from 1887 ceased to be a Vicarate and took it’s place in the hierarchy as the Diocese of Mangalore, it’s Vicar Apostolic becoming Bishop of Mangalore, as it is the rule to name diocese after cities, generally where the Bishop resides…….. In the beginning of 1888 the Diocese was divided into three Varados of Bantwal,Pejar and Kallianpur………..” 
 
                            
IN the BEGINNING:
The Konkani speakers along the west coast of  Peninsular India  are believed to originate from settlers from the banks of the river ‘Sarasvati’ (a tributary of the river Sindhu- from which Sind and Hind are derived) which became extinct. There were three main waves of settlement of Konkanis’ in Canara : after 1560 because of the Inquisition and  till 1683 because of famines and political upheavals.
 
Konkani Christians originally part of the Saraswat  clans migrated from Goa because of political, economic, cultural and other reasons during the inquisition. Portuguese rulers of Goa tried to enforce cultural assimilation of Konkani Christians into the Western culture. As long as the Konkani Christians tried to maintain a separate identity through their language, customs and manners, the Portuguese government practiced discrimination.

Records of the times give some insight: It wanted to eliminate all the traces of paganism in the customs and manners of the native Christians with particular reference to birth,marriage, death, festivals and dress. It created a sense of fear and insecurity instead of love and brotherhood in the minds of the native Christians. Thus the Goa Inquisition triggered a built in religious cause for the migration of the Konkanis to  South Kanara.

Konkani  speaking groups migrated from  places in Goa between 1500 AD to 1763 AD. For decades the Catholic Church and it’s institutions have played a yeoman role as leaders in education, medical care and  social  welfare. It has  a leading role in maintaining and promoting Konkani as the language of  tradition, giving the church a unique recognized identity the world over.

The rulers of Vijayanagar and the Nayaks of Keladi encouraged the Konkani  speakers generally to settle in Tulunadu because they were a useful  in the economic set up of the region. Their abilities,ethics,discipline and loyalty were valued qualities. The Konkani Christians came to South Kanara during this period as artisans, merchants, cultivators and even for the propagation of faith. Agricultural land was available in South Kanara in sufficient quantity for cultivation. Gradually the Konkanis assimilated Kannada and Tulu culture, but retained Konkani as their mother tongue,  the Christians built institutions, churches, organized parishes, were efficient agriculturists,started industries to promote socio-economic development in their own way establishing them as permanent indispensable respected citizens in the land. There is often a misunderstanding that Christianity, is a European religion that came to India - in fact it must be noted that Christianity reached India a few years after the Crucifixion of Jesus, before it reached European countries.

Then came the rule of Mysore under Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan between 1761 - 1799 AD. When South Kanara was under the rule  of Tipu Sultan, the Konkani Christians had to suffer exile . The Konkani Christians of South Kanara were caught up in the crossfire of Anglo-Mysore relations and many of them were subjected under Tipu Sultan to what the Konkani Christians call the ’Captivity’. Tipu shaped the policy of captivity over fifteen long  years which brought inhuman misery, death, torture and more to the captive Konkani Christians. 

The fourth Anglo-Mysore war led to the liberation of Christians from captivity after 15 years. The British took over South Kanara after the fall of Tipu Sultan in 1799 AD. Most of  the Christians who survived the captivity, comparatively a smaller number, returned to South Kanara. They  resettled on their land and their land holdings were to some extent restored during the British rule.

Diocese of Mangalore

The Diocese of Mangalore covers the geographical area of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts in Karnataka and a part of Kasaragod district in Kerala. It is made up of roughly 160 parishes.  Presently, the Diocese of Mangalore is a large and well organized integral component of the World wide Roman Catholic Church .The Canon law that it is bound to provides a distinct administrative and hierarchical system which may be considered impersonal and aloof but working for progress and development. Some view it as having acquired similar ills that dog the civil governmental systems in vogue. There are moves underway to bring in more democracy in the functioning of Church matters universally under the guidance of the Roman Curia and Pope Benedict XVI. 

The impressive record of the Church in CANARA under the banner of the Diocese of Mangalore over the last 125 years, were headed by several Bishops that are recorded as:Bishop.Nicholas M Pagani (1878-95),Bishop Abundis Cavadini (1895-1910), Bishop.Paul Perini (1910-28), Bishop Valerian J D’Souza (1928-30), Bishop Victor R Fernandes (1931-55),Bishop Basil S Peres (1955-58),Bishop Raymond D’mello (1959-64),Bishop Basil S.D’Souza (1965-96) and presently Bishop Aloysius P D’Souza .
 
An overview of the salient information on the Diocese: It is spread over an area of 9,425 sq.kms out of a population of 41 lakhs Catholics number around 4 lakhs, in 161 parishes,15 deanaries. The clergy within it’s ambit is estimated to be near 500. Religious women now touches the 1700 mark. The educational institutions from KG to PG and professional are aplenty and increasing day by day. Also homes for the elderly, boardings,hostels, dispensaries,asylums are run admitting the needy of all communities. The entire region has benefited from this singular entity that stands in the name of God. The Diocese of Mangalore in these 125 years gone by has shown a remarkable upward trajectory in all spheres - except it’s demographic numbers. Even the great advent it faced between 1784-99 had not deterred it. Will it continue it’s forward momentum of growth by opening more it’s policies to the legitimate  demands and arise to the modern for ’Empowering the Laity’  democratizing it’s operations in keeping with world wide trends. Will it triumph in the true spirit of Christianity is now an all pervading question. What will the  future be?    


PROGRAMME:
THE DIOCESE of MANGALORE
Diocesan Post-Centenary Silver Jubilee Celebrations:
GRAND FINALE 11& 12 Feb, 2012.
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever’   Ps.107


Saturday- Feb 11,2012: Rosario Cathedral Premises.
“ Day of the Laity, Religious and Clergy”.
Message: Your sons will be ministers of salvation.

4 pm: Eucharistic Celebration.
Chief celebrant: Most Rev.Dr.Savio Hon Tai-Fai, SDB.,
Secretary,Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, Vatican, Rome.

Followed By Stage Programme: 5.15pm.
President : His Grace Most Rev.Dr.Savio Hon Tai-Fai, SDB.,
Secretary Congregation for the evangelization of Peoples, Vatican, Rome.

Chief Guest: His Grace Most Rev Dr. Albert D’Souza
Archbishop of  Agra, General Secretary CBCI New Delhi.

Guests of Honour:
Most Rev Dr.Bernard Moras. Archbishop of Bangalore.
Her Excellency  Smt Margaret Alva.The Governor of Utharkhand.
 Sri Oscar Fernandes. Member Rajya Sabha.

Programme:
Prayer dance-Magnificat, Welcome, Felicitations, Message from the Chief Guests,  Presidential Address, vote of  Thanks.
ZALOK - Cultural programme.

SUNDAY February 12,2012: Nehru Maidan
DAY OF THANKSGIVING.
Message: “Be witness To Christ, Build The Kingdom of God”

4 pm: Eucharistic Celebration.
Chief Celebrant : His Eminence Most Rev Dr. Oswald Cardinal Gracias,
Archbishop of Mumbai.

Followed By Stage Programme: 5.15pm.

President : His Grace Most Rev. Salvatore Pennacchio,
Apostolic Nuncio in India.
 
Chief Guest:  His Grace Most Rev.Dr.Savio Hon Tai-Fai, SDB.,
Secretary Congregation for the evangelization of Peoples, Vatican, Rome.
 
Guests of Honour:
Sri. D V Sadananda Gowda, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Karnataka.
Dr. M. Veerappa Moily, Hon’ble Union Minister –Corporate Affairs, Govt of India.
 
Programme:
Jubilee Song, Welcome, Felicitations, Chief Guests Message, President Speaks, Vote of Thanks,  Chaithanyodaya – A Ballet.
   
   
MEMORIAL PROJECTS MARKING THE JUBILEE:
1. Building 160 houses of 290 sq ft at a cost of Rs.2 Lakhs each,  for the poor of 15 deaneries.

2. providing free education up to PUC to the third and subsequent children of catholic families of the Diocese.

3.Building hostels in the Mangalore city for catholic students aspiring to higher education - Rupees Sixty Lakhs.

4. Building a Shrine/Chapel at Bajpe memorial of the visit of Bl Pope John Paul II to Mangalore - Rupees Fifty Lakhs.

5. Marian/Diocesan museum at Rosario Cathedral, to display the past history of our Diocese - Rupees Fifty Lakh.

6. Taking up mission work in mission stations/adopting a mission station in India/abroad to proclaim the good news.

7. Quiz on the history of the Diocese to be conducted through the Diocesan Weekly ’Raknno’ during the Jubilee year.

8. Bringing out a souvenir to mark the Post centenary Silver Jubilee - Rupees Eight Lakhs.

 

                 

 

Releated Article:

Diocese of Mangalore turns 125