Fr Charles Serrao, the provincial superior of the Carmelites of Karnataka-Goa province, will inaugurate the newly-built Infant Mary Church at Bajjodi in Mangaluru on January 2, 2015. The holy Eucharist will be celebrated and the blessing of the new church will be done by Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, the Bishop of Mangaluru. A felicitation function will be held after the holy mass followed by lunch” said Fr Joe Tauro, the Superior of St Joseph’s Monastery-Carmel Hill, during the press meet held at Mangalore Press Club. Rev. Fr Melwyn D’Cunha, Parish Priest, Infant Mary church, Rev. Fr Deep Fernandes, Asst Parish Priest, Infant Mary Church, and Vincent Mascarenhas, Media committee Member were also present on the dais.
The dignitaries that will grace the occasion will be Fr Joe Tauro, the superior of St Joseph’s Monastery, Carmel hill, Fr Antony Serrao, parish priest of St Sebastian Church, Bendore, Fr Melvin D’Cunha, presently the priest in charge of Infant Mary Church, Oscar Fernandes (Honorable Member of Parliament), J.R. Lobo (MLA), Ivan D’Souza (MLC), Rev. Fr. Pius James D’Souza (Episcopal Vicar for Religious), Lancy Mascarenhas (Contractor), George (Engineer), Lawrence Cutinha (Architect), along with clergymen and devotees during the inauguration.
A new parish in the diocese
Infant Mary Church, Bajjodi which has been part of the Bendore parish so far will become a new parish after the inauguration of the church. The Carmelite fathers from Infant Jesus Shrine, Carmel Hill always helped them in their spiritual needs as Bendore church was very far for them to visit. Later the Carmelites were entrusted to build a new church when the need arose.
Fr Nelson Pinto took the initiative and helped in the important matters to start the parish. Then Fr Melvin D’Cunha took over from him to begin the construction of the church. Fr Melvin is being assisted by Fr Deep Fernandes. The new independent parish has 6 wards with 327 families.
It took three years to complete the church building. The style of architecture is Roman gothic. The church building has four floors which is not a common thing in the region.The building also has a hall and a mini hall.There are sufficient rooms for Sunday catechism. The prayer hall in the church can accommodate 600 people inside and 200 people in the balcony.
The church has a magnificent front door with the picture of Holy Family. Other doors have the pictures of saints. The grills in the balcony depict the 20 mysteries of the Rosary.
