MARGAO
Archbishop of Goa Filipe Neri Ferrao blessed and inaugurated the newly-constructed Immaculate Conception Church at Belagavi popularly known as the Goa Church at a solemn ceremony on Friday morning, with the Archbishop reminding the gathering that beautiful churches pose a greater challenge to the faithful to grow in the community of faith rooted in Jesus and united in love and committed to witness to the values of the Gospel.
"The stones and lights of the Church invites the Parishioners to be the living stones of the living Church of Jesus. The more beautiful the Churches, the greater the challenge to grow in the community of faith, rooted in Jesus, united in love and committed to witness to the values of the Gospel," Archbishop Filipe Neri said as he blessed the Church in the presence of Belagavi Archbishop Peter Machado and Karwar Bishop Derrick Fernandes, Belagavi Vicar General and Immaculate Conception Church Parish Priest Fr Lucio Mascarenhas, over 80 priests and hundreds of Parishioners.
Archbishop Filipe Neri recalled the historical relationship between the Goa Archdiocese and the Belagavi diocese, further recalling how Bishop William D'Mello used to describe the Belagavi and Karwar dioceses as the daughter and grand daughter of
Goa diocese.
He congratulated Belagavi Bishop Peter Machado and Parish Priest Fr Lucio Mascarenhas and the parishioners for the beautiful Church dedicated to Immaculate Conception, the Patroness of the Church.
He made a special mention of Fr Gabriel Lobo, the Priest from his home village Aldona, who used to cycle his way from Goa to Belagavi to serve in the Church, saying that Fr Lobo had worked at the Belagavi Church with dedication and self sacrifice.
In his address, Bishop Peter Machado said the Immaculate Conception Church has a rich history since it was built around 1823-24 with a small Chapel by the missionaries to cater to the religious needs of the early Goan settlers to Belagavi. "From a Chapel, the first temporary church was built around 1851 before Fr Gabriel Lobo re-built the Church in 1985," Bishop Machado said, while lauding Parish Priest, Fr Lucio Mascarenhas for achieving the dream of a new Church building within eight months.
Hundreds of Parishioners participated in the Eucharistic celebration concelebrated by Goa Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao and attended by over 80 priests from the diocese.
