Vinay Kumar Sorake, Urban Development Minister, said on Tuesday that the Christian community had contributed to education and healthcare in the coastal districts. He was speaking at the inaugural function of the new building of the 178-year-old Mount Rosary Church at Kallianpur-Santhekatte, here.
Mr. Sorake said that Udupi district was a melting pot of different cultures. It was gearing up for the mahamastakabhisheka of Lord Bahubali in Karkala, which would be held from January 21 to 31. The annual feast of St. Lawrence Church at Attur near Karkala will be held from January 27 to 29.
The district administration had taken steps to ensure the smooth conduct of these important festivals.
A tourism corridor will be constructed from Shirva to St. Mary’s Island near Udupi to promote tourism. The Siddaramaiah-government was committed to the welfare of Christians and had allocated Rs. 150 crore for this purpose in the State budget in the present fiscal, Mr. Sorake said.
Before the eucharistic mass, the new building was inaugurated by Jerry Vincent Dais, Vice President of Parish Pastoral Council.
Aloysius Paul D’Souza, Bishop of Mangalore Catholic Diocese, Gerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop of Udupi Catholic Diocese, Leo Cornelio, Archbishop of Bhopal, Oswald Lewis, Bishop of Jaipur, Gerald John Mathias, Bishop of Lucknow, and Philip Neri Aranha, parish priest, graced the occasion.
Oscar Fernades, Rajya Sabha member, Pramod Madhwaraj, MLA, U.R. Sabhapathi and K. Raghupati Bhat, former MLAs, Budan Basha, president of Udupi Jamia Mosque, were present.
