Udupi : The Annual Feast of Our Lady of Vailankanni to be held on Stella Maris Church, Kalmady near herewith the Solemn Eucharistic celebration at 4pm on Thursday, August 15, 2019.
Addressing a media conference at Udupi Press Club, Rev Fr. Alban D'Souza parish priest of the Stella Maris Church said that Most Rev Dr. Gerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop of Udupi Diocese will precede over the Holy Eucharist.
On Wednesday, August 14, the Car Procession of Our Lady of Vailankanni will be flagged off by Sri Ivan D'Souza, MLC and former Parliamentary Secretary at 2.45 pm from Adi Udupi Junction, Regal Next building. Thereafter the Solemn Eucharistic celebration at 4pm will be presided by Most Rev Dr. Peter Paul Saldahna, Bishop of Mangalore diocese.
9days of Novena and prayers will be conducted every evening from 6th to 14th August at 3.45pm. Each day of the novena is dedicated with intentions and themes.
The flag of Our Lady of Vailankanni will be hoisted on the newly inaugurated column of honor beside the Church on 6th August 2019 to mark the beginning of the 9 days novena. Very Rev Dr. Ronald Serrao, Rector of St Joseph's Seminary, Mangalore will be the main celebrant for the Holy Eucharist.
Fr Alban D'Souza said that Stella Maris Church devoted to Our Lady of Vailankanni at Kalmady attracts thousands of pilgrims from around the world. Larger visiting devotees and parishioners have recorded testimonies of miracles and special favours by Our Lady of Vailankanni. We have strong witnesses that there have been miracles taking place in this place. Large devotees without any caste and religion visit this place every day and seek God's blessings.
Inspired by the Noah's Art, Stella Maris Church in Kalmady, Udupi is built in the shape of a boat and also has a bell tower in the shape of a lighthouse. The 1st of its shape in Karnataka and second in India and third in Asia.
He said Stella Maris means the star of the Sea and this name suits beautifully to this church. Stella Maris Church is situated on the coastal banks of Arabian Sea. It is very close to Malpe natural harbor of Udupi district, Karnataka, India.
Stella Maris Church of Kalmady being a great pilgrim center, like the morning star guides the devotees of Jesus and Mother Mary to give up their sinful life and to follow the path of prayers truthfulness, nobility, love and sacrifice and to walk on the tootsteps of Jesus. So it helps the sinners to give up there evils ways, bad habits and helps them to come out of it and lead a good life.
Kalmady being a small village was totally unknown to the outside people. But now because of Stella Maris Church and the Lady of Vailankanni Shrine, it has become a great pilgrim centre. Today, Kalmady has marked its own boundary in the world map. People from all over the world come to this Church seeking favour from our lady of Vailankanni and when they receive favours again they come here with the gratitude to give thanks. So the place Kalmady which is chosen by God himself has become a place of miracles, devotion and has brought in communal harmony and brotherhood here.
Before 1972 there was no church in Kalmady. People of Kalmady had to go to Udupi Mother of Sorrows Church or St Anne Church, Thottam for the religious need. Thereafter a small Chapel was built by Rev Fr. Charles D'Souza, the founder o Stella Maris Church, Kalmady being a native of Kalmady. This Chapel was blessed by then Bishop Basil D'Souza on 5th Fenruary, 1972.
It was on 15th August 1988, the Statue of Our Lady of Vailankanni donated by Fr. Wilson D'Souza was brought from Vailankanni to be installed at Kalmady Church. On August 15, 1988, it was blessed in Mother of Sorrows Church Udupi and was brought to Kalmady in a grand procession and was installed here by Bishop Basil D'Souza. Since then it has become a great shrine and pilgrim center.
Thereafter every year the feast of installation of Our Lady of Vailankanni statue at Kalmady is celebrated on 15th August. On August 14, Our Lady of Vailankanni car procession is held to commemorate the procession.
The new church was inaugurated 6th January 2018 during the tenure of Rev Fr. Alban D'Souza.