The beginning :
Prior to 2018, Pilar was part of Shirva parish.
Responding to the spiritual needs, especially of the senior citizens of Pilar, the then parish priest of Shirva V. Rev. Fr Sylvester D'Souza (1987 - 94) started monthly Sunday Masses in the St. Joseph Higher Primary School, Pilar in 1987. V. Rev. Fr. Valerian Pinto (2001 - 08) increased the service to fortnightly and gradually weekly.
In 2007 the service of the Pilar Chapel was entrusted to the Salesian Fathers of Don Bosco Youth Centre. Ever since, they have been giving commendable service to the chapel with Sunday Masses, Catechism and the like of the five wards assigned to the Chapel : Jalamel, Khadpahutal, Pilar Upper, Pilar Lower and Majalbet.
Concept of new church :
As the school building was small and getting old, Fr. Stany Tauro , the then parish priest of Shirva, felt the need to build a new church for the convenience of thé people. Accordingly, Bishop Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo laid the foundation stone for Infant Jesus Church, Pilar, on April 14, 2016 along with Vinay Kumar Sorake, minister for urban development and district in-charge, clergy and parishioners.
All was completed smoothly by the continuous efforts of the Faithful with the help of the government under the leadership and supervision of Fr Stany Tauro - Parish Priest, Fr Kiran Nazareth, SDB - Director of Don Bosco Youth Center Shirva and parishioners. The church is spacious enough to comfortably accommodate 800 faithful. In addition, the new church has a presbytery by its side, for the residence of Priests, belfry.
Inauguration and Blessing of the New Church at Pilar :
The newly constructed Infant Jesus Church Pilar- Shirva, the first church to be dedicated to Infant Jesus in Udupi diocese was blessed by the Bishop of Udupi, Rt. Rev. Dr. Gerald I. Lobo on January 02, 2018. Also the sub-station of Shirva, Infant Jesus Chapel was raised to the status of the parish on the same day.
The Bishop was welcomed by V. Rev. Fr Stany Tauro, Parish Priest and others at the entrance. Later the Bishop inaugurated the newly concreted road for the church sanctioned by MLC Ivan D’Souza with the MLC fund. Fr Valerian Mendonca, chancellor of Udupi Diocese inaugurated the new church gate, while David D’Souza, president of Mudarangadi Grama Panchayat inaugurated the new high mast light. Later Bishop Gerald Lobo blessed and inaugurated the Presbytery and Belfry.
The grand ceremony of the inauguration and blessing of the church was done by the Bishop along with V. Rev. Fr Stany Tauro, Parish Priest and dean of Shirva Deanery; V. Rev. Fr Valerian Mendonca, Chancellor and Dean of the Udupi Deanery; V. Rev. Felix Fernandes, Provincial of Salesian Don Bosco Konkan Goa Province and a number of priests from Udupi and Mangalore Dioceses, Religious men, women and the parishioners and guests. The inauguration was followed by the Solemn Mass which was concelebrated by several priests.
After the Mass, a public felicitation program was held presided over by the Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo. Mr. Vinay Kumar Sorake MLA Kaup; Ivan D’Souza, Chief Whip Karnataka legislative council; Msgr. Baptist Menezes, Vicar general of Udupi Diocese; Rev. Fr Felix Fernandes, Provincial of Salesian Don Bosco Konkan Goa Province; Rev. Fr Valerian Mendonca, Chancellor Udupi Diocese; Rev. Fr Stany Tauro Parish Priest and Dean of Shirva Deanery, Rev. Fr Kiran Nazareth SDB, In-charge Pilar Church and others were present on the dais.
On behalf of the Diocese of Udupi, Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo felicitated V. Rev. Fr Stany Tauro and V. Rev. Fr Felix Fernandes as a token of appreciation for their great work at Pilar. Former parish priests, contractors, Engineer, Sponsors, donors were felicitated on the occasion. Fellowship meal was served to all those who attended the inaugural function.
First parish priest :
Fr Vishal Lobo transferred from Basrur parish took charge as the first parish priest of new Shirva Pilar church on June 2, 2018. Chief priest of the Church of the Mother of Sorrows Fr Valerian Mendonca who had arrived as the representative of the bishop, conducted the formalities of the transfer of responsibilities.
Shirva church parish priest and Pilar church in-charge, Fr Stany Tauro handed over the records of the new church. Vice-president of the parish pastoral council, Wilson D'Souza handed over details of accounts. The bishop's representative handed over the key of the tabernacle and symbolically transferred the charge of the parish priest.
Inauguration and blessing of Grotto :
The newly built Grotto was blessed by the Bishop of Udupi Rt. Rev. Dr. Gerald I. Lobo at Pilar on 30th August, 2018.
Rev. Fr Vishal Lobo celebrated the mass along with other two guest Priests. After the mass, the Grotto blessing ceremony was held. The Bishop conducted the Prayer service and blessed the Grotto. After the blessing children offered flowers to Mother Mary.
Parish Priests who have served in the parish :
1. Fr Vishal Lobo (02-01-2018 to 07-07-2021)
2. Fr John Alfred Barboza (from 07-07-2021 onwards)
Compiled by Catholic Time Staff.
Last updated in Dec 2021.
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