Kulashekara Cordel Church to celebrate 150th anniversary on September 14 and 17

The Holy Cross Church of Kulashekar, known as ‘Cordel Church’, will celebrate its 150th anniversary on September 14 and 17

The Holy Cross Church of Kulashekar, known as ‘Cordel Church’, will celebrate its 150th anniversary on September 14 and 17.

Maxim Noronha, Vicar General of Mangalore Diocese, will lead the thanksgiving mass on September 14 at 5.30 p.m. Later, the day of all the heads, secretaries, ward heads, benefactors, and founders who have served in the parish will be celebrated.

There will be a festive celebration on September 17. Bishop of Mangalore Peter Paul Saldanha will offer the Thanksgiving service at 5.30 p.m.. That day will be celebrated as the day of all the priests and other religious people who have served in the parish, a release of the parish said.

Senior citizens’ day, disabled people’s day, sports festival, fancy fete, Non-Resident Indian day, and an all-religious meet will be held in the coming days to celebrate the anniversary.

The foundation for the construction of the church was laid on September 14, 1873. Kulshekar was then a part of Milagres Church.

Alexander Dubois, parish priest of Milagres Church who was popularly called Frad Swamy was the founder of Cordel Church. He dedicated a total of 60,000 francs that he had acquired from his inheritance and from the pontificate towards completing the church works. On December 11, 1877, halfway through the work, while tending to cholera patients, he succumbed to the same disease.

The then-Bishop A. Cavadini officially declared Kulashekara Church an independent centre on May 31, 1904 and appointed M. P. Colaco as the first parish priest of the church, the release added.