Udupi: The Golden Jubilee celebrations of St. Vincent de Paul Society, Sacred Heart Church Kolalgiri conference was held with fervor on Tuesday, 27th September, 2016.

The celebrations started at 10.30 am with Eucharistic celebrations concelebrated by Very Rev Fr. Fredrick Mascarenhas, Dean of Udupi Deanery and Spiritual Director of Diocesan SSVP, Rev Fr. Roshan Menezes OFM, The Episcopal Vicar for Religious Diocese of Udupi and Rev Fr. Wilfred Frank, Vicar of Kolalgiri church.

In his homily, Fr Fred Mascarenhas outlined the values of human by helping those who need and distress with the spirit of love of Jesus Christ. So many Vincentians since fifty years in Kolalgiri chuch gave their valuable services to the poor never forgettable one. We should remember them on this auspicious occasion of the celebration today especially. One can see the God almighty through our needed services to the poorest of the poor.

After the thanksgiving mass the Sacristy of the church was inaugurated by cutting the ribbon by Most Rev Dr. Gerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop of Udupi Diocese and blessed the newly built attached Sacristy which donated by the Government of Karnataka, Minority Development Fund. Meanwhile Our Mother of Vailenkani Grotto also blessed and inaugurated by the Bishop.

The stage programme of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of SSVP, Kolalgiri Conference held at Parish Hall. Very Rev Dr. Gerald Isaac Lobo was presided over the programme. The programme began with an invocation dance by the local school students.

Very Rev Fr. Fredrick Mascarenhas, Rev Fr. Wilfred Frank, Rev Fr. Roshan Capuchin, Bro. Gracian Buthello, President SSVP, Udupi Central Committee, Bro. Richard D’Souza, President of SSVP, Kallianpur Area Council, Bro. Lancy Mascarenhas, President of the Kolalgiri conference, Vice President of Parish Council and officials of SSVP, Kolalgiri Conference were present on the dais.

Bishop gave his message on the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the conference and said that St. Vincent de Paul and Blessed Fredrick Ozanam showed us the virtues of Jesus, so that we must try to emulate the virtues of Jesus also. We should help those who are needy and should wipe out the needy one through the various services to needy.

Bro. Gracian Buthello outlined that The SSVP is worldwide Association in more than 141 countries,the international headquarters is in Paris, France. Renato Lima de Oliveira has taken over New President General of SSVP worldwide. SSVP has a membership of some 50,000 conferences. The International SSVP has consultative status with UNESCO as an NGO.

Golden Jubilee cake was cut by Bishop and shared with Vincentian member