Mangalore : The post centenary silver jubilee celebrations of the Mangalore Diocese will be held on Feb 11 on the grounds of Rosario Cathedral and on Feb 12 on Nehru Maidan, said Rev. Aloysius Paul D’Souza, the bishop of Mangalore Diocese at a press meet held at the Bishop’s House on Feb 6 Monday.

Revealing facts about the Mangalore Diocese, he said that the diocese comprises 161 parishes in 3 districts and nearly 4,00,000 Catholics. It also comprises 335 diocesan priests, 160 religious priests, and 1,600 nuns. The diocese also owns educational institutions encompassing play schools to medical and engineering colleges, along with dispensaries, health care institutions, old age homes, and others.

Speaking about the jubilee celebrations, the bishop said that the celebrations will commence on the grounds of Rosario Cathedral on Feb 11 Saturday at 4:00 p.m. with a mass. Archbishop Savio, the honorary secretary of the Congregation of the Evangelization of the Peoples, will be the chief celebrant with around 20 bishops and 300 priests concelebrating. Nearly 15,000 people are expected to participate in the event.

The stage program will commence at 5:30 p.m. with dignitaries such as District-in-charge Minister Krishna J. Palemar; Cardinal Oswald Gracias, the archbishop of Bombay; Archbishop Salvatore Pennachio; Bernard Moras, the archbishop of Bangalore; MP Oscar Fernandes; Mabel Rebello; Dr. V. S. Acharya, the minister for higher education; and others gracing the occasion.

The celebrations on Feb 12 Sunday will commence at 4:00 p.m. on Nehru Maidan with a mass. Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Rev. Salvatore Pennachio, Archbishop Savio, and Rev. Bernard Moras will be present. Thirty bishops, 500 priests, and 50,000 people are expected to participate on this day.

The chief guests on Sunday will be CM D. V. Sadananda Gowda and Minister for Corporate Affairs Veerappa Moily, he said.

Rev. Denis Prabhu, the vicar general; Fr. Henry Sequeira, the chancellor; PRO Fr. William Menezes; Fr. Onil D’Souza; Fr. George; Fr. J. B. Crasta; Mr. Ivan D’Souza; Mr. Marcel Monteiro; Raymond D’Cunha, Mr. Sushil Norornha; and Elias Fernandes were also present.