Mangalore : The Centenary Celebrations of the consecration of Holy Cross Church, Cordel, Kulshekar will held on Feb 18, Saturday.

Speaking at the press meet held at Holy Cross Church, Fr Valerian Pinto, Parish Priest said that the church commenced its centenary celebration on January 29, 2011 and had organized various religious prorgrammes and retreat for the devotees. Various cultural activities and Football tournament have also been conducted in the limits of church.

Most Rev Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, Bishop of Mangalore will preside over the event and perform the concelebrated Solemn Jubilee Eucharist. Most Rev Dr Gerald Issac Lobo, Bishop of Shimoga, Hon Justice B V Pinto, High Court of Karnataka, Deputy Speaker N Yogesh Bhat and IGP Prathap Reddy will participate as the chief guest at the valedictory ceremony to be held on Feb 18, Saturday.

A book ‘History of Diocese’ authored by Fr Devdatta Kamath and centres telephone directory will be released on the occasion, he said.

Fr Valerian Pinto, Parish Priest also released the centenary celebration logo at the press meet.

Speaking on the controversy of first beneficiaries of Mangalore Diocese house project owner Irene and John, a couple of Maroli, Fr said that the couple is lying and he has not taken any cheques from them for the construction of house. But the diocese has given three cheques of Rs 15,000 each to the couple in three different programme.

For the project, the amount of Rs 50,000 has to be accommodated from the parishes and Rs 50,000 from the Mangalore diocese and they have to pay it back, when they afford to give. The house constructed would spent Rs 1,90,000 and the diocese has given s one lakh, tiles and other materials for the construction. The couple may have totally spent Rs 20,000 he said. Helping poor a lot will also put people in difficulty, he added.

Sushil Naronha, George D’Souza, Praveen Patrao, Fr Melvin Naronha and others were present.