Mangalore : “Divine Word” a 24×7 Catholic Religious channel, the first of its kind,  launched by the Mangalore and Udupi Dioceses was inaugurated by Mangalore Bishop Fr Aloysius Paul D’Souza at a function held at Milagres Church Grounds in Mangalore on December 22, Saturday.

In his address, the Bishop thanked Stephen Mendes of Western Institute of Technology, whose efforts  helped in setting up the channel. He also said the channel would go a long way in promoting Christianity and spreading its message to the world.

Rajya Sabha Member Oscar Fernandes also spoke on the occasion.   David Frank Fernandes, Vice President of the channel’s managing committee, Elias Sanctis, Sadananda Shetty of Shree Devi Education Trust, Ivan Mendes and Alwyn Walter D’Souza, patrons of the channel, were honoured by the Bishop.

Rev   John S Sadananda, Bishop of CSI and Fr Denis Moras Prabhu, Vicar General of Mangalore Diocese  blessed the occasion.

Among others present were Yogish Bhat, Deputy Speaker, Abhayachandra Jain, MLA, Fr Franklin Monteiro, Rajesh Mendes, Gregory Mendes, Sunil Mendes, Fr Santosh Kamath, Fr Victor Vijay Machado, Naveen D’Souza, Corporator  and Ashwin Pereira.

The Divine Bass Band presented carols while  Immaculate Conception Church, Kinnigoli presented a play ‘Peace be with you.’

Christmas celebrations were also held on the occasion.