Udupi: Hundreds of people belonging to various parishes under Udupi Diocese gathered to accord a grand welcome to the first Bishop of Udupi Diocese Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo on the occasion of his Pura Pravesha on October17, Wednesday.

Fr Fred Mascarenhas, Parish Priest Mother of Sorrows Church and Fr Anil D’Souza, welcomed the Bishop near Karavali Junction prior to the procession. Boniface D’Souza. Vice President of Parish Pastor Council accorded   welcome to the Bishop with the traditional tabulom.

The Bishop was taken in a procession in an open vehicle from Karavali Junction to Mother of Sorrows Church. A Eucharistic Adoration was celebrated in the Church. MP Oscar Fernandes, MLA Raghupati Bhat, Jerry Vincent Dias, President Karavali Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Louis Lobo, President, IFKCA Udupi, Kiran Kumar, President, CMC Udupi, Gokuldas Nayak, Municipal Commissioner of Udupi and several other leaders welcomed the Bishop.

In his address, the Bishop said efforts should be made to make Udupi Diocese the best Diocese in the nation. He also said more importance must be given to faith of belief in this Year of Faith.

Members of Sthree Sanghatan, Catholic Sabha, ICYM, YCS, priests from various churches of the diocese, nuns and several others took part in the procession.