JAWLGERA, BELLARY, SEP. 18: Jwalgera parish in Raichur district celebrated with great jubilation the first Holy Mass of its new priest, Sep. 18.
The newly ordained Benedictine priest, Fr. Placid Santhosh celebrated his first Holy Mass in his native parish accompanied by 27 priests and a large congregation.
Son of Mr. Sebastian and Lourdamma, Fr Placid is the first young man to be ordained to priesthood from the Jawalgera parish.
One among the four sons of Mr. and Mrs. Sebastian, Fr Placid lost his only sister in a road accident a few years ago.
Vicar General of the Diocese Fr. Chowrappa preached homily at the thanksgiving mass and felicitated the new priest.
Fr. Placid is a post graduate in Arts and will be working in school run by the Benedictines in Bangalore.
Jawalgera has been a vibrant mission centre. Fr. Bonaventure Davis, O.F.M., Parish Priest of Kowtal made contacts through the Catechist. In 1947 Fr. Fintan Mc Donough, O.F.M. rented a house in the bazaar and took up residence as Parish Priest.
Fr. Fintan was succeeded by Fr. Owen Mc Laughlin, O.F.M. who began a small dispensary, which was enlarged by Fr. Louis Madden. In 1949, Fr. Bonaventure Davis, O.F.M. purchased a plot of land on which a hut was built for Mass.
In 1951, Fr. Fintan Mc Donough, O.F.M. built a chapel and the presbytery.
The Sisters of St. Anne of Providence came and lived in a rented house in the bazaar until the Convent was built in 1955.
Since then presbytery, Convent, Chapel has been extended and a school, orphanage and dispensary also have been built.
Fr. Paul Moras is presently the parish priest of Jawlgera nd Fr. Alphonse George Assistant Parish Priest.
The Shrine of Bellary Arogya Mathe was blessed and dedicated on 8th September 2000 on the feast of the Nativity of our Blessed Mother Mary in memory of the great jubilee 2000 and the Golden Jubilee of the Diocese of Bellary