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Kasargod, Feb 5, 2009 : The platinum jubilee celebrations of Christ the King church, Kayyar, near here was held on Thursday February 5.

Bishop Aloysius Paul D'Souza of Mangalore offered the Holy Eucharist at 10.00 am on Thursday, along with Kayyar parish priest Fr Anil Alfred D'Souza and other priests from the entire Mangalore diocese and neighbouring dioceses of Kerala. Platinum jubilee souvenir too was released on the occasion.

Earlier, Bishop Dr Aloysius Paul D'Souza was offered grand welcome at the entrance of church by a large gathering of parishioners.

The platinum jubilee year was inaugurated on April 21, 2008 by Bishop Aloysius Paul D'Souza, The platinum jubilee hall built by Fr Walter Mendonca and the stage built in memory of the late Fr L S Pais too was inaugurated on the same occasion.

The cultural programme which is the summit of the platinum jubilee will be held on Thursday Feburary 5 evening during which 'Seeta Teacher', a Tulu drama by Vijaykumar Kodialbail will be staged.

About Kayyar:

Christ the King church of Kayyar is one of the twelve churches of Kasargod deanery. Much before a church was built at Kayyar, devotees from Kayyar, Mangalpady, Kudal, Heroor, Pyvalike and Badoor used to go to Bela church for their spiritual needs, walking about 20 kms distance. Seeing their religious fervour, Fr Paustine Aranha, the then parish priest of the Bela church erected a small house on a land donated by one of the donors at Kayyar. This house was later converted into a small chapel by Fr J A Rodrigues who succeeded Fr Aranha. The church received the Demarcation Decree on February 16, 1934. It was on September 12, 1935 that Bela assistant parish priest Fr Louis Furtado started the Don Bosco School at Kayyar and started residing at Kayyar.

Beginning from Fr Louis, 16 priests have served Kayyar church as parish priests. But Fr L S Pais who was the parish priest between 1951 and 1965 has been considered as the 'Architect of Modern Kayyar.' Beginning with a separate new building for the school, he went to build present church and even carry out other development works. He worked relentlessly in order to provide education to students of all religions and communities, opened a dispensary, appointed a doctor, built grotto dedicated to the patronage of Our Lady of Lourdes etc.