Golden Jubilee Celebration of the Consecration of the Altar and Place of Worship

August 6, 2017 was a memorable day for all the Parishioners and those connected with the Parish of the Annunciation Church, Nandidurga Road, Bangalore, for the past 50 years. On that day they celebrated the Golden Jubilee of the Consecration of the Altar and the Chapel as a public place of worship, which is currently, the Annunciation Church..
Most Rev. Thomas Pothacamury, the Archbishop of Bangalore gave permission to Sr. Godelieve De Rynck, of the Society of Religious of Mary of Nazareth and Sr. Mary Philippe Kershaw of the Visitation Order-Teaching Branch to start the Contemplative Order of the Congregation of the Sisters of Mary of Nazareth at Nandidurga Road, Bangalore. Sr. Godelieve De Rynck became the Superior General and Sr. Mary Philippe Kershaw became the Assistant Superior General of the Congregation. Sr. Godelieve De Rynck through her letter dated 24th July, 1954 to Most Rev. Dr. Thomas Pothacamury sought permission for building a ‘Chapel of Perpetual Adoration’ to meet the spiritual needs of the Archdiocese of Bangalore, in general; and the Town of Bangalore, in particular. The intention was to have uninterrupted homage ‘Adoration’ to draw divine blessings on India and its people. The foundation was laid for the construction of the Chapel in the year 1956. Meanwhile, based on the constant request of Sr. Godelieve De Rynck and Sr. Mary Philippe Kershaw, the Decree of Suppression of the Religious Congregation of the Sisters of Mary of Nazareth was issued on 31st May 1965. The property was handed over to the Archdiocese of Bangalore for suitable compensation, but not according to the value mentioned in the Title Deed. At this juncture the Archdiocese wanted to fulfill the intentions of the Donor, i.e., Perpetual Adoration at the Chapel and therefore, shifted the obligation to the Cathedral for which the Archdiocese of Bangalore built a Convent there.

On 19th September, 1966 Most Rev. Dr. D. S. Lourdusamy, Coadjutor Archbishop of Bangalore and Marie Elia, Regional Superior of Foreign Missions entered into an Agreement by which the Congregation of Foreign Missions Sisters took charge of the Guardianship of the Chapel and its property and began their Novitiate. During their time, the construction of the Chapel was completed and it was Consecrated and Blessed on 15th July 1967. A copy of the Speech made at the Reception after the Ceremony of Blessing of the New Chapel and Consecration of the Altar on 15th July 1967 is preserved, to this day, in the Parish Office (Annunciation Church).
Once the Congregation of Foreign Missions Sisters (currently known as ‘Institute of the Foreign Missions Sisters in India, ME’) handed back the property to the Archdiocese of Bangalore, the Presentation Sisters of Coimbatore took charge of the Chapel and the Property. Most Rev. Dr. Bernard Moras, the Archbishop of Bangalore through his decree dated 1st June, 2010 carved out a New Parish dedicated to our Lady of Annunciation and established the Parish of Annunciation Church with effect from 27th June, 2010.
The Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the Consecration of the Altar and the Chapel as the Public Place of Worship, which is currently the Annunciation Church, began with the Flag Hoisting on 3rd August, 2017 at 6:30 a.m., after which we had 3 days of Novena Prayers being offered, followed by Mass. The programme was well attended and all who participated went back spiritually enriched with the Services conducted.

His Grace the Archbishop of Bangalore, Most Rev. Dr. Bernard Moras was the Main Celebrant for the Golden Jubilee Mass on 6th August 2017 at 8:30 a.m. Very Rev. Fr. A.S. Anthonyswamy (Chancellor & PRO of Archdiocese of Bangalore, Parish Priest of St. Francis Xavier’s Cathedral, and Manager & Correspondent of St. Anthony’s School), Very Rev. Fr. Martin Anand Kumar (Financial Administrator of the Archdiocese of Bangalore), Rev. Fr. Panneer Selva Kumar (Secretary to the Archbishop of Bangalore), Rev. Fr. Martin, S.J. (from Indian Social Institute), Rev. Fr. John Baptist Pinto, OCD (Parish Priest of St. John the Baptist Church, Vijaynagar) and Rev. Fr. Patrick Edward Pinto (Parish Priest) were the concelebrants of the Mass. His Grace the Archbishop, in his Homily to the Congregation mentioned that, “We must be with Our Lord alone. We must feel good to be in the presence of Our Lord. In order to be with the Lord we must leave our past behind.” He also said that, “All of us must have a great transformation of mind s and hearts.”
A well-attended Food Fest, Games and Housie followed the Holy Mass; where everyone had a chance to interact with one another and spend some quality time together. In the evening there was a Grand Procession where parishioners went around the colony with the Statue of Our Blessed Mother Mary with Baby Jesus in her arms. A good number of Parishioners and Religious Sisters of the various Congregations attached to the Parish led us in Prayer, Singing and Recitation of the Holy Rosary, all along the way.
The Service on all four days of the Feast was so spiritually uplifting, the congregation comprising Parishioners from both the subject Parish as well as other Parishes and who are regular participants in all our Church activities expressed their deep gratitude to the Organising Committee who together with the Decoration Party made this occasion a very uplifting and memorable experience.
There are only two more pending events, which are part of the Golden Jubilee celebration, viz: the Mass for the Sick will be held on 12th August 2017 and the Family Day that will be held on 13th August 2017. On that day there will be a Grand Eucharistic Celebration at 11:30 a.m. followed by a Fellowship Lunch for all the Parishioners and the Non-parishioners associated with our Parish activities for the past 50 Years, many of whom have been part of the growth of our Parish from a Chapel to this established Parish Church.