Cordel creates history as 'Bible day and night' concludes

While Mangalore Diocesan Bishop Rev Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza read the first chapter of New Testament at 7.30 pm on Monday, the last chapter was read by Vicar General Rev Fr Denis Moras Prabhu at 7.30 pm on Tuesday, which was followed by holy mass.

The extraordinary spiritual exercise lasted for about 28 hours (including the mass) in which 56 priests, 5 deacons, 7 nuns and 192 laity read the Bible without any break.
Interestingly, as the Bible reading was coming to an end, rains accompanied with heavy winds blew away the sheets covering the stage and rainwater started seeping onto the stage. However, none stopped reading the Bible.

In a brief valedictory programme, St Joseph’s Seminary Rector Rev Fr Victor Machado (who served Cordel church 37 years ago), said that there are two types of people — those who write history and those who make history and Cordel comes under the second category. He also remembered the Founder of the church, Rev Fr Alexander Dubois, the missionary, who came all the way from France to construct a church at Cordel.

Another guest, St John’s Medical College (Bangalore) Director and former parish priest of Cordel Rev Lawrence D’Souza and Vicar General Rev Fr Denis Moras Prabhu lauded the efforts of Cordel parish priest Rev Fr Valerian Pinto, assistant parish priests and parishioners for organising the historic event.