Immaculate Heart Church, (Karnal)
History
The foundation stone of the Church of Immaculate Heart of Mary was blessed and laid by Rt. Rev. John Burke (B.A., L.L.D., D.D.), Bishop of Shimla on 26 August 1962. The Church of Immaculate Heart of Mary was blessed by Rt. Revd. Mons. Alfred Fernandez (D.D.) Bishop of Shimla and Chandigarh on 22 August 1968.
Architecture
The church is built in Victorian style of architecture. The main structure consists of an altar, a baptistry, a pulpit and two vestries. The pulpit of the church is adorned with velvet curtains. The floor of the church is made up of geometrical tiles. A ground is also located at the back of the church for ceremonial purposes.
Structures
The main hall cover an area of 1325 square feet and can accommodate around 40 people. The walls of the hall are 2 feet thick. The bell is another feature of the church.
Grotto
There is a grotto of Mary at the entrance of the church boundary.
Administration
The church is a Latin Rite church administered by Roman Catholic Diocese of Simla and Chandigarh, an archdiocese of the Catholic Church in India.
Parish Members
There are 100 families, totalling 500 people. The Catholic devotees consist of people from various regions of India such as Jharkhand, Punjab, South India etc. apart from local Christians who settled locally for reason of employment.
Parish Council
There is also a parish council of the church whose members take decisions regarding the welfare of Church people; the decisions regarding feast celebration, organisation of camps are taken with the consent of parish members. Representatives from All India Christian Council are also invited when taking major decisions. A monthly meeting is held for this purpose.
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Mahila Mandal
To empower the women of the parish, the church has set up a welfare group for women which enables women in strengthening them morally and financially by a committee system.
President | Mrs. Claudia Minj |
Secretary | Mrs. Sumela Dungdung |
Cashier | Mrs. Annamma Rajan |
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Youth
Indian Catholic Youth Movement being the apex body under the auspices of Catholic Bishops' Conference of India works for the development of Christian youth helps the upcoming Christian youth various seminars, Retreat camps are simultaneously organised for and by youth with the helping hands of parish council members. The function of the youth is to provide their services at times of social services at church as choir, musician, church decoration etc. Duties are rotated among the members of group and hence responsible ones are nominated as leaders for the group.
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Priest in the service of Church
The current parish Priest are of Indian Missionary Society.
Year | Parish Priest | Asst. Parish Priest |
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2019 | Rev. Fr. Sandeep Masih, IMS | |
2017 | Rev.Fr. Jeevan, IMS | |
2013 | Father Ashwin Lobo | Father Sumiran |
2011-2013 | Father Rupesh | Father Sandeep |
2009-2011 | Father Suchit Paul | |
2005-2009 | Father Amar |
References
- ^ "Immaculate Heart Church – Karnal -Simla Chandigarh Churches- catholic churches.in". 16 February 2010. Retrieved 3 November 2022.