Udupi: The General Body Meeting of Catholic Sabha Udupi Pradesh, Late Francis Danthi Memorial Literary Award and Late Denis D’Silva Memorial Essay Competition prize distribution was held at Mount Rosary Millennium Hall, Santhekatte, Kallianpur here on Sunday, June 9, 2019.
Mount Rosary Church parish priest Rev Fr. Dr. Leslie D’Souza inaugurated the programme by watering a sapling. In his inaugural address Fr. Dr Leslie D’Souza said “Catholic Sabha works with the intention of spreading love and unity among our society. Catholic Sabha is the pillar of our church, and is the strength to work for the society through various works in unity, love and sacrifice”.
Well-known Konkani writer Wilson Roshan Sequeira (pen name Wilson Kateel) was conferred with Late Francis Danthi Memorial Literary Award 2019, for his Kannada Literary work ‘Nishedakolapatta Ondu Notu’.
Wilson Kateel, in his address, said “A strong community with a strong thought needs to be built in order to respond to the social happenings in the society. Without a strong thought the community cannot grow”. He also shared some of his experiences of his literary career.
Winners of Late Denis D’Silva Memorial Essay competition and All India Catholic Union painting competition were also honoured during the occasion.
The chief guest of the occasion Kota Valerian Menezes, President of Catholic Credit Co-operative Society, Brahmavar, released the Catholic Sabha 2019 directory.
In his address, Rev Fr. Ferdinand Gonsalves, Spiritual Director of Catholic Sabha Udupi Pradesh, said that Catholic Sabha Udupi Pradesh is one of the model unit all over the country. “Other diocesan Catholic Sabha units have approached me to take a study of our Catholic Sabha constitution. This is due to our Catholic Sabha officials’ and members’ hard work. The contribution of Catholic Sabha for our society has been remarkable. This spirit should continue and we should work for the betterment of our society,” he added.
Alwyn Quadros, President of Catholic Sabha Udupi Pradesh Central Committee, expressed his gratitude to all the members of the committee for their support and guidance during his last tenure, and asked to keep up the good work in future.
The best performing Catholic Sabha parish units in Deanery level as well as parish level were honored during the occasion. Gregory P T D’Souza presented the report of 2017/18 general body meeting. Santhosh Cornelio presented the report for the 2018/19. Walter Cyril Pinto and Gerald Rodrigues presented the financial report of the year 2018/19.
Reports of Manasa Rehabilitation Center, Pamboor and ‘Sashakth Samuday Seva Trust’ were also presented during the occasion.
President Alwyn Quadros presided over the programme. Valerian Fernandes immediate past president, other officials including Mary D’Souza, Robert Menezes, Henry Menezes of Manasa, Gerald Rodrigues, Anil Paul D’Souza, Mount Rosary Unit President Elias D’Souza, Gregory D’Souza and family members of late Francis Danthi and late Denis D’Silva and others were present on the dais.
Mary D’Souza welcomed the gatherings, Santhosh Cornelio proposed vote of thanks. Jacintha Colaco and Rosy Baretto of Kallianpur Deanery compered the programme.
