Bishop Lauds Education Fund Initiative by Bendur Parish

Bishop Lauds Education Fund Initiative by Bendur Parish

Mangalore Today News Network

by Richard Lasrado

Mangalore, Feb 3:  It was a great initiative taken by the Catholic parishioners of Bendur to have established an education fund to support its youth in pursuing higher education, said Bishop Dr Aloysius D’Souza of Mangalore on Monday.

 

 

 

He was speaking at the dual celebration of 75 fruitful years of life of parish priest Fr Peter S Noronha and his stepping into 50th year of priesthood, which was organized by the members of the parish in the open-air auditorium of St Sebastian Church at Bendur.

He cited the example of Queen Victoria, who, when greeted by thousands of her subjects, was asked if all those who came to greet her belonged to her. She is said to have replied it was she who belonged to them more than they to her. The parish members had shown similar affection and admiration towards their pastor, he further said. He complimented the people of Bendur for showing their regard for him by organizing such a meticulously planned event.

Quoting Henry Wadworth Longfellow, who was asked about his creativity at later age, the Bishop said even if an apple tree grew older, its longevity would not be affected as new shoots kept shooting out.  Likewise, in spite of the age, Fr Noronha had kept himself active in the service of God and community. He also said that the initiative taken by the parish members for the benefit of the generation next was exemplary and this should be emulated by other parishes, he concluded.

By a modest estimate, over three thousand people attended the function.  They included a good number of people from the parishes where he had served in the past, besides the members of the Bendur parish.

 

 

 

 

The celebration began with a solemn Mass with Bishop D’Souza as main celebrant and Beltangady Bishop Dr Lawrence Mukkuzhy and Delhi archdiocese vicar general Fr Victor D’Souza along with about 150 priests in a grand concelebration.

During the Mass, offerings were made in the form of traditional agricultural and other kinds of produce which had sustained the coastal Konkani Catholic community for many centuries like coconuts, arecanut, betel leaves, handloom products, tea and coffee powder and jasmine.

It was followed by a felicitation programme, opening with a welcome song sung by a trained group of over 100 singers and musicians. A formal welcome by offering betel-leaves and areca and water was accorded by programme convener Prof Eric Patrao and reception / hospitality committee conveners J R Lobo and Philomena Lobo.

Jubilarian Fr Noronha inaugurated the function by symbolically unfurling the areca inflorescence (’Pingara’ in Kannada and Tulu and ’Bhingari’ in Konkani), followed by a felicitation song by the choir. A citation containing the same song was presented to the jubilarian by Ronald F Walder, vice president of parish pastoral parishad.

 

 

 

Parishad secretary Laveena S John presented a garland of jasmine to the jubilarian. Prof Patrao read out a blessing received from Pope Benedict XVI from the Vatican. Bishop D’Souza who presided over the function honoured Fr Noronha with a shawl, fruit-bowl and the Papal blessing.

Fr Noronha, replying to the honour recalled the goodwill and cooperation he received from everyone he was associated with during the past 50 years of his priestly vocation. He was happy that the education fund launched on the occasion received good response from the parishioners and the fund was going to help the needy youth to pursue higher education.

Bishop Lawrence Mukkuzhy released the special February issue of the monthly newsletter ’Ek Kuttam’. Delhi archdiocese vicar general Fr D’Souza launched the education fund by receiving cheques from the donors.

Coordinator of the programme Maritto Sequeira called out the names of patrons, benefactors and conveners of the programme to be honoured by the Bishop of Mangalore. Also a glow-sign heralding the centenary of the parish on top of the church was also switched on by him. The felicitation programme was compered by Prof Vincent Crasta and Alwyn Peter D’Souza.

An interlude of instrumental music based on traditional Konkani songs by the choir and music by St Rita’s Brass Band, Cascia while the refreshments were being served gave a touch of nostalgia to the event.

An hour-long song-and-dance musical presentation "Amchem Daaiz" (Our Inheritance) by artistes and musicians of all ages from the parish kept the audience glued to their seats. A singing performance by a group led by Valerian D’Souza of Kulshekar, accompanied by the traditional ’gumott’ instruments, was a special attraction and quite expectedly it drew a big round of applause. Fr Noronha too impressed everyone with a brief performance on a century-old violin, a proud possession of his.

The presentation was an abridged and adapted version of an opera presented in 1965 by the Mangalore Philharmonic Orchestra. Of the handful of the surviving members of that year’s troupe, Prof Alban Castelino, now 86, was seen actively taking part on Monday evening with the enthusiasm of a youngster. He was called upon to the dais to receive a special honour.  With his leadership and under Fr Michael Santhumayor’s baton, the choir performed as one voice with skilled musicians, with their age ranging from seven to seventy.

The cultural show was deftly compered by Sheldon Crasta and Aileen D’Souza. In all, the momentous programme was the fruit of the labour, commitment, determination, excellent teamwork and thousands of manhours which had gone into organizing it.