Media Release

Mangaluru, Sep 4: Pratibha Puraskar ceremony was held for the students of St Joseph the Worker Church, Neermarga on Sunday September 3 under the joint aegis of Catholic Sabha Neermarga Unit and commission for education, Neermarga parish. Catechism teachers too were felicitated on the same occasion on account of Teacher’s Day.

The programme began by invoking God’s blessings through a prayer song by the students.

Shaila D'Souza, Catholic Sabha president, extended a warm welcome to the parish priest and the guests of honour. Fr Paul Pinto, parish priest, in his presidential address said "The students who have performed exceedingly well academically, should also participate in extracurricular activities and their parents should encourage their children towards this. Also, the top performers should help the underachievers in academics and in other activities which results in the progress of the society as a whole.” While felicitating the Catechism teachers he said, "The children get the foundation of faith and the true knowledge of Christ's life and teachings through Catechism classes and the teachers' role in this regard is truly praiseworthy.”

The parish priest also felicitated the newly elected panchayat president Molly Saldanha with the traditional shawl and fruits while the unit vice president Francis Gonsalves gave a brief introduction.

Certificates and trophies were given out to the deserving children while Merlin Pereira read out their names and Tresa Rebello announced the teachers' names. Catholic Sabha secretary Flavia D'Souza proposed vote of thanks and commission for education convener Paul D'Souza compered the program.