Muscat: Diocese at 125 - Mangaloreans Familiarised with Plans
Report : Clarence Pinto
Pics : Dilip Correa
Daijiworld Media Network - Muscat
Muscat, Nov 24: The Managlorean Catholic Centre of the Parish (MCCP – Sts Peter and Paul Church, Ruwi) organized a “Meet the Mangaloreans in Muscat” programme with the visiting Vicar General Msgr Denis Moras Prabhu of the Mangalore Diocese and Milagres Parish Priest Father Walter D Mello on Wednesday, November 23 at Reem Hall - Golden Oasis Hotel – Al Wadi Al Kabir.
As published earlier the Mangalore Diocese is celebrating its post centenary silver jubilee this year. Vicar General Msgr Denis Moras Prabhu and Fr Walter D Mello are on a tour to the Gulf countries to create awareness and inform the faithful about the diocese and the projects undertaken for the needy during this jubilee year.
The programme commenced at 8.30 pm. The distinguished guests were escorted to the dais by Stanley T H Fernandes – President of MCCP, Lawrence Alva, Vice President : Cultural, Spiritual and Community Services Committee and Eula Pinto - Sports and Finance Committees. The opening prayer was led by Clarence Pinto and then a welcome address was delivered by Stanley T H Fernandes, extending a warm and hearty welcome to the visiting honorable priests. He also promised Mangaloreans’ wholehearted support to the diocese and its planned programmes. Prescilla Menezes – General Secretary and Ophelia Lazarus – Community Services Secretary presented the floral bouquets to the distinguished guests.
Dilip Correa – a well known Konkani activist and writer presented the short profiles of Vicar General Msgr Denis Moras Prabhu and Father Walter D Mello.
Fr Walter D Mello in his speech presented the progress and developments achieved in the Mangalore Diocese in the past years. There was a ’15 minutes’ presentation on the Mangalore Diocese and recent development with a message from Dr Aloysius Paul D Souza – Bishop of Mangalore.
Msgr Denis Moras Prabhu highlighted the projects planned for the post centenary jubilee year in Mangalore. The main projects are building 160 houses of 290 sq ft at a cost of Rs 2 lakhs, providing free education upto PUC to the third and the subsequent catholic children of the diocese, building hostels in the city for the community boys who aspire for higher education at a cost of Rs 60 lakhs, Building a Shrine / Chapel at Bajpe in memory of the visit of Blessed Pope John Paul II to Mangalore, a Marian / Diocesan museum at Rosario Cathedral to display the history of Mangalore Diocese of the past 125 years. He stressed on the point that it is impossible to carry these noble tasks to the needy people in Mangalore without a strong and constant support from the Mangaloreans residing in the Gulf States. Msgr Denis Moras Prabhu also extended invitation to the grand finale which will be held in early next year in Mangalore. There was a Question & Answer session and the members participated with the questions.
Fr Albert D Silva, Parish Priest of Holy Spirit Church Ghala and Spiritual Director of the Konkani Community in Oman was also present.
A committee under the leadership of Stanley T H Fernandes was formed to gather the required support from the faithful in Oman. The members of the committee are Henry Martis, Valerian Crasta, Monica Dantis and Jenny Saldanha. The present MCCP Executive committee, Eulalia Pinto, Lawrence Alva, Prescilla Menezes, Benedict Pereira, Wilson Mark D Souza, Ambrose Ivan Moras, Prem Colaco, Mariete P. N. Fernandes and Ophilia Lazarus will also support the jubilee committee of Muscat.
Vote of thanks was proposed by Lawrence Alva – Vice President : Sports and Finance Committees. Clarence Pinto was the anchor of the programme.
There were more than 75 Muscat Mangaloreans attended the programme. Sumptuous dinner was served after the programme.