Media Release

Mangaluru, May 4: The community day was celebrated with great solemnity at St Joseph the Worker Church, Neermarga, on May 1 with a solemn Mass at 4:30 pm.

Fr Vincent D'Souza, director of CODP (Canara Organization for Development and Peace), was the chief celebrant. In his meaningful homily, he emphasised the importance of prayer in maintaining relationships within the community, reading God's word daily, and becoming pilgrims of faith and hope.

Post-Mass Celebrations

After the Mass, at 5:50 pm, the convenor of the Small Christian Communities and secretaries of the central committee brought the Holy Bible in a procession, honoured it, and initiated the stage programme with prayer hymns. Shabitha Saldanha, convenor of the Small Christian Communities, invited esteemed guests to the stage, including the parish priest, Fr Paul Pinto, Fr Vincent D'Souza; the vice president of the parish pastoral council, Sandeep Misquith; and the secretary, Zita Usha Fernandes.

Keynote Addresses

Fr Vincent D'Souza highlighted the unity of the wards and the participation of women, stating that expressing gratitude for god's blessings and offering prayers leads to good health and peace of mind. The president of the programme, Fr Paul Pinto, in his message, called for the celebration to foster relationships with god and with one another. He also expressed his wish for the emergence of good leaders through the community and for the growth of enthusiasm to work together.

Cultural programmes 

The vice president of the parish pastoral council, Sandeep Misquith, welcomed everyone. The Parish Priest expressed gratitude to donors, while Rinna Pereira, a member of the Small Christian Communities central committee, thanked all participants.

Cynthia Renjal hosted the stage programme. The evening featured cultural programs presented by four groups from sixteen wards, concluding with a delicious meal prepared collectively by the parishioners after a blessing by the parish priest.