Udupi: Bishop Dr Aloysius Inaugurates District Catholic Women's Unit
Kevin Rodrigues
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
Pics: Mayur Studio, Santhekatte
Udupi, May 11: Catholic Sthree Sanghatan (women's unit), Udupi district, was officially inaugurated by Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, Bishop of Mangalore Diocese, and Dr Baptist Menezes, Episcopal Vicar of Udupi district, on Friday May 11 at Udupi Mother of Sorrows Church Hall.
‘Women are Root of the Family and Strength of Society’ was the theme.
The Bishop presided over the function while Dr Menezes, Mangalore Diocese’s DCCW spiritual director Fr Ronald Kuntinho, parish priest, Udupi deanery Vicar and newly-elected Udupi district women’s spiritual director Fr Fread Mascarenhas, Catholic Sthree Sanghatan, Udupi district president Leena Roche, Brahmavar, secretary Veronica Saldhana, Udupi, vice-president Cynthia Dias, Barkur, Irene Pereira, Udyavar, treasurer, Beera Pinto, Sasthan, and media spokesperson Lydwin Pinto, Udupi, were present on the dais.
In his inaugural address, the Bishop said that today he had witnessed the spiritual level of all the district’s Catholic women during the Holy Mass. “This tells about their family life. I was really wondering about the enthusiasm and strength of the women,” said the Bishop.
“Woman is a special creature of God. She can light and educate society with her good work. The government had given 50 percent reservation to women in all bodies. So we have to take full advantage of this through our women and should serve society in a good manner,” he added.
The Bishop said that he felt very sad to announce that in four months time he had received more than 30 applications for divorce in Mangalore diocese. “Sthree Sanghatans have to take measures to build a committee so these rates can be reduced in future,” he added.
The first ever ‘Samanavya Award’ was announced for Leena Roche in the next year’s ‘Samavesh’ at Udupi with a cash prize of Rs 10,000, a memento, and a certificate.
Dr Menezes congratulated Leena Roche and team. He also gave the call to all the Catholic women to look after their daughters because they are getting into marriages with people from other caste and this will reduce the number of Catholics.
Veronica Cornelio and Valerian Menezes gave their best wishes and support in all their future endeavours.
Walter Pinto, president, Mangalore Diocese Catholic Sabha, Gladys Almeida, former president, Udupi zilla panchayat, Veronica Cornelio, president, Udupi District Congress, and Valerian Menezes, president, Catholic Co–operative Society, were present during the function.
Prayer was by Milagres Church Kallianpur unit of Sthree Sanghatan. After the formal stage function, various cultural programmes were conducted by Shirva Mount Rosary – Santhekatte, and Udupi Church Women.
The Holy Eucharist Mass was offered by the Bishop with Fr Mascarenhas, Fr Cutinho, Fr Anthony Vas, Fr Joseph, and Fr J B Crasta in Mother of Sorrows Church, Udupi. Brahmavar Sthree Sanghatan unit conducted a wonderful choir.
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