Media Release

Mangalore, Aug 30: The Catholic Association of South Kanara (CASK) has entered its centenary year. The association was established in July 1914, the first Catholic laity organization to be formed in South India.

The association has decided to implement five projects in honor of the centenary:

1. promotion of blood, blood products and organ donations in collaboration with Fr Muller Medical College;

2. conducting ‘personality development programmes’ in  schools of Mangalore;

3. Award of 100 Scholarships to 100 students of 25 Colleges of DK and Udupi districts and substantially enhancing the Corpus of the Education Fund;

4. Publishing a Book on the ‘History of the Association and the Mangalorean Catholic Community’.
5. owning its own office premises;

6. establishing a website;

 The launch of the personality development programme at St Agnes English Primary School was held on August 29. This was the fourth and last school to be covered  during the academic year 2013-2014.  Hemacharya, editor in chief of Daijiworld Weekly was the chief guest.

In his address to the 167 students from the three sections of Class 7, who are the participants of the programme, Hemacharya stressed the importance of five quality lessons of life, "The ability to Smile, positive attitude, Courage to Ask Questions, Respect for Time and Listening to your conscience."

 He congratulated CASK on embarking on this valuable programme for the benefit of school students.  

In his address, Dr Derek Lobo, president of CASK pointed out that the goal of education is to groom the students for success and happiness in life and to mould them into balanced, mature, socially conscious, public-good oriented and value-based  citizens. Given these lofty goals, he lamented the undue focus and pre-occupatiion the schools on examinations and results. He said that qualifications have a limited value and take you up to the point of a job interview.

Thereafter, success depends on a variety of Personality Skills like public speaking, public relations, team building, problem-solving, confidence, amicable personality and upright character. The CASK sponsored programme is aimed at developing and strengthening the personality skills.

Capt J P Menezes, secretary-CASK introduced the chief guest and welcomed the guests which included Sr Edna, Education Secretary of the Apostolic Carmel Order, Sr Lydia Fernandes, superior-St Agnes Convent, Sr Hilda-headmistress of St Agnes  School, Dr Anand Pereira and Ian Lobo, governing council members of CASK.

Patsy Lobo, the coordinator of the programme introduced the facilitators - Sunita Menezes, Patsy Mathias and Helen Pinto. Nisha proposed the vote of thanks.

The first session on values was conducted by Patsy Lobo and Sunita Menezes. The team of facilitators include  Zita Farias, Shaunali Saldanha, Winston D’Souza, Anitha Mathias and Drs Anand and Geetha Pereira.

Personality Development programme was launched earlier at the following schools :

1. Mount Carmel Central School, Mary Hill, Bondel on July 20 with Giselle Mehta, author, entrepreneur and ex-bureaucrat as chief guest;

2. St Mary’s English Higher Primary School, Falnir on August 6, with Mr Ronald Fernandes, chief correspondent of Deccan Herald as chief guest;     

3. Carmel School, Kotekar on August 21, with Sr Henrieta, superior of the School as chief guest.
             
The programme will be implemented in the 4 schools through 8-10 sessions spread during the academic year 2013-2014 and will benefit a total of 680 students from the 4  schools of Classes 7 and

8. All the participating students are provided with an attractive folder with relevant course material. CASK plans to cover some more schools next year.