Media Release
Dubai, Mar 31: St Joseph’s Club, Mazgaon, Mumbai (Male Catholic Accommodation/ Kudam in Konkani) is all set to celebrate its centenary year in Dubai. To be part of the celebration, beneficiary members of the club who are now currently working in the UAE and across GCC countries are coming together to show their gratitude by organizing a grand celebration of centenary year on May 1 this year at India Club, Oud Mehta Road, Dubai.
In the early part of the twentieth century, many Manglurean Christians started to migrate to Mumbai to earn their livelihood. Most of them were very low scale workers, taxi drivers, domestic workers and bakery workers. After coming to Mumbai many of them faced difficulties in getting accommodation. They couldn’t afford decent accommodation due to their low wages, so they were sleeping on footpaths. During those days many visionary men came together to start Room (Kudam) in Mumbai. Today there are more than 40 typical such clubs/ kudam existing in Mumbai belonging to Mangalurean Catholics.
History of St Joseph's Club, Mazgaon, Mumbai
The Club was started by the enthusiastic, visionary and foresighted youths of Belman parish (then under Mangalore diocese, now Udupi diocese). The founder of the club was the late Sebastian Lobo and Marcel Martis. Along with them 10 other youths of Belman and surrounding areas joined them. They hired a 131.35 sq mt room on monthly rental basis on July 1, 1914. They dedicated the club to St Joseph in respect to their native church patron.
The room could accommodate a maximum of forty members and it had kitchen and other basic facilities. The main objective of this club is to provide decent, comfortable stay for minimum fees to the young Catholic males hailing from Mangaluru and Udupi dioceses.
The association was registered as 'St Joseph’s Club' under Societies Registration Act, XXI of 1860, mainly due to the efforts of the late Leo D'Souza. In the year 1978 it was registered under Bombay Public Trust Act 1950 under the leadership of Jerome D'Souza. The association is being administered honorably by the members themselves. During these periods many leaders selflessly served for the development of the Club. They still remember the pillars of the Club, mainly Louis Goveas, Jerome D’Souza, Manual Lobo and Apoline Martis. Over the last twenty-five years Robert D’Souza, Palimar has been serving as a president, along with the other committee members.
The year 1966 brought a shocking news to the Club management and members that the landlord of the building had sent legal notice to vacate the Club and filed a case in the civil court. After long hearings, in the year 1974, the Club won the case. Later, the original landlord sold his property to some other person, and after 15 years, in the year 1989 the second landlord again filed a case against the club in the Bombay High Court. The verdict came in favour of the Club on December 21, 1999. The members of the Club rejoiced and celebrated their victory on May 30, 2000 with a thanksgiving mass in Mazgaon Church.
The Club also celebrated its golden jubilee in the year 1964 as well as platinum jubilee in the year 1989 in the Club premises.
In the late 50s, due to acute poverty in Mangaluru, many teenage boys after completing basic education migrated to Mumbai. Many youths were working on day shifts and studying in evening college to complete their higher education.
From past 100 years, thousands of youths have benefited by this institution and overcome their hardships. Many youths with the support of Club have fulfilled their dreams by obtaining higher education and earning better prospects in their lives.
After the 1970s oil boom in the Middle East, many members started migrating to Gulf countries in search of greener pastures. In the last two decades, Dubai has witnessed major growth in all sectors, so a large number of club members got employment opportunities in Dubai.
Sandeep D’Souza, one of the members of the group proposed the idea of getting together in 2013. Surprisingly, it was found that quite a number of club members were in the UAE. Eventually a pack of 20 long-lost members came together on October 4, 2013 at Winny’s Restaurant, Karama. During this meeting everyone decided that the centenary year celebration would be held in Dubai and not Mumbai, as due to work and family commitments, most members cannot go to Mumbai.
At present, there are 348 registered members out of which 10 are presently residing in the Club. More than fifty club members are working in the UAE for various firms.
Centenary Celebrations
The grand celebration will be held on the auspicious day of St Joseph the Worker Day on May 1 (Friday) at India Club, Oud Metha Road, Dubai from 11 am onwards. The chief guest will be Robert D'Souza, and he will be accompanied by Dubai's prominent Konkani personalities.
To commemorate this auspicious occasion and as a remembrance, the Club members are planning to release a colourful souvenir. The amount collected by advertisements will be utilized for the betterment of the Club.
This is an open invitation to attend the grand centenary celebrations to all the members and their families residing all over the world.
For further details, contact Robert D’Souza 00-91-9867400617, (Mumbai), Sandeep D’Souza 00971-55-6978707, Lancy D’Souza -00971-50-5345656 (Dubai) or Sonal D’souza 0091-9663538824 (Mangaluru) or email: stjosephsclub1914@yahoo.co.in.