Pics: Ramesh Pandith
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JS)
Mangaluru, Nov 8: Elders' Day was celebrated with great vigour at Rosario Church hall here on Sunday Novemeber 8. The day was organised by Catholic Sabha, St Vincent De Paul (SVP) and the parish.
St Vincent De Paul president C J Simon welcomed the gathering.
Chief guest of the event, famous actress of yesteryears and social worker, Mable Kent congratulated the organizers and said, "I am really happy that such a nice programme has been organised. I thank all the organizers for conducting this programme."
Fr J B Crasta, parish priest of Rosario Church said, "Elders and we have a close relationship, and this programme is organized to manifest this bond. If elders were not there we would not have been here. It is their hard work, values and lessons that have made us what we are today. I thank all the concerned organizers for holding this beautiful programme which is going to help all of us."
Famous surgeon and Konkani author Dr Edward Nazareth was the resource person of the event. He gave essential tips to maintain good health and said, "I congratulate the parish priest of Rosario under whose guidance such a beautiful programme has been organized. The biggest problem in our life is the negative attitude 'I cannot'. We should have positive attitude that 'I can' and 'I am healthy'. Two things should be taken into consideration - Maintaining good health and taking the right treatment when there are some health issues.
"To maintain a healthy body, consumption of right food in the right amount is essential. You have to follow the instructions given by your doctor and take medicines accordingly. Many diseases cannot be cured but they can be controlled. When you are taking treatment from one doctor and it helps you to control the disease, then do not change your doctor on the advice of others. If the medicine prescribed does not help you, then you can change your doctor. With age, digestion becomes weaker so consume less meat and have a more vegetarian diet."
Nonagenarian Joe Gonsalves, another resource person, gave demonstration of various exercises. Starting with some basic breathing techniques and poses, Gonsalves went on to demonstrate more specific poses and exercises that help to relieve common ailments such as back pain, neck pain, and vertigo.
Having suffered from these ailments himself, Gonsalves told the group that he learned about these fitness exercises when he was researching practical approaches to treat these common ailments. Gonsalves was recently made the chief of traffic wardem squad consituted for the lay people to advise and manage the trafficg sysyem in the city.
Fr Gratian Alvares from Gladsom home, Fr Rocky Fernandes, Fr Vincent D'Souza, assistant parish priest of Rosario church Fr Paul Sebastian D'Souza, office-bearers of Catholic Sabha, St Vincent De Paul and parish council including vice president of parish council Dolphy D'Souza, Shahila D'Almeida, Precilla Noronha, Mary Pinto and others were present.
Sr (Dr) Saritha D'Cunha conducted the health check up for elders.
Alwyn Tauro introduced the chief guest and resource persons. Lawrence Tellis compered the event.
Sebastian Noronha had convened the event with all the arrangements.