Walter Monteiro

Karkala, Dec 20: Commission for inter-religious dialogue of St Joseph’s Church Belman organised an inter-religious Christmas celebration on December 17.

Chief guest and the main speaker of the celebration Suhas Hegde speaking on the occasion said, “There are some narrow-minded people who are trying to create problems in the society. Like-minded people should ignore them for the good of the society.”

Presiding over the function Belman parish priest Fr Edwin D’Souza said his presidential address that inter-religious celebrations are necessary to better relationships in the future and live a life with peace and harmony.

Delivering a message, Fr Louis D’Sa, director of commission for inter-religious dialogue, Udupi diocese said, “Instead of giving much importance to the petty things in our religions, we have to go back to the core principles in our religion and try to learn good things from each other’s religions.”

At the same time, Musthaq, a Muslim leader said that every religion teaches brotherhood and it is necessary to live in peace and harmony.

Inter faiths peace committee members such as Ln president Ln Prakash Chandra, Rotary president Rtn Davendra Shetty, JCI president Jc Pradeep Acharya, taluk panchyath member Asha D Shetty, assistant parish priest Fr Roy D’Souza, convent superior Sr Usha Stalla, vice-president Alwyn Agera, secretary Faustine D’Souza, and 18 commissions co-ordinator Dominic Andrade were also present at the celebration.

A small cultural programme was also held on the occasion. Stany Ullas D’Souza welcomed the gathering, Anitha D’Souza rendered the vote of thanks and Cecilia Menezes concluded the programme. Christmas cake cutting and distributing Kuswar added colour to the celebration.