Mangalore: Bishop Releases Konkani Audio CD of Holy Bible
Pics by Dayananda Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network—Mangalore (SP//CN)
Mangalore, Mar 25: The Konkani audio CD of the New Testament was released by Mangalore Bishop Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza during the Mass of the Holy Oils (Chrism Mass Day-holy mass for consecration of oil) organized at Milagres Church here on the evening of Thursday March 25.
In tune with the words of Jesus, “Therefore, everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on rock” (Mt 7:24), Sandesha Foundation began the recording of the New Testament in Konkani on December 14, 2009, and completed the project on March 18, 2010. There has been a long-felt need not only to read the Word of God, but also to listen to the Word of God and preserve it for future guidance.
The creators of the CD hope that the two audio CDs in MP3 format will be useful to both literate and illiterate members of society besides the blind, the elderly, the sick, and other members of the Konkani-speaking populace.
Sandesha Foundation says it was guided in undertaking this endeavour by the lead provided by the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI by reading the Bible on the television in order to proclaim the Word of God to the modern world.
Of the set of two CDs now released, one has an introductory message by the Bishop of Mangalore, four Gospels, and the Acts of the Apostles, and is of 14 hours 26 minutes 35 seconds duration. The second CD has the letters of St Paul, St James, St Peter, St John, St Jude, and Revelation. These 22 books have consumed 10 hours 41 minutes 55 seconds in total.
The total recording of 25 hours 8 minutes 30 seconds is contained in the two MP3s now released, said the Foundation. Apart from the Bishop, who has given a fitting introduction to the CDs, ten readers including three priests, three laymen, and four laywomen, have lent their voices to the CD.
They are Fr Denis D’Sa, Fr Joseph Martis, Fr Valerian Mendonca, Leslie Rego, Vincent Alva, Jude Noronha, Sweeton Veigas, Concepta Fernandes Alva, Babita Pinto, and Jane Sequeira.
The recording itself was a Herculean task, extending over 44 days from December 14 to March 18. The time spent on recording is 361 hours and 15 minutes.
Ashith Pinto has served as the recordist and sound engineer for the project. The CDs were recorded at Saptaswara Digital Recording Studio, Sandesha, in the city. Maxim Fernandes and Zeena D’Souza extended assistance for the recording.
Fr Valerian Mendonca, director, Sandesha, has directed the CDs while Sandesha Foundation for Culture and Education ® has produced them. The two CDs come snugly packed in book-type cases with an attractive cover design which will be very helpful to those who find carrying massive books, reading them, storing them, and retrieving them difficult.
Celebrations Galore:
The centenary jubilee celebrations committee has organized several programmes from Thursday March 25 to Wednesday April 28.
Following the Chrism Mass Day of priests on Thursday, the priestly ordination of deacon Alliston Savio Ignatius Fernandes will be on Saturday April 10, first mass celebration of Fr Alliston Fernandes along with felicitation of priests and their parents on Sunday April 11, with the priestly ordination of nine deacons of Mangalore diocese on Thursday April 15.
The installation of the statue of Infant Jesus will be on Monday April 19 and the Catholic Sabha celebrations on Sunday April 25. The community celebration of the wedding of 25 couples of Hulasoor in Gulbarga diocese, under the presidentship of Fr Robert Miranda is scheduled to be held in Milagres Church on Wednesday April 28.
Along with these celebrations, a summer camp has been organized at Milagres School premises for students from Monday April 19 to Thursday April 22.