Pics: Mummy Digital Studio, Udyavar
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (KR/EP)
Udupi, Mar 9: “Members of gram panchayat should give priority to serve the helpless and be a light in the lives of the poor,” said Udupi diocese Catholic bishop Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo.
He was speaking after felicitating a programme held by Catholic Sabha Udupi Pradesh at the premises of the Church of the Mother of Sorrows, Catholic candidates who contested in gram panchayat elections and won.
“Service is a chief motto of the Catholic community. An opportunity is obtained by gram panchayat members to be the soldiers of Christ. The service after becoming gram panchayat members should not be restricted to only one community or religion but to all in equal measure. People identify us by themselves only when we serve without expecting anything in return,” he said.
Panchayat Raj resource person Janardhan Maravanthe explained about the panchayat raj system and the duties of gram panchayat members.
Newly elected gram panchayat president and vice-president Shiny Crasta, Margaret Seema, Silvester D’Souza, Gracy Cardoza, Winnifred D’Souza and Catholic candidates who contested and won were honoured in the programme.
Udupi Mother of Sorrows church parish priest, Fr Charles Menezes, Catholic Sabha spiritual director, Fr Ferdinand Gonsalves, former president, Alwyn Quadros, president assigned, Mary D’Souza, vice-president Ronald Almeida and treasurer, Jerald Rodrigues were present.
Catholic Sabha Udupi Pradesh president, Robert Menezes welcomed the gathering. Secretary Santhosh Cornelio rendered the vote of thanks.