Media Release
Mangaluru, Jan 31: Parish Community Day was celebrated at St Francis Xavier Church Bejai Mangalore on Sunday January, 26, with a concelebrated solemn Eucharistic celebration presided by Fr Santhosh Rodrigues, director of the pastrol centre of the diocese of Mangalore, parish priest Fr J B Saldanha, Asst parish priest Fr Norman Mathias, principal of Lourdes Central School Fr Johnson Sequiera, Fr Vincent Sequiera, diocese commission secretary for Bible, resident priest Fr Peter Mascarenhas, superior of Capuchin Friary, Fr Rocky D'Cunha, director of Loyala Jesuit House, Fr Leston Lobo SJ, Fr Denzil Lobo SJ, Bengaluru and another three diocesan priests.
The Eucharistic celebration was followed by a formal function, involving the honouring of the achievers of the parish in sports, health care and academics, the services of the gurkars present and outgoing gurkar's Romius D’Souza, Rose Marie D’Souza and Cyril Jerry Lobo were recognised and the services of the nurses both ex and in service were highlighted, in a special way District Rajyothsava Awardees, United Friends Bejai, in recognition of their services to humanity and Mercy Veena D’Souza for her services in caring for the cancer patients, also Sandesha awardees Michael D’Souza for esteemed humanitarian services and Irene Pinto for Konkani literature, political leader Alston D’cunha for being the member of the District guarantee scheme implementation authority appointed by the government of Karnataka were honoured on the Community Day.
Fr J B Saldanha was the president and Roy Castelino, PRO, Mangalore diocese was the chief Guest for the programme, Michael D’Souza, entrepreneur & well-wisher of the church, Sr Severine Crasta UFS, superior St Angela Convent, Fr Leston Lobo SJ, Fr Norman Mathias, Fr Peter Mascarenhas, Vincent Sequiera, vice president Ashok Pinto, secretary Avitha Pinto and coordinator for all commissions Godwin Pinto were the other guests on the stage.
Sisters of St Angela Convent sang a prayer song, small children of the parish performed a welcome dance, vice president Ashok Pinto welcomed the gathering, secretary Avitha Pinto read out the report for the year 2024, Michael Dsouza spoke on behalf of all the honoured parishioners, chief guest Roy Castelino was honoured and he addressed the gathering, parish priest Fr J B Saldanha addressed the parishioners, coordinator for all commissions Godwin Pinto rendered a vote of thanks, Shalet D’Souza compared the programme,
A colourful cultural program by the parishioners and the volunteers of the parish added much fanfare to this celebration, A festal dinner at the Lourdes Central School grounds was a fitting conclusion to this parish community day of Bejai church and this celebration of fellowship and unity was witnessed by around 1450 parishioners and guests.