The event, a visionary initiative of parish priest Fr Andrew Leo D’Souza, sought to unite the Konkani community by bringing together artistes, donors, and art lovers for a noble cause. The programme commenced at 6:15 pm with a soulful prayer song by the late ‘Konkan Kogul’ Wilfy Rebimbus, setting a serene and uplifting tone for the evening.

The dignitaries present on the dais included Fr Andrew Leo D’Souza, parish priest; Walter Nandalike, founder and managing director of Daijiworld Media Pvt Ltd; Fr Lawrence Cutinha, assistant parish priest; Fr Peter Gonsalves, principal of St Lawrence English Medium School; Bonaventure D’Souza, donor; engineer Lawrence Cutinha; John D’Silva, vice president; Alwyn Saldanha, secretary of PPC; Jason Fernandes, convenor of St Lawrence Shrine; organisers Stany Bela and Sanjay Rodrigues; Prakash Pinto, president of SVP; and Gratian Pinto, secretary of SVP.

SVP president Prakash Pinto welcomed the gathering, and the dignitaries were honoured with roses.

Housing project for the needy

A significant highlight of the evening was the foundation stone laying ceremony for a housing project for the needy, initiated by the SVP. Fr Andrew Leo D’Souza led the prayers, after which the dignitaries symbolically placed cement on the foundation stone, signifying unity and a shared commitment to the cause.

The land donor, Bonaventure D’Souza, was introduced by Neris D’Sa and felicitated with a shawl, garland, and memento in recognition of his generous contribution. Engineer Lawrence Cutinha, introduced by treasurer Shiney Monteiro, was also honoured for his professional support and involvement in the project.

Guest of honour Walter Nandalike was felicitated for his constant support to the parish. In his address, he described ‘Kala Sangam’ as a dream turned reality for Fr Andrew Leo D’Souza. He commended the parish priest as an inspiring leader and a meticulous organiser. He also lauded Bonaventure D’Souza for his noble gesture of donating 15 cents of land to the SVP.

Felicitation of parish priest

Fr Andrew Leo D’Souza was specially felicitated by the SVP members in appreciation of his eight years of dedicated and selfless ministry in the parish. His citation was read by Denis Master. Addressing the gathering, Fr Andrew expressed his deep love for Konkani culture and thanked the donors and supporters for their cooperation. Marking the golden jubilee of the SVP, he noted that the event was organised for a noble cause and expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Daijiworld team and the public.

Musical and cultural feast

The musical line-up featured a blend of legendary voices and modern sensations, headlined by the renowned ‘Sangeeth Sardar’ Wilson Olivera. He was joined by popular vocalists including Vincent Fernandes Cascia, Shilpa Cutinha, Joshal D’Souza, Zeena Pereira, Robin Sequeira, Roshan Belman, Jason Lobo, Dealle D’Souza, Ronald Nazareth, and Stephan Cutinha.

The programme also featured trio singers Ronald D’Souza, Ronald Lasrado, and Ronald Lobo, along with Leona Olivera. The Fr Walter Albuquerque Memorial Choir, led by Simon Bajal, and the Chili Pili children’s choir, led by Jasmine D’Souza, added further melody and energy to the celebration.

Entertainment beyond music came from the popular comedy team, Team Memory, whose humour kept the audience engaged, while the Urban Groove dancers impressed with their graceful choreography. The musical arrangements were led by Sanjay Rodrigues, supported by a team of talented musicians.

The event was gracefully compered by renowned TV host Shanthi Priya Lasrado. The show was curated by Stany Bela, making ‘Kala Sangam 2026’ a landmark cultural celebration. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Gratian Lobo. Food counters arranged by the Ladies Association added to the hospitality of the event, which was hailed as a grand success.

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