Media Release
Kaup, Jun 15: Service to society by recognizing the presence of God in the faces of others should be the foremost priority, said bishop of Udupi diocese, Dr Leslie Clifford D'Souza. He emphasized that organizations must understand the contemporary needs of society and take meaningful steps to address them.
He was speaking after inaugurating the annual general body meeting of Catholic Sabha Udupi Pradesh and the late Francis Danthi Memorial Book Award ceremony held at the auditorium of Don Bosco English Medium School, Shirva, on Sunday.
Bishop D'Souza noted that the fields of healthcare and education are witnessing rapid innovations and that the community must keep pace with these developments. Educational institutions, he said, should move beyond traditional methods and adapt to modern approaches to provide value-based education to children.
Highlighting healthcare as a fundamental necessity, the bishop said there is a pressing need for a well-equipped hospital and a nursing college within the diocese. He informed that preliminary planning for the project has already begun and called upon the community to extend its support. “A healthy society can be built through quality educational institutions and healthcare facilities,” he added.
During the programme, poet Flavia Albuquerque was honoured with the 2025 Late Francis Danthi Memorial Book Award for her poetry collection Sakhi Suchisida Saugandha.
Chief guest Johnson D'Almeida, president of Rosary Credit Cooperative Society, praised Catholic Sabha for its significant role in community development, creating awareness, and successfully raising a strong voice against injustices faced by the community.
The annual meeting was presided over by Melwyn Aranha, president of Catholic Sabha Udupi Pradesh.
Reports on the organisation's activities for 2025-26, annual proceedings, audited accounts, and reports of Manasa Institution and Sashakta Community Service Trust were presented during the meeting.
The 2026-27 Catholic Sabha Directory was officially released. Prizes were also distributed to winners of the Late Denis D'Silva memorial essay competition.
MLC Ivan D'Souza attended the event and extended his greetings.
Members and units that excelled in distributing aid coupons, securing advertisements and subscriptions for Amcho Sandesh, and enrolling the highest number of members were felicitated during the programme.
A collection of short stories titled Ghaditache Bulbule authored by retired teacher Alphonse D'Souza was also released on the occasion.
Among those present were spiritual director Fr Ferdinand Gonsalves, parish priest of Shirva Church Fr Charles Menezes, vice-president Julian Rodrigues, unit president Agnes Barboza, school principal Fr Rolvin Aranha, immediate past president Ronald D'Almeida, treasurer Garfield Urban Lewis, president-designate Louis D'Souza, joint secretary Sonu Sequeira, joint treasurer Pratima D'Souza, Francis Danti Memorial Trust convener Alphonse D'Costa, family member Charles Danthi, Manasa Institution president John Martis, zonal presidents Joel Almeida, Shaila D'Almeida, Gerald Rodrigues, Anthony Miranda, Joan Kiran Lewis, former presidents Walter Cyril Pinto, Elroy Kiran Crasta, Valerian Fernandes, Dr Gerald Pinto, and several other dignitaries.
Vice-president Mabel D'Souza welcomed the gathering, while secretary Juliet D'Souza proposed the vote of thanks.