Report: Joshwa Agrar
Pics: Roshan Madtha
With Inputs from Media Release
Mangalore, Mar 12: In commemoration of the year of faith, ICYM Central Council of Mangalore diocese in association with Divine Word TV and Western Institute of Technology organized a spiritual eve on Sunday March 10 at St Agnes Special School grounds.
The programme began with a prayer dance by ICYM Kirem unit which was followed by the theme song of Diocesan Youth Convention (DYC 2012).
Later, a small play titled ”Thaleetha Kumm”, aimed to create an awareness against the exploitation of women in society along with the comparison of the same in the Bible, was staged. The play was writted by Fr Jayaprakash and directed by Msgr Christopher D’Souza Neenasam.
A formal inaugural ceremony followed, presided over by the bishop of Mangalore diocese Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza along with the guests of honour Msgr Stephan Mendes, Msgr Arun Mendes and Msgr Denis Moras Prabhu. ICYM president Nelson Monis welcomed the guests and the gathering.
The bishop inaugurated the first-ever Konkani Bible Android application which was designed by Jesus Youth. He expressed his joy and was all praise for this noble initiative. He stressed upon the need to embrace the latest technology in spreading the good news and encouraged clergy and youth to come forward to bring the church to the masses through new mediums.
Fr Victor Vijay Lobo, director Regional Social Communication and Helps Jesus Youth, Mangalore said, "This app would definitely be a boost to all the Konkani speaking Catholics, who can now access entire Authentic Konkani Catholic Bible on their fingertips. This App comes with additional feature like background music, bookmark and an unique Konkani Keyboard to search Konkani words in the entire Bible making it more like a Bible Study tool."
This initiative comes as a joint venture of the diocese of Mangalore and Jesus Youth, Mangalore. The app was developed by EthicCoders. The iPhone/iPad and windows version is in development stage and the team envisions, it would be released by Easter time.
The bishop wished good luck to the ICYM Central Council and honored the sponsors. ICYM director Fr Ronald Prakash D’Souza thanked all the people who supported financially towards the success of this event. ICYM general secretary Sheldon Crasta was the master of ceremony.
The next important part of the evening was the play “Ragthachi Saks” which was tranlated into Konkani by Fr Alwyn Serrao, principal of Rosario College, with music directed by Fr Jayaprakash, principal of Sandesha Arts College. Msgr Christopher D’Souza Neenasam directed the play. The drama was based on the life of Archbishop Oscar Romero, the Archbishop of El-Salvadore diocese. This drama was enacted by the students of Rosario College.
Nearly 3,000 people witnessed this faith programme organized by ICYM.
The first-ever Konkani Bible for Android phone is now freely available to be downloaded at Google play store worldwide.
The app can be downloaded from the Google play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.ethiccoders.ckb