Media Release
Dubai, Apr 20: St Mary's Konkan Community (SMKC) Dubai, a well-known philanthropic association of Dubai, held its general body meeting last week and unanimously elected Joseph Fernandes as the president for the forthcoming term 2016-2018.
Joe, a popular figure among the spiritual circle in and around Dubai and Mangaluru, has served as SMKC member since its inception in the year 2001. In the past, he served in St Mary's Church, Dubai, as a Eucharistic minister for over two decades. He was an active member of the St Mary’s Church Dubai parish council and was actively involved in the building of the new church in 1989. He has served in the Eucharistic ministry for over two or more decades and was administering communion to the sick in hospitals and senior citizens at home, in addition to other liturgical activities.
Paul Berty Colaco was elected vice-president. He is an accomplished businessman and has been a strong pillar of SMKC Dubai and in the past was also an Eucharistic minister too.
The elected SMKC Dubai office-bearers for year 2016 – 2018 are:
Joe Fernandes - President
Paul Colaco - Vice-president
Elizabeth Noronha - Treasurer
Anna D'Cruz - Secretary
Avil D'Silva will continue as the web coordinator of SMKC Dubai's web portal - www.konkanuae.com. The outgoing president Veronica Rego will continue as advisor to the newly-formed team.
Committee Members are:
Noel Mascarenhas
Jennifer Mascarenhas
Frenny Fernandes
Pius D'Cruz
Fidelia Colaco
Bhaskar G
Lawrence Almeida
Ivan D'Souza
Noel Mascarenhas, the founder president, thanked all the members for their excellent support and assured to render the same support to the new office-bearers to carry out their tasks in providing humanitarian assistance to the poor and needy in and around Mangaluru.
SMKC Dubai, a premier UAE-based organization in the field of philanthropy back home in Mangaluru and surrounding South Kanara district, has contributed more than Rs 1.75 crore during the 15 years of its existence. Various engineering students have already passed out from the portals of St Joseph’s Engineering College, benefiting from the SMKC Education Trust Fund and are now working overseas and in India. In addition, doctors from Father Muller Hospital, numerous nursing students, BEds, MBA and other educational faculties have benefited from the financial aid from SMKC Education Trust Fund.
The established SMKC Medical Trust Fund at St Anne’s Friary, Mangaluru is continuing with the financial/medical aid to the poor people of our community.
Besides India, SMKC Dubai has recently contributed Rs 10 lac from the funds raised during its 15th year celebrations in Mangaluru in December 2015, towards the bishop's project in Tanzania which will render assistance educational aid to the underprivileged community of Same.
The newly-elected president, Joe Fernandes, thanked all the dedicated SMKC members and requested them to continue working as one family for the betterment of the community. He quipped, "We will continue the good works working for the Lord and keeping the goal of SMKC Dubai to 'wipe a tear and bring a smile' alive and promising!"