Report and pic by Ancy Paladka
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (AF)

Udupi, Jan 28: Fr Valerian Pinto, parish priest and dean of Shirva deanery laid the foundation stone for Don Bosco Youth Centre at Shirva here recently. The proposed building will be a youth centre, a home to PUC boys and to the salesians who will look after them.

The foundation stone was blessed by Fr Loddy Pires, the first provincial of Konkan region of Salesian Don Bosco priests comprising of the coastal regions of Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka. Fr Maxim D'Souza Paladka who is in-charge of the centre and instrumental in starting youth training cenre in Trasi and a youth hostel in Kelmbet was also present at the occasion.

The ceremony was held on the third day of the commemoration of Mary Help of Christians also known to be Salesian Sisters and the feast day of St Francis de Sales.

The function was attended by almost all the diocesan clergy of the deanery, representatives from the parish, donors, the salesians and the boys. Fr Valerian Pinto himself was instrumental in inviting the Salesians to begin their apostolate at Shirva.