Report: Dolly Sequeira
Pics: Dilip Correa
Daijiworld Media Network – Muscat (GA)

Muscat, Sep 18: Following the recent attack over the Christian faith in Mangalore an alert and concern has seized all over the globe, among Mangalorean Christian Community in particular. Mangalorean Catholics in residing in the Muscat, Sultanate of Oman gathered on September 19, 2008 at the Al Arsalan Restaurant Hall to discuss and bring forward their concern about the incidents happening at their home town and the Christian Churches in and around Karnataka.

The gathering was attended by some of the reputed members of the Mangalorean Catholic faith. The occasion was conducted by Clarence Donald Pinto, while the gathering was welcomed by the veteran of Muscat’s Konkani community Stanley T H Fernandes. The concerns and the agony of the gathering were put forward by three people, namely Nelson D’ Silva, Denis Mascarenhas and Chris Vas.

Nelson as he addressed the gathering said Catholic people and missionaries have always been a reason for the welfare of the society and people of Mangalore. They have always welcomed all religions and faith in equal manner with no barriers of caste and creed. He also added saying that this is a call for Catholics to show that we are witnesses of Christ and we should work diligently to bring back the society into its own normal form. Denis Mascarenhas stated that this is a time for forgiveness and we should reconcile with the people who have done wrong to us as Christ has taught us.

Chris Vas put forward her views about the good deeds done by the youth to safe guard the churches in this hour of need. She said the youth have worked selflessly towards protecting the people around and the morality of the Christian faith.

The congregation then formed a Core Committee to work towards this injustice happening to the Christians in Mangalore. The committee will be lead by  Stanley T H Fernandes along with nine other dynamic members namely Donald Pinto, Henry Martis, Francis Aranha, Suraj Rebbelo, Pressilla Machado, Chris Vas,  Benedict Pereira, Nelson D’ Silva and Clarence Pinto.
 
It was then decided that the memorandum will be drafted from the core committee stating the concerns following the recent incidents happening in Mangalore. The appeal will narrate the Achievements by the Catholic people and the institutions to the Mangalorean society and mankind. It will narrate the incidents happened from September 14 to 16.

Memorandum will be submitted to the Ambassador of India in Muscat on Saturday September 20.