Fr Walter D’Mello, who was the spiritual director of Catholic Sabha Central Committee inaugurated Valencia parish unit of Catholic Sabha. The existing office bearers are:
Fr Bonaventure Nazareth (spiritual director), Cyril D’Souza (president), Francis Crasta (vice president), Jessy Baretto (secretary), Leena Fenandes (deputy secretary), Flavia Sequeira (treasurer), Catholic Sabha monthly bulletin ‘Amcho Sandesh’ representative Ida D’Souza, deanery representative Arthur Pereira, political representative Ronald Pinto, youth and government employment convener Jossy Saldanha. It’s striving on Catholic Sabha’s motto: service, sacrifice and unity. It has 155 members. They meet on every Tuesday of month at 6.00pm.
The office bearers of Valencia parish unit of Catholic Sabha served the Central Committee in deanery level regional level. Joan Hoveas serves as vice president and women representative, Dolphy Saldanha is the deanery Amcho Sandesh representative, Leena Fernandes is the deanery youth secretary, Amcho Sandesh representative and Central Committee women representative, Raymond D’Cunha is the deanery president and secretary, Francis Crasta is the deanery Amcho Sandesh representative and regional secretary.
A few tasks undertaken by Valencia unit of Catholic Sabha
- Active role in anti-plastic movement and cleanliness of Valencia locality
- Cleared the encroachment on Suvarna Lane and making smooth traffic adjoining NH at Ujjody with the help of municipal authorities
- Formed self-help-groups to empower poor women
- Taken leadership in compiling telephone directory of Valencia parish
- Inclusion of profile of people in voters list
- Partaken in protest when Christians faced injustice in education sphere
- Organized legal camp, health camp, diabetes tests, rain water harvesting, blood camps, followed up to complete proper road works on Father Muller Road etc
- Awarded prizes to toppers of SSLC/PUC and diocesan catechism exam
- Launched a fund of Rs 1 lac and with its interest, 2 talented poor students of parish were presented Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000
- Rs 25,000 was assured for parish project
- It took active role in the protest held in front of DC office when Gregory Patro face injustice
- It distributed Senior Citizens Card, Father Muller Health Card and KMC Health Card to parishioners
- Its posting employment opportunities in parish notice board for youth
Future plans
- To reach copies of Amcho Sandesh to each parish family
- To organize information programme for the youth on government jobs
- To organize awareness programme on minorities rights
- To issue health card to each family and create awareness on health of entire family
The present spiritual director Fr Bonaventure Nazareth is guiding the Catholic Sabha unit and it expresses gratitude to all office bearers, parish council and Gurkars for their support.
Valencia Catholic Sabha
Established: June 6 1996
Founder spiritual director: Fr Valerian Frank
President: D R Lobo
Vice President: Arthur D’Sa
Secretary: Joan Goveas
Deputy Secretary: Edwin Pais
Treasurer: Sylvia Sequeira
Joan Goveas (President during 2001 to 2003, 2008 to 2010)
Dolphy Saldanha (President during 2003 to 2005)
Leena Fernandes (2005 to 2007)
Raymond D’Cunha (2007 – 2008)
Cyril D’Souza (2010 to 2011)