Parish News

News by Gordon DAlmeida
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Parishioners of Valencia celebrated the 'Konkani Manyata Divas' at the Golden Jubilee Hall on Sunday August 18th 2024. The program began with a prayer led by the church choir. The chief guest for the program was Melwyn Rodrigues, Renowned Poet and Director of Daijiworld Media Pvt Ltd Co. Asst PP Fr Pradeep Rodrigues welcomed the gathering. The program was inaugurated by playing the traditional gumta.

Melwyn Rodrigues, addressing the gathering, stated that on January 26, 1950, the Constitution of India came into effect, initially recognizing 14 languages in the Eighth Schedule. In 1967, the 21st Amendment added Sindhi to this list. The 71st Amendment, enacted in 1992, included Konkani, Manipuri, and Nepali. The 92nd Amendment in 2003 further expanded the list to 22 languages by adding Bodo, Dogri, Santhali, and Maithili. Konkani was officially included in the Constitution on August 20, 1992, a day now celebrated as Konkani Manyata Divas.

You might wonder about the benefits of Konkani's inclusion in the Eighth Schedule. The four key advantages are- Official Recognition -Being part of the Eighth Schedule grants Konkani official status and protection, helping to ensure its continued use and development. Government Support- It opens doors to government funding and support for educational and cultural initiatives related to Konkani. Educational Opportunities -Schools and colleges can offer Konkani as part of their curriculum, aiding in its preservation and promotion among younger generations. Cultural Preservation -It supports the preservation and promotion of Konkani literature and cultural practices, maintaining the language's unique identity.

Since 1976, all representatives on the executive council have been Goans. However, last year 2023, I was elected to represent the Mangalore region as a Konkani representative. Over the past year, we have organized various Konkani programs across different states, released numerous Konkani books, and translated more than 40 books between Konkani and other languages. This year, we have begun translating monographs by Konkan Kogul Wilfy Remibus, Louis Mascarenhas, and Swami Supriya into English. These efforts aim to provide greater recognition to Konkani literature and culture.

Despite these advancements, we need to better utilize the benefits provided by the government. The amendments to the Constitution have granted us many rights that we must embrace and use effectively. We should strive to speak, read, and write in Konkani as much as possible and inspire others to do the same. By fully embracing Konkani, we can ensure that we continue to receive and benefit from the rights granted by the Constitution.

Santhosh Sequeira (Proprietor, Santhosh Arrangers) of St. Joseph Ward was honored for his goodwill. He donated ₹12,00,000 for the renovation of the Portico.

Mr and Mrs Ivan (N-Force infrastructure Ltd) and Selma Sequeira of Sacred heart ward were also honored for their generous donation of ₹5,25,000 for the replacement of the entire sound system in the church.

A floral bouquet was presented to Steevan Rodrigues, 21 commission coordinator of Lourdes Ward, in recognition of his election as the vice-president of Catholic Sabha Mangalore Pradesh ®.

Riana DCunha of St Sebastian ward was honored for being elected as the lady vice-president of ICYM Mangalore Diocese.

Preetha Miranda of St Antony B ward was also honoured for achieving the 4th rank from Mangalore University in Post-Graduate Diploma in Konkani.

During the occasion, Parish Priest Fr Roque spoke appreciatively of MLC Ivan DSouza, who has been elected for the second time to the legislative council. He noted that being elected once is a significant achievement, but being re-elected is particularly remarkable. Fr Roque praised Ivan DSouza as a beloved politician among the people. On behalf of the parishioners, he extended congratulations and expressed happiness for his achievement.

Fr Roque also mentioned the hymn "Udhar Kaliz Baapa Tuje, Vistar Darya Sarke" that we sing during Mass. He highlighted the generosity of two open-hearted individuals, Ivan - Selma Sequeira and Santhosh Sequeira, who donated to the church's needs. He thanked them and wished them God's blessings in their endeavors.

Additionally, Fr Roque expressed his heartfelt thanks to the guest of the day, Melwyn Rodrigues, for accepting the invitation and sharing his knowledge and insights on the importance of Konkani.

Ivan Dsouza of St Antony B was honoured for being elected as the Member of Legislative Council Govt of Karnataka.

Speaking during the occasion, Ivan lauded the parish clergy and the parish council for organizing Konkani Manyata Divas for the past 23 years. He acknowledged that organizing such a significant event is no easy task but emphasized that the goal is to preserve our tradition and language. He stressed the importance of passing on our traditions to the younger generation.

Ivan assured the parishioners of Valencia of his full support. He encouraged anyone with problems to approach him either at his house office in the morning or soon at his new office in the municipal corporation, where staff representatives will be available. He assured that all grievances would be heard and addressed to the best of his ability.

He urged parishioners not to hesitate in reaching out to him, as no special influence is needed to do so. Ivan expressed his commitment to serving the people and conveyed his pride in being a parishioner of Valencia. He wished everyone the best on Konkani Day.

Rita Menezes secretary of parish council proposed the vote of thanks. Vincent Mendonca was the master of ceremonies for the program. At 6.30pm the cultural program began where parishioners performed a variety in Konkani.

Parish Priest Fr Roque DSa, Asst PP Fr Pradeep Rodrigues, Parish Council vice-president Ronald Rodrigues, Secretary Rita Menezes, Coordinator of 21 commissions Steevan Rodrigues and a sea full of parishioners were present for the program.

The program ended with dinner which was prepared by various wards.