Mangaluru: Dr. Aloysius Paul D’Souza, Bishop of Mangaluru praised women for their role in the family and society. Laying emphasis on Catholic women he said, “They go one step ahead and render their service to those in need, the perfect example of this being the religious sisters we see in the society”.
The Bishop was speaking at the Canara Catholic Women’s Mega Convention-2018 on March 4, which was held at the St. Agnes Special School grounds.
Speaking about the Catholic Sabha, he lauded its central committee for bringing over 5000 women under its umbrella. He also said that they were doing a good thing by honouring ten women achievers of the community since it would serve as an encouragement for other women to achieve more. He then congratulated the ten women who were to be honoured during the course of the event. “Their hard work and perseverance brought them to their current level and hence, this honour and they are now role models of the entire community,” he said.
Inaugurating the convention, Sr. Lillis, Assistant Superior General of the Bethany Congregation, said in her address that woman power is more in the limelight these days as compared to the past when women were considered weaker than men. A thing, she said, which has been proven wrong by women through their many struggles and achievements. “I am honoured to be inaugurating this convention as it stands as an example of the power and unity of us women,” she concluded.
Also present at the event was MLC Ivan D’Souza who, in his address to the gathering said, “I am witnessing this kind of convention for the first time in my life,” praising the Catholic Sabha’s leaders for organising the event. He wished that the sabha would organise this kind of event every year as seeing these women about to be honoured for having worked very hard to be successful would serve as a good means of encouragement to the community’s women.
MLA J R Lobo, acknowledging the enormous crowd stated that it showed the Catholic women’s unity and concern for their community. “Those who respect women always follow the path of improvement,” he said.
The President of the Catholic Sabha Mangaluru Pradesh, Anil Lobo said in his introductory speech that the Catholic women enjoy the respect of the society because of the religious sisters who have made a mark in world through their services in the field of education and health. He also said that the convention has bestowed upon women the new responsibility of fighting against social injustice and raising their voice against anti-social elements in the society. This, he assured, would work towards making them stronger and serve as a benefit to the society and the community.
Veronica Cornelio, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee Secretary said that the women of the Catholic community are renowned for their service in the health, education, banking and political spheres. “Our number may be less but, our community’s women are dedicated and committed,” she said. Commenting on the current scenario, she said that the community’s women need to be more aggressively involved in the society and work had to earn respectable positions in the society.
The ten women achievers of the society, honoured with the ‘Catholic Sabha Sthree Sadhan Award 2018’ were Pauline Flossy Pinto of Taccode under Agriculture, Jessline Elizabeth Mary Lewis, Mount Rosary of Kallianpur under Differently Abled, Juliana Lobo of Derebail under Education, Eulalia D’Souza of Bejai under Entrepreneurship, Linet Castelino of Nithyadarnagar under Government Service, Mary Vaz of Derebail under Health, Merlyn Rasquinha of Angelore under Literature and Fine Arts, Violet Pereira of Bendur under Professional, Remedia D’Souza of Belmann under Social Service and Joyline Mureal Lobo of Shirtady under Sports.
‘Striyarigagi Sarakara’, a book that has been compiled by Prof. Steven Quadros to spread information about government schemes for women, was released on the occasion.
Albert D’Souza, Chairman of the Model Co-Operative Society, Mumbai kicked off the distribution of the Catholic Sabha Lifetime membership cards. The prayer song and the celebratory songs were sung by the choir groups led by Alwyn D’Cunha Derebail and Melwyn Peris, Angelore.
A ‘Save Environment’ rally inaugurated by Pius L Rodrigues, member, Karnataka Pollution Control Board, was held before the convention from Kadri-Mallikatta to the venue. Women, students and members of the Catholic Sabha participated in huge numbers in the rally.
Queeny Mishel D’Costa, assistant commissioner, customs and central excise, advocate M P Noronha, secretary of Mangalore diocese Pastoral Council, Celestine D Souza, general secretory, Fr Mathew Vas, director, Catholic Sabha, Fr. J B Crasta, vicar forene, episcopal city feanery, Terry Pais, president, Sthree Mandali, Sharal D’Souza, convenor, Sthree Sanghatan, Valerian R Fernandes, president, Catholic Sabha, Udupi, and others were present at the event.
