News - Mangalore

Our Lady of Rosary Church, Kundapur celebrated its Annual Feast on November 24-25, 2009.

The celebrations started on November 22, 2009 with Holy Mass followed by a procession which culminated with the adoration of the Holy Sacrament at St Mary's School Ground.  As a sign of peace a beautiful tabloid in the form of a white pigeon descending upon the earth surrounded by 10 young children of the parish dressed in white as angels standing around the pigeon was the main attraction of the procession.  Other main tabloid was depicting the last supper of he Jesus Christ indicating the significance of the Holy Eucharist.

The Feast was celebrated on 25 November, 2009 with a concelebrated Holy Mass by 16 Priests from and around Kundapur.   Rev.  Fr. Maxim Furtado, Parish Priest of Basroor Parish was the main celebrant for the occasion.

In the evening Youth of I C Y M  presented a Konkani Play "Khamysar Asa Bachavi?" as a part of the entertainment programme.

News - Mangalore

News - Mangalore

Divine Call Centre, Mulki, has come out with a New Konkani "Christmas Special" CD: "BALOK EK ZALMALA" with Carols composed especially for Church programmes during Christmas season & school performances on Christmas themes.

This CD was released by Rev Fr. Norbert Lobo, the Parish Priest of Immaculate Conception Church, Mulki, after the Solemn Mass on the eve of Advent on 28^th November, 2009 at Divine Call Centre, Mulki in the presence of Rev Fr. Cyprian Lewis SVD -the Director of Divine Call Centre and Rev.Fr. Melwin of Kinnigoli Parish.

Speaking on the occasion Rev Fr. Norbert Lobo lauded the Centre in its efforts to give 'Glory to God' and in bringing the faithful closer to God in various ways. He appreciated the Divine team, especially Mr. Richard Machado, for bringing out this Special Christmas CD - with its unique theme and concept.  He also appealed the Catholic community to come forward and use the God-given talents like Mr. Richard to enhance the devotion of the people.

Expressing his gratitude to the Almighty God and to Divine Call Centre, Mr. Richard thanked all those people who were instrumental in bringing out this CD.  He said that this special CD is prepared with the intention to come handy for various groups for any type of programme related to Christmas. He also said that the lyrics are composed in such a way that they will be very much useful to organise a "LIVE CRIB" programme.

The lyrics and tunes are composed by Richard Machado of Derebail Parish. Mr. Gladson Ravindra is the music director for this CD. The harmonisation has been done by Rev. Fr. Walter Albuquerque S.J. This CD has been recorded at Kalasangama, Mangalore by Nanson and the carols are sung by Rev. Fr. Anil Kiran Fernandes SVD, Rev. Fr. Sunil Menezes SVD, Mr. Ronald, Mr. Oswald, Mrs. Maria Pereira, Mrs. Mariya, Baby Lisha, Smenita, Joylin, Mr. Richard Machado and Chorus.

Mr. Richard Machado has composed lyrics and melodies for his earlier popular volumes, "Agape," "Khursar Thavn," "Apad Jezu Maka" and "Tuji Kurpa" in Konkani. "Strengthen Us Your Servants," is his first ever English Composition.

"Balok Ek Zalmala" Audio CD is produced by Divine Call Centre, Mulki and the copies are available at the Retreat Centre and in the leading religious shops in Mangalore. Shortly the copies of this CD will be made available in some places in Mumbai also.

News - Mangalore

The winners are:

Primary Section:

First: Ornella D Souza

Second: Pearl Jasmine

Third: Relta D Sa

Eight and Ninth Std:

First: Reshma D Lima, Milagres High School Kallianpur .

Second: Aaliya , St Cecilys Udupi .

Third: Hema D Silva  St Fransis Udyavar .

Tength:

First: Melisha Menezes, Mt Carmel Kemmannu  Second: Viona Gomes, St Marys Udupi  Third: Michel Pinto, Mt Carmel, Kemmannu.

Louis Almeida the convener Welcomed the gathering, president Charles Welsly Amler and Secretary Salaluddin gave away the prizes.

News - Mangalore

"The active participation in Democracy is only through the Panchayat Raj system. Success of Democracy lies in Panchayat Raj, which is the undivided part of Democracy. Village Panchayat members being elected by the people for local governance are an essential link between villagers and the Government.  Improving quality of life of village folk is the most essential task of Panchayat members. To do this effectively the members must go through the process of constant trainings on value based politics" said Rev. Dr Pius Fidelis Pinto, the managing trustee of Samanvaya after inaugurating the workshop on Value Based Politics and Panchayat Raj by lighting the lamp.  The workshop was organized by Samanvaya Mangalore at its Conference hall near Urwastores on November 25, 2009.

The renowned social activist and famous lawyer Mr Shirtadi William Pinto and former Udupi Jilla Panchayat president Mrs Veronica Cornelio were the resource persons. They imparted inputs on local self government, rights and duties of elected panchayat members, need and strategies to enter politics, requirements of a good politician and value based politics - politics with principles. Why good people hesitate to join politics?  Will caste and religion based politics survive? Is corruption free politics possible?  were the questions that were raised.

The managing trustee of Samanvaya Rev. Dr Pius Fidelis Pinto presided over the stage function, the director of St. Joseph's Asylum Industrial workshop Rev. Fr J. B. Crasta and coordinator of Samanvaya Sr Mabel D'souza were the chief guests. Director of Samanvaya Rev. Dr Ronald Cutinha welcomed and introduced the guests. Co-ordinator of Sahodaya Sr Prema B.S. proposed vote of thanks, Sahodaya staff Latha compeered.  65 members participated in this workshop.

News - Mangalore

Kallianpur: A twin celebration of Ven. Fr. Agnello's 82^th Death Anniversary and Seminarists Day was organised at Milagris Church, Kallianpur  at 10.30 in the morning. Episcopal Vicar Dr. Baptist Menezes, Vicar Vara Rev. Fr. Marcel Saldanha offered holy mass which was attended by parishioners and religious nuns.

After the mass there was  cultural and entertainment programme at the Tri-centinary Hall of the parish, this was directed by Fr. Agnel D'Souza and Bro. Leo Cardoza. Dinner is served to all at the end of the programme.

-Report: Walter Cyril Pinto

News - Mangalore

RAICHUR: You can't google in Google. For, Google, a tiny village about 510km north-east of Bangalore, doesn't have internet connectivity.

This village on the banks of the Krishna river in Raichur district, with just about 1,000 residents, is far removed from the search engine company based in Mountain View, California. And how you spell the name in English is left to you as all signboards here, including those of government offices, are in Kannada. When the government tried to put up English boards, activists stopped them. ''We asked officials if anyone from Cambridge University would come here to read these boards,'' laughs Kannada activist K P Yallayyanayaka.

No wonder then that only a few villagers have heard of their famous namesake in cyberspace. ''My grand-daughter told me that two boys have named a website after our village. I feel happy and proud,'' says landlord Basavarajappa Gouda Police Patil. ''Who'll not be happy to know the name of our village is so popular in the cyber world? But this is just a pleasant coincidence. Americans will have totally different reasons for naming their company Google,'' reasons native Sharana Gouda, an agricutural scientist who works in Bellary.

The story goes that 12th century saint poet Allama Prabhu stopped by in the village while travelling from Basava Kalyan to Shreeshailam in Andhra Pradesh. The cave he stayed in has been described as 'Gavi Gallu' (cave of stone), say villagers. ''Our village was hence called Gavi Gallu. Over the years, it became Googallu and now it's Google,'' says Gouda.

As proof, residents point to the temple atop the underground cave now. Devotees crawl through a hole in the ground to enter the cave, which has an idol of Allama Prabhu and a small well. Experts, however, point to a piece of history that they say is closer to the truth.

''The Helavas, who went around telling people about their ancestral history, say the village was named after rocks that seemed to sing,'' says writer Chidananda Sali.

The name comes from 'Kooguva Kallu' (stones that make a pleasant sound when river water strikes them), he says.

''The sound wasn't produced by river water but by people who wanted to communicate with villagers in far-off places,'' explains S K Aruni, assistant director of Indian Council of Historical Research.

''In ancient times, people would send signals to far-off villages by hitting rocks with small sonorous stones. This produced cup-like marks in the rocks. Prehistoric rocks with such cup marks are found in several places in the Krishna river basin, such as Watkal, Hunasagi, Hebbal Burj and other villages in Gulbarga and Raichur districts. So, it's possible that a village with such rocks was called Kooguva Kallu,'' he adds.

News - Mangalore

Mr.Vinayak Prabhu proposed vote of thanks, and Nr.Seena Moodbidri, compered the programe.