Udupi: Rev. Dr. Gerald Isaac Lobo celebrates Christmas with Journalists and Media Persons

By Eugene DSouza, Moodubelle
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 18 Dec 2014: As a gesture of goodwill and sharing the joy and happiness of  the Christmas Season, the Bishop of Udupi Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Gerald Isaac Lobo celebrated Christmas with journalists and media persons on Thursday, 18 December 2014 at 11.30 am.  On this occasion Jayakar Suvarna, the newly elected President of the Udupi Journalists Association was felicitated and the website of the diocesan monthly ‘Uzvaad’ which will be published as fortnightly from January 2015 was inaugurated.

 

Along with the Bishop, Rev. Dr. Baptist Menezes, Vicar General of Udupi Diocese, Rev. Fr. Fred Mascarenhas, Parish Priest of Mother of Sorrows Church, Rev. Fr. Denis D’Sa-PRO of the Udupi Diocese, Rev. Fr. Chetan (OFM Cap), Jayakar Suvarna and Michael Rodrigues-Coordinator of Diocesan Media were on the dais.

 

In his welcome address, Rev. Dr. Baptist Menezes said that Christmas is the time to share, appreciate and thank the journalists and media persons for the service that they had rendered to the infant Diocese of Udupi since its inception in October 2012. The press has been giving wide publicity to the events conducted by the diocese during different occasions. He further said that the media has been playing very positive and constructive role in highlighting the various activities and programmes of the diocese.

 

Jayakar Suvarna, President of the Working Journalists Association, Udupi was felicitated by the Bishop and other dignitaries on the dais. In his brief message, Jayakar Suvarna appreciated the interaction of the Bishop with the journalists and media persons and wished that such interaction would continue in future as well.

 

As a symbol of sharing the Christmas joy with the assembled journalists and media persons, the Bishop along with Jayakara Suvarna cut the beautiful cake which was distributed to all later.

 

Delivering the Christmas Message 2014, Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo said that Christmas heralds the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. His magnetic personality was both human and divine. His life was an open book which revealed the infinite love and compassion of God towards man. The Bishop further said that Jesus had no servants, yet they called Him Master; had no degrees, yet they called Him Teacher; administered no medicines, yet they called Him Healer; had no army, yet kings feared Him; won no military battles, yet He conquered the world; had committed no crime, yet they crucified Him; was buried in a tomb. Yet He lives today.

 

Emphasizing the need of Jesus Christ in modern times, the Bishop said that mankind needs Him today much more than ever before. Mahatma Gandhi successfully used his twin weapons of truth and non-violence in order to obtain political freedom for India. Jesus’ relevance outlasts time and space. In conclusion, the Bishop thanked the journalists and media persons for their cooperation and warmly extended the greetings of Christmas and New Year 2015.

 

 

Rev. Fr. Chetan (OFM Cap), editor of the Diocesan Journal ‘Uzvaad’ spoke about its progress during the last year and said that from January 2015, ‘Uzvaad’ will be  published as fortnightly. Presently, 10,000 copies of the journal are being printed and the number would go up from coming year. He further said that for the benefit of those who are unable to get the hard copy, online publication of the journal would commence through the website-www.uzvaad.com, which was officially inaugurated by Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo. Vincent Mascarenhas who had designed the website was also present during the inauguration.

 

Rev. Fr. Denis D’Sa, PRO of Udupi Diocese thanked the journalists and media persons for attending the Christmas get-together and expressed appreciation of their contribution through publicity to the ‘infant’ diocese.

 

Rev. Fr. Chetan comppered the programme. Around 50 journalists and media persons were  present for the Christmas get-together who had lunch along with the Bishop.