Mangaluru: KORWA celebrates joy of Christmas with orphaned children

Bellevision Media Network

Mangaluru, 14 Dec 2015: Konkan Overseas Returnees’ Welfare Association (KORWA) organized Christmas celebrations at Loyola Hall of St Aloysius PU College, here on Saturday December 12 evening.

 

The inmates of St Angela Home, Bejai presented welcome dance.  KORWA president Louis Lobo welcomed the gathering.

 

Jesuit priest Fr Ravi Santosh Kamat of Fatima Retreat House, here inaugurated the programme along with KORWA president Louis Lobo, vice president Elias Sanctis, cultural secretary David D’Souza, general secretary Jacinta Pinto, joint secretary Flora Hilsop and Wilma Menezes.

 

Speaking on the occasion, Fr Santosh Kamat said, ‘It’s gives me once again a proud privilege to be associated with Korwa, since I have been involved in all their programmes since their inception. It’s nice to note that Korwa is celebrating the spirit of Christmas once again with the orphanage children. Christmas is life, and these children are the future life of the world. Children are God’s gift to us. We should be grateful to the members of KORWA for putting up this unique programme for the sake of children, thereby bring miles of smiles on their faces,’ said Fr Santosh.

 

 

Addressing the gathering MLA J R Lobo said, ‘It is a beautiful programme, celebrating Christmas with underprivileged children. It is a true way of celebrating Christmas. It is not a family festival, but is a festival of unity, brotherhood and joy. In olden days pagans were celebrating various festivals and Christmas is the one since then. We celebrate Jesus Birthday but it is not the question of Jesus Birth, no one knows the exact date when Jesus was born but we all are sure those 2000 years ago Jesus born in the winter season. We celebrate the coming of Jesus to save us from sin. And we celebrate his coming as Christmas.’

 

MLA Lobo further said, Now-a-days people forget the true meaning of Christmas. Christmas is the time to celebrate joy with our neighbors, the poor and downtrodden forgetting caste, creed and religion. Jesus came to this world and he loved the poor and the downtrodden. We are distributing cakes and sweets within the family. Instead of celebrating Christmas with out own people lets celebrate Christmas with the less fortunate in the society, like Jesus taught. When we understand the true meaning of Christmas and share the joy it will be a real celebration,’ said MLA Lobo.

 

The Christmas Celebration was filled with dance, songs, music, mimicry, skit and much more. The cultural show comprised of dance by Spandana children; dance from De Marcede Orphanage children; a act by Jeevadan children; renowned singer Anitha D’souza performed a solo song enthralling the audience; dance from St Joseph School Children-Gurpur; a act by St Aloysian Boys Home children-Kotekar; mimicry by Vishmay Vinayak and partner; a act by Prajna Counselling Centre children; mesmerizing and scintillating dance performance by Almirah Shareena, who is the grand-daughter of Flora Hilsop, a active KORWA member.

 

A religious skit by Bethrram Formation House; song by Rynal Sequeira; scintillating dance by Illusion Group; Christmas carols by Steffi Pereira and group; and much more. The entry of Santa Claus brought lots of laughter and cheers among the children, as well as adults. Santa distributed sweets, goodies and danced with the children. Sponsors and well-wishers were honored on the occasion. Gifts were also distributed to the kids. Elias Sanctis proposed the vote of thanks. Comperes Vaibhav D’Souza and new comer Sushmitha John kept the audience live with their witty punchlines. The programme concluded with a sumptuous dinner served by M D’Souza Caterers.