Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo Inaugurates the Historical Samudayotsava 2020

Pics by Alphonse Mendonca
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi/Kallianpura, 19 Jan: “The roots of our democracy are weakening day by day due to various reasons. In this respect everyone should join together and save our democracy”, said Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo in his address following the inauguration of the historic Samudayotsava 2020 on 19 January 2020 at Mount Rosary Church premises organized by the Catholic Sabha of Udupi Pradesh.

 

Continuing his address, the Bishop said that the price rise and increasing unemployment have been creating a lot of problems to the people of the country. Since the last 25 years the number of senior citizens has been on the increase and the number of Christians has been on the decline. As a community, the Christians are in the third position. Due to hesitant attitude, the Christians have been losing their strength and rights. Christians are very much the citizens of the country. Having been dependent on the Church, the Christians have been reluctant to take any decision independent of the Church. In this respect everyone in the community should join hands and assert their rights.

 

The chief guest of the inaugural function, Mrs. Margaret Alva, the former Governor of Uttarakhand , in her message expressed concern about the ongoing events and incidents in the country.  She said that the recent protests and violence against the CAA and NRC  have been a great impediment to the progress of the nation. Though not directly, there has been an attempt to intimidate the Christian community. The protest and political machinations by vested interests against the installation of the statue of Jesus Christ at Kanakapura is one of the examples of such intimidatory tactics. If there is no opposition to put up statues of anyone, why there should be objection for the installation of the statue of Jesus Christ, asked Mrs. Margaret Alva. She further said that the government that had won mandate from the people on the promise of ‘Good days would come..” has been behaving in a an autocratic manner neglecting the welfare of the poor people.

 

Speaking further, Mrs. Margaret Alva said that the newly introduced CAA and NRC have created confusion in the society. According to NRC one has to produce birth certificates of not only of themselves and their parents, but also those of their grandparents and ancestors. This law is not restricted to only Muslims and Christians but to all other communities as well. Once born as an Indian one is not required to furnish documents once again to prove one’s citizenship. The Prime Minister and the Home Minister who are asking the Indians to prove their citizenship. While the Prime Minister’s BA certificate is yet to be found, how they can demand documents of citizenship from poor people.

 

 

During the programme “Our Constitution and Rights” written by Edward Larsen D’Souza and “The History of the Catholic Sabha” authored by Dr. Gerald Pinto were released.

 

J.R. Lobo, retired KS Officer delivered the keynote address on the ‘Present Condition and Future Vision of the Christian Community’.

 

Retired KS Officer Antony Mendonca, Justice Rev. Francis Assisi Almeida, senior journalist Gabriel Vaz, Milagres College, Kallinapura Principal Dr. Vincent Alva, Albert D’Souza of Model Bank, Mumbai, AICU Secretary Mrs. Jannet D’Souza, AICU President Assisi Gonslaves, Catholic Sabha Mangalore Pradesh Presdient Rolphy D’Costa, John D’Silva, Rev. Dr. Leslie Clifford D’Souza, Catholic Stree Sanghattan President Pramila D’Sa, Elias D’Souza, Santekatte, Catholic Sabha Spiritual Director Fr. Ferdinand Gonsalves, Secretary Santosh Cornelio, Treasurer Gerald Rodrigues, prospective president Robert Menezes, immediate past president Valerian Fernandes, Convener of Samudayotsava 2020 Elroy Kiran Crasto, zonal president Ronald Herics, Mrs. Ida Cornelio and others were present.

 

 

Alwyn Quadros, President of Catholic Sabha Udupi Pradesh welcomed the gathering, Samudayotsava 2020 Secretary Mrs. Mary D’Souza proposed the vote of thanks and Edward Larsen D’Souza  compeered the programme.