Celebration of St. Peter’s Feast by St. Peter’s Association (Barkur), Bengaluru

Bellevision Media Network

Bengaluru, 06 Jul 2022: Of late, Patron St Peters Titular Feast on 29th June, every year, has become a tradition for coming together, for Barkurian’s wherever they are settled in fairly large number, whether it is Mumbai or Bangalore and for that matter in Dubai / Abu Dhabi, to that extent distant USA, it has become a must attend annual event, for native town people and their relatives, to come together in these years. Other day few of my friends rightly shared a common observation – ‘like Monthi Festh in Sept, which has seen and reached to the level of Mangalorean identity which started in Gulf now crossed all boundaries to demonstrate and showcase Konkani Catholics cultural ethos and heritage, for us Barkurians, ‘Patronachen Tarike festh’, is an opportunity to come, pray, rejoice and share a common meal together.  I had the privilege of attending few such feasts in Mumbai and probably once in Bangalore. This year too, we had special invitations from both SPA Mumbai and SPA Bangalore, incidentally both the celebrations held on same day, same time, almost same manner with all devotion, followed grandeur, fun and frolic…….but only at different locations….!!

 

Our valued readers must have a glimpse of SPA Mumbai in these pages. Here in try to give only a brief of few special attractions during Bangalore festivities, held on Sunday, 3rd July, 2022.

 

‘St Peters Association Bangalore’ is a closely knit, well organised cohesive group of Barkurians in the metropolis of Bangalore, which add up additional members and families every year, into its fold. With his group of Office bearers, President Peter Pinto had a feeling to miss such an annual fanfare due to pandemic and related compulsions last year, which doubled their energy to have the feast this year, as a record 150 guests made it a point to join together for the Holy Festal Mass in Konkani at 10.00 am celebrated in the Jesuit’s Nivas, the St Joseph’s Chapel, led by native (Halekody) Jesuit Priest in Fr Roshan DAlmeida, SJ,  Guest Priests, Fr Vishal DSouza SJ & Capuchin priest Fr Patrick Crasta were  the main celebrants and in is well worded homily congratulated Barkurians, as one of their sons of soil in Fr Alfred Roche on his way to Sainthood…..Those who really understand the significance, spirituality and works of Amcho padryab and his elevation among thousands by Holy See must be made known…..While continuing he conveyed the festal Greetings of the Feast of Peter the Rock the one always intercedes for our needs both temporal / material and spiritual….!

 

 

Immediately after the Holy Mass arrangements were in place for breakfast and then started the official AGM with, annual reports presented by Secretary Mrs Janet Rego and the Members unanimously elected Mr Felix Menezes, as new President to lead the group to greater heights, in years to come.

 

Mr Augustine DLima, once served as Lecturer in History in NJC Barkur, presently the Treasurer, had been vested with greeter responsibilities to introduce six distinct achievers in different walks of life:

They are:

1) Dr. Kiran Kamal Prasad (Cyprian Lobo, Barkur), Founder and coordinator, Jeevika, Bengaluru was honoured for his Award “Mother Theresa Award for Social Justice-2019” by Harmony Foundation, Mumbai and “The Human rights Prize of French Republic 2020 Edition” by Commiotion Nationale Consultive Republique Francaise (CNCDH). 

(2) Mr. Anthony Prakash Dsouza ( Antony Barkur)- a Poet / Writer, was honoured for his award “ Vimala Pai Konkani Annual Literary Award for the year 2021 “ by The Konkani Bhas Ani Sanskriti Prathistan, World Konkani Centre, Mangaluru for ‘Massam’ a collection of Konkani short stories.

 (3) Miss. Sweezal Furtado (D/o Mrs.Savitha Furtado, Barkur), was honoured for her Award “Star Miss Teen India South 2021”. She was also crowned as “Fresh face of Ignite India 2021” at the Ignite India Meraki Fashion Competition held in Bengaluru in 2021. Further, she was crowned as “MISS SUPER MODEL INDIA 2022, 2ND RUNNER UP” on 26/06/2022 by Star Entertainment Production, New Delhi.

 (4) Mr. Michael Varun Sequeira (s/o Mr. Lawrence and Mrs. Janet Sequeira, Barkur), was honoured for his Award in business model “Ice Cream Burger” in 2017 by the President of India, Sri Pranab Mukherjee and it was inducted in the star brand category. 

(5) Miss Vilina Sequeira (D/o Mr. James & Mrs. Alice Sequeira, Barkur) – Founder and Managing Director, Docens Consulting and Recruiting Co. Pvt. Ltd, Bengaluru was honoured for her Award “ Times Hospitality Icon 2020”, for two consecutive Years 2019 and 2020 for her outstanding contribution towards Recruitment in the Hospitality Industry by Iconic Food & Beverages Recruitment Company 

(6) Miss Tamara Rose Furtado (D/o Dr. Sunil Valentine and Dr.Shireen Furtado) student of Sophia High School- Bangalore was honoured for her Award in her achievement in “SPELLBEE” competition held by Rotary Club of South India.

 

 

Chief Guest of the event Rev Fr Patrick Crasta, along with the President Mr Peter Pinto, honoured the luminaries and social workers, literary figures of repute with traditional shawl and a memento.

 

Couple of months back, under the initiative of the Chairman of the Mother Mary Charitable Trust, Mr Karamchand Sequeira, which is well-known in Barkur, a Biography of the man of the Century in Barkur, Shri John Peter Sequeira, 1900–1963, who had the distinct credit of pioneering to unite likeminded people in Barkur in 1945 through BES (Barkur Educational Society) to start National High School, now at the threshold of celebrating Platinum Jubilee, was re-released on this special occasion. 

 

Mr Augustine DLima, outlined the contents, charisma and contribution of the great man and observed, Prof P. Archibald Furtado, Milagres College, Kallianpur, who authored, composed and compiled this monumental work has done praise worthy job, to remember a true leader, educationist and a visionary in Barkur. Copies of the Biography were distributed to all present who wanted to read and preserve it for life time.

 

 

Newly President elect Mr Felix Menezes expressed his views in brief, while the Mr Peter Pinto, the outgoing President, who served at the helm for more than a decade, instrumental to unite and lead Barkurians in Bangalore was specially honoured by the new President Mr Menezes and Vice President Mr James Sequeira.

 

Mrs Lexin Sequeira aptly compered the official part of the well planned event with her unique, crispy style while Mrs Janet Rego proposed vote of thanks.

 

There was stand-up comedy show presented by versatile stage artist Richard Lewis as the Festal Celebrations of Patron’s Titular Feast of St Peter was thoroughly enjoyed by the guests present with sumptuous lunch, with cocktails and snacks, served and arranged by the organisers.