Kallianpur, June 1: The Catholic Sabha Kallianpur Varado & Konkani Sangatan, Udupi District organized a workshop on great Konkani Sahitis at Mt Rosary Church Hall Kallianpur on 1^st June. Gladys Rego noted Konkani writer was the resource person. She spoke on the life of Jo.Sa Alvaris, Evlalia Alvaris &  A T Lobo. She also explained the roles in the first Konkani novel “Angel” and the women characters in the  novel. .

Presedent of the Konkani Sanghatan Dr Gerald Pinto introduced the speaker. President of Catholic Sabha  Felix Pinto welcomed the gathering. Secretary Avitas Carnelio proposed vote of thanks.

Louis D Almeida the secretary of the Saghatan and representatives of all the Parishes of kallianpur Varado were present during the occasion.

Gangolli, May 31: The fishermen of Gangolli are in a dilemma. Fishing season began this time with a whimper as there was scarcity of fish in the sea. But now that fish is available in abundance fishing activity is coming to a premature closure, thanks to the approaching monsoons and roaring sea.

The fishermen of Gangolli have been longing to fish, but the high tides prevent them from venturing in to the sea. The season is hardly better than what it was last time.

The construction work on the mini port of Gangolli is still incomplete. So far Rs 3.32 crore has been spent on it but the indifference of the authority concerned has added insult to injury. The mini port has a long jetty of 405 metres. There is unrest and uncertainty among the fishermen due to pestering dispute over their fishing limits.

Besides, the desilting work at the confluence of the river and the sea has been hanging in balance for a long time. The repair works on the old jetty at an estimated cost of Rs 3.50 crore are still pending. It is an embarrassing situation for the people of Gangolli. On the one hand no grant for the breakwater work has been released and on the other no desilting work has begun either.

More than 30,000 people in the surrounding region of Gangolli depend on fishing for their livelihood. As per the official estimate more than 1000 boats are in service. But in reality only about 500 of them are engaged in fishing. The bigger diesel boats like gillnet and trawl could not reap the benefits of fishing this time due to the raging sea.

Now it is time for the new government to find a solution to the woes of Gangolli fishermen.

Udupi, Shirva, May 29:  The curtains  fell on the  Three-day State level Catholic youth convention organised by  the  Udupi district ICYM unit 'Yuva mahotsava' on Wednesday May 28 at the Shirva church premises.

The Convention inaugurated on May 26 with the blessing of the Bishop of Mangalore Dr Aloysius D'Souza . It was   officially inaugurated by the  Central minister Oscar Fernandes.

Rev  Fr Archibald Gonsalves (OCD), Provincial of the Karnataka-Goa Carmelite Province, Fr Vincent Monteiro (Director, Pastoral centre), Fr Santosh Dias (Director, Orbit Bidar), Raymond D'Cunha Taccode (Editor Pingara), Walter  Nandalike (Editor-in-chief Daijiworld.com) were the guests of honour at the concluding ceremony.

Shirva Parish Priest Fr Richard Coelho, Udupi district ICYM director Fr Peter Pinto, ICYM Mangalore director Fr  Anil D'Souza, Udupi district president Michael Rodrigues, Sr Adrian and others were also present on the dias.

Addressing the  youth Fr Monteiro and Fr Dias advised the  youth to stick to their goals, and make use of the youth  energy for the right purposes.

Pingara editor Raymond D'Cunha, using is wit and humor advised the youth to be friendly and down-to-earth in their attitude.

Walter Nandalike, editor-in-chief of daijiworld addressed the youth and urged them to play a pivotal role both in politics and the media as it was the need of the hour.  Due to lack of catholic youth influence  in both these  major fields,  Catholics are not duly represented  outside the  community, he said.

The three-day convention has brought  together hundreds of youth from around the state. Earlier, Michael Rodrigues thanked each and every individual who helped to make  the  historic three-day state level convention a grand success.

Barkur, May 27: A Konkani poetry recital session was organized by Kavita Trust on Sunday May 25. The programme, held on the banks of the river Sita near Barkur, was a unique one.

The fourth such event to be organized by Kavita Trust this year, it had nine poets from Goa in addition to local talent. The Goan delegation comprised of Michael Gracias, editor of  Konkani journal ‘Jivit’, Jasmine Rodrigues, Esmeralda Fernandes, Alroy Gomes, Anselm Fernandes, Augusta Fernandes, Menino Almeida, and Marcus D’Souza.

The lilting dialects, the flowing river, and an enthusiastic audience ensured that the evening was an enchanted one. Kishoo Barkur, secretary, Kavita Trust, in his welcome address listed the achievements of the trust and also hailed local poets Antony Barkur, P J Karugalnade, and Nels Barkur.

During the course of the evening short poems of Antony Barkur and a poem by P J Karugalnade were read out. Dimple Fernandes, Richie Pereira, Ancy Paladka, Jerry Rasquinha, Praveen Tauro, Gladys Rego, Stephen Quadros, Melvyn Rodrigues, Vitori Karkal, Claudy Brahmavar, and Maurice D’ Sa also recited their creations.

D’Sa, who is also the former editor of Konkani journals ‘Kannik’, and ‘Umalo’, presided over the function. Rasquinha regaled the gathering with his jokes while Kishoo, Praveen, and Eric Soans sang.

St Aloysius College in Mangalore, Malekodi Hill in Bantwal, and Safa Park in Dubai were the venues for the previous Kavita Trust events held this year. Taccode, Ranipura, Karkala and Padubidri are among the places shortlisted for more such poetry recitals.

Eric Ozario, former president of Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy, Michael Gracias, Archibald Furtado, and Stephen Lewis spoke on the occasion. Roy Castelino, Convener, Konkani Prachar Sanchalan was also present. 

A special seafood dinner for the gathering was arranged by Antony Barkur and family. Alwyn Andrade, Richard D’Souza, Wilfred Roche, Urban D’Souza, Thomas Picardo, and the members of ‘Expression’ worked behind the scenes to make the evening a memorable one.

Udupi, May 27: 'Youth community should work for the development of villages, state and nation by good behaviour and progressive thinking which would certainly take India to greater heights globally,' said union minister of state for labour Oscar Fernandes.

He was speaking after inaugurating 'Yuva Mahotsav '08' at Our Lady of Health church, Shirva, on Monday May 26, organized by Udupi district committee of Indian Catholic Youth Movement (ICYM). 

Youth should essentially work for eradicating social evils that are plaguing the society.  It is only the youth energy that can bring about changes in the society, he opined. 

Aloysius Paul D’Souza, bishop of Mangalore diocese, while gracing the occasion, said that youth should dream for a better future by closely observing the happenings in the society which should empower them to combat social evils efficiently.

Youth should follow the teachings of Jesus by working for the poor and try to create an atmosphere of peace for the good of the society. Only youth leadership can assure social transformation, he said.

ICYM national youth director Fr Alwyn D’Souza, former MP Vinay Kumar Sorake, former MLA U R Sabhapathy, zilla panchayat member Gerald Fernandes, district Congress president M A Gafoor, Kallianpur Goretti Convent superior Sr Melania, Bramavar S M N Cathedral vicar general Fr Ramban G M Scaria, convener of Shirva zonal committee and youth director Fr Praveen Leo Lasrado, Shirva Our Lady of Good Health church parish priest Fr Richard Coelho were the chief guests of the occasion.

District committee director Fr Peter Pinto, secretary John Pereira, women convener Adrian, Mangalore committee director Fr Anil D’Souza, Ashley Machado, Navin Prakash Noronha were present on the dais.

ICYM district committee president Michael Rodrigues delivered the introductory address.  Hilda Mathias and Meera compered the programme.  

‘Yuva Mahotsav ‘08’ was attended by a large number of youth from 11 Catholic dioceses of state, namely Mangalore, Bangalore, Belgaum, Shimoga, Mysore, Bhadravati, Gulbarga, Bellary, Beltangady, Karwar and Chikmagalur.
 
Bishop Aloysius Paul D’Souza diocese offered Eucharist Mass ahead of inaugural of ‘Yuva Mahotsav ‘ 08’.

Later, ICYM flag was hoisted at St Mary’s College, Shirva.