Kemmannu : July 09: Fr J.J Saldanha who breathed his last at Fr Muller’s hospital, Mangalore was laid to rest at Kemmannu church cemetery at 4:30 PM on Thursday.

The mortal remains of the priest were brought to Kemmannu around 8:00 AM to Milagres church, Mangalore.  In the 8.00 am mass in Milagres church Mangalore more than 60 priest, religious sisters and large numbers crowd attend this mass and given their final respect to Fr J.J. Saldanha  .   Funeral procession started from his brother Roque Saldanha’s residence (to his ancestral house in Kodi Kemmannu )at around 2:30 PM after blessing the mortal by parish priest of kemmannu church  Rev Fr.J.B. D Souza  & reached the  St Theresa church at 3:00 PM.

  Around 35 priests, number of religious sisters & over a thousand people attended the mass which was celebrated by Rev Msgr Fr Denies Prabhu Vicar General of Mangalore Diocese in the absence of the bishop who is abroad. Fr Baptist Menezes Episcopal Vicar delivered the sermon & Fr Victor Dsouza who once was Assistant to Fr J.J paid rich tributes to him & reminded people that as the parish priest of Bajpe Fr J.J had the privilege to receive his holiness Pope John Paul VI when he visited Mangalore.

People from Agrar, Bantwal Kokkada, Belve, Cascia, Bajpe, Moodubelle, Kinnigoli where J.J served,along with the people from neighbouring parish attended the funeral ceremony.He was burried next Fr. Jacobs Crasta grave

           It was a rare occasion in Kemmannu where two funerals were held on the same day. Mrs. Catherine Fernandes, church Sacristan Apoli’s mother was cremated earlier in the day at 11:30 AM.

Udupi June 28, 2009: Chanting of 'Vishnu Sahasranama' by over 1,000 devotees assembled at the main hall 'Rajangana' rent the air as 'Koti Tulsi Archan' (offering of one crore tender shoots of basil) was performed by the priests to the presiding deity of Lord Sri Krishna at the famous Sri Krishna Temple here today.

The 'Koti Tulsi Archan' by Sri Sugunendra Thirtha Swamiji of Paryaya Puttige Mutt was part of the silver jubilee celebrations of 'Sugunamala,' a Kannada digest, published by him. Sri Vishwesha Thirtha Swamiji, the senior pontiff of Udupi Pejavar Mutt, was among several swamijis who participated.

A large number of devotees from various parts of Karnataka,Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and even from Dubai took part.

On the occasion, 'Srikrishnageetha Vidyapeeta', one of the ambitious projects of Paryaya Swamiji, was also launched by the pontiff of Pejavar Mutt. Later, addressing a public function, Sri Vishwesha Thirtha Swamiji called upon the people to protect and maintain ancient moral and cultural values.

People should also work for the protection and preservation of national culture, he added. Sri Sugunendra Thirtha Swamiji said 'Vidyapeeta', for which he was the Chancellor, was launched with the main aim of awakening religious consciousness among the students. The four-year course laid special emphasis on the study of 'Bhagavadgeeta', acclaimed as the loftiest philosophical work in the world, he added.

Kundapur, June 23: Photographer Santhosh Kundeshwar has added one more feather to his cap by winning the 2^nd prize in the National Photographic Competition held at Kolkotta.

The National Photographic competition was held at Kolkotta recently by the Nature Lovers Association of Jadhapura . He also won several prizes in national & international level. 

Udupi, Jun 23: The members of ‘The Expressions’, a group of like-minded people, who got together for the sole purpose of promoting talents, recently chose their new office-bearers for the next term. Multi-faceted Alwyn Andrade, Barkur, one of the founder members of the group and a dynamic leader, efficient organizer, photographer, dramatist, actor par excellence and an entrepreneur in and around Brahmavar, was elected as the president of the  group at a meeting  held at the residence Lancelot D’Almeida. Eric Soans of 'Thuruthuthuthu' fame retained his position as the secretary of the group, for the fourth time in succession.

Other elected committee members are as follows:

Founder President and Convener             :  Kishore Gonsalves, Barkur
President                                              :  Alwyn Andrade, Barkur
Vice-president                                       :  Zeeta Gonsalves, Barkur
Secretary                                              :  Eric Soans, Barkur
Joint Secretary                                      :  Marina Gonsalves, Brahmavar
Treasurer                                              :  Patricia D’ Almeida, Barkur
Cultural Secretary                                  :  Naveen Dais, Barkur
Joint Cultural Secretary                          :  Stenita Lewis, Saligrama
Public Relation Officer                            :  Praveen Carvalho, Barkur
Ex-Officio                                              :  Denis Rodrigues, Sasthan.

The handing over ceremony to the new office-bearers was held immediately after the election. All the members were present on the occasion.

Outgoing president Denis Rodrigues handed over the charge to the new president Alwyn Andrade. Accordingly, all the other outgoing office-bearers handed over their respective charges to the incoming office-bearers. Outgoing president Denis Rodrigues in his address expressed his gratitude to all the members of ‘The Expressions’ for extending him unstinted support during his tenure.

New president Alwyn Andrade his speech thanked all the members for choosing him as the president for the next term and requested them to extend to him full support to enable him to discharge his duties effectively.

The election was conducted by Lancelot D’Almeida, honorary member of the group in the presence of convener Kishoo, Barkur.

Kundapur, Jun 22: Jennifer Reema D’Souza was re-elected as the president of Indian Catholic Youth Movement (ICYM) unit of Our Lady of Rosary Parish Kundapur.

The other office-bearers elected on the occasion are:

Avin Fernandes (vice-president), Avitha Correa (secretary), Selvin D’Souza (joint secretary), Daniel Almeida (treasurer), Naveen D’Souza (auditor), Naveen Fernandes (liturgy secretary), Noel Olivera (sports secretary), Jaison Pais (cultural secretary), Assisi D’Souza (Amcho Yuvak representative), Fr Alban D’Souza (spiritual director), Johnson Almeida and Diana Almeida (conveners).

The election was held recently under the supervision of Spritual Director Fr. Alban D'souza.