ric Alexander Ozario is a Konkani music composer, cultural activist, and the founder of Mandd Sobhann,aleadingKonkanicultural organization. He also founded Kalaangann, a Konkani heritage centre.Ozario was instrumental in Konkani being approved as an optional language in school education in the state of Karnataka.He has also been the secretary general of the Jagotik Konknni Songhotton (JKS – Global Konkani Organisation) for many years.
institutions, the All-India Church Employees’ Federation is the most notable.Hewasalsoresponsiblefor the formation of the Dakshina Kannada All Unions’ Coordination Committee.
Eric Ozario comes from the tradeunion-movement background. 18 years of his youth he dedicated to the cause of the working class, organizing workers in independent unions and leading them in struggles and agitations in pursuanceoftheirrightsandjustice.
. Among the many unions he established, especially in church
Mr. Ozario has been bestowed with titles such as 'Konkani Kala Samrat' and 'Konkani Ratna'. He has been awarded the 'Karnataka State Rajyotsava Prashasti' and the 'Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy Award'. In August 2017, Konkanis in Tel Aviv honored Eric Ozario. He has also received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Daiji World Dubai and Konkani Natak Sabha (KNS). Ozario's biography, 'The Indefatigable Crusader,' was released in 2014." 2 books have already been published onEric’scolourfullife,oneinEnglish titled ‘The Indefatigable Crusader’, and one in Konkani titled
He served as the President of Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy for 3 years, during which term he in introduced Konkani in schools in Karnataka. He is now the ‘Gurkar’ (headman) of Mandd Sobhann, the organisation.Under
hisleadershipManddSobhannseta Guinness World Record for the longest singing marathon by multiple singers. They achieved this byhaving43groupssing645songs over40 hours.
A Loving Tribute to Pope Francis
A People’s Pope
Our beloved Pope Francis, 266th PopeoftheCatholicChurchdiedon Easter Monday, 21st April 2025 at 7.35 a.m. Rome time. The Catholic Diocese of Lucknow joins the Universal Church and the Global Community in mourning the loss of 88-year-old Pontiff who led the Catholic Church for 12 years from
2013 to 2025 in these challenging times.
When Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, a Jesuit Cardinal from Argentina was elected Pope on 13th March 2013, he took the name Francis, already indicating the
direction the new Pope would lead the Church to. He wanted the Church to be poor, simple, humble like St. Francis of Assisi. He showed thatbyhisownlifeofsimplicityand humility.Hewasashepherdwiththe smellofthesheep,a people’sPope. I would like to summarize Franics’ legacy in four key words which reflect powerfully and prominently in his writings, discourses, actions and life: Joy, Hope, Mercy and Peace.
Pope Francis always radiated joy in his life. He was a smiling Pope. He said that joy and sense of humor were the signs of holiness. Despite theheavyburdenofbusyandhectic schedules, meetings, travels etc. he would always look cheerful and exuberant and exhorted all of us to bejoyfulandnottoputonlongand grimfacesasifwearejustreturning from a funeral. A Christian should always be joyful. Many of his writings have as part of the title the wordjoye.g.EvangeliiGaudium(Joy of the Gospel); GaudateetExultate (Rejoice and be Glad); Veritatis
Gaudium (Joy of Truth); Amoris Laetitia(Joy of Love). Pope Francis spread Christian joy to all who met himandwhereverhe went.
Hope is another important word that occurs prominently in Pope Francis’writings.HisAutobiography with the title “Hope” was published recentlyinJanuary2025. HisBullof Indiction declaring the Holy Year or JubileeYear2025iscalled“Spesnon Confundit” (Hope does not disappoint). The theme of the Jubilee Year proposed by Pope Franics is “Pilgrims of Hope”. Pope Franics wanted the Church and every Christian to be living testimony of hope and enkindle hope in others even in hopeless situations, because death and resurrection of Jesus is the foundationofourhope.
Mercy is another word frequently used by Pope Francis. He epitomized the mercy and compassionofGod.Hedeclaredthe Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy or Year of Mercy which we celebrated with great enthusiasm from 8
December 2015 to 20 November 2016.PopeFranicsiswellknownfor his mercy and compassion for the prisoners, migrants, refugees, poor, sick and the marginalized. At General Audiences he would embrace and kiss any sick, or handicappedpersonhecouldseeor bringtohim.OnMaundyThursdays he went to the Roman Prison and washed the feet of prisoners. All these are extraordinary signs of his love, compassion and mercy towards the poor and marginalized. He has appealed to world leaders many times to cancel debt of poor countries and create a fund by reducing defense budgets to take care of poor and hungry people in the world. He initiated the celebration of World Day of the Poor, World Day of Grandparents and Elderly. He was the Voice of the voiceless and moral conscience of the world.
World Peace is another passion of PopeFranics.AsatrueShepherd,as servant of the Prince of Peace, he tried his best to work for World
Peace. Apart from continuing to send annual messages for World Day of Peace, he took every opportunity to appeal for peace whenever there was any conflict anywhere in the world. He tried his best to stop the wars between Russia and Ukraine, Israel and Palestine (Hamas) and many other countriestornapartbycivilwars.He even sent his envoys to broker peaceindifferentcountries.
Pope Francis Encyclical “LaudatoSi” (2015) on Ecology is a masterpiece onenvironmentcallingallpeopleof good will to take care of Mother Earth, our common home. The importance and urgency of ecologicalconversionandactionon the part of World Leaders and common people is what Pope Francis wanted the world to realize and act upon immediately. Pope Francis also wanted the Church of thethirdmillenniumtobeaSynodal Church.That iswhatGodwants, he spoke.
There are still so many things that we can say about this great Pope.
The true tribute to him would be to imitate him in his simplicity, humility, compassion, mercy, joy, hope, and work towards peace and fraternity and care of the environment.Letusalsomakeevery effort to make ourselves and our Church synodal. Then Pope Francis will live not only in our memories butinourlivestoo.
We thank God for the gift of Pope Francis totheChurchand theworld at the right time. Now that he has
accomplished his tasks and he is calledtohiseternalreward,wepray to our merciful Father in heaven to receive him into his kingdom and grant him peace and happiness in his heavenly kingdom in the companyofsaintsandangels. R.I.P. †GeraldJohnMathias
BishopofLucknow
‘Pope of the People’ laid to rest: More than 4 lac mourners attend Francis’ funeral at the Vatican
Sat,Apr26,2025,09:50:15PM
Daijiworld Media Network –VaticanCity
Vatican City, April 26: Pope Francis, widely revered as the "Pope of the People" and known for ushering in sweeping reforms within the Catholic Church, was given a solemn farewell on Saturday at St Peter’s Square, Vatican City — despite criticism from hardlinetraditionalists.
An estimated 400,000 people from across the world gathered to witness the moving final rites, with a notable presence of young attendees among the mourners.
Families with children had travelled from various countries, camping overnightinand aroundthe square toensureacloseviewofthefuneral ceremony. While some managed to find seats set aside for the public, many others spent the night at the site or slept in their vehicles before arrivingearlyinthemorning.
Asperhisfinalwishes,followingthe publicfarewell,PopeFrancis’mortal remains were taken to St. Mary’s Church in Rome, where he was laid to rest. This was confirmed by the Catholic News Service Rome in a post on its official account on ‘X’ (formerlyTwitter).
Giventhescaleofpublicattendance and the presence of global dignitaries, extensive security measureswereputinplace.Around 2,500 police officers and 1,500 militarypersonnelweredeployedto ensuresafetyacrossVaticanCity.
World leaders in attendance
Among the dignitaries in attendance were Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his wife, seated alongside India’s presidentDroupadiMurmu. Also, present were US president Donald Trump and Britain’s Prince William, along with representatives fromnearly50nations.
China did not send an official representative, citing a lack of formal diplomatic ties with the Vatican.
Meanwhile, Israel which had drawn criticism from Pope Francis over the ongoing Gaza conflict — was represented only by a senior Churchfigure.
'Build bridges, not walls'
In his eulogy, Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista recalled one of PopeFrancis’mostfamousremarks: “A person who builds walls instead ofbridgesamongpeople,nomatter who or where they are, cannot be calleda Christian.”
The 2016 statement was widely interpreted as a direct rebuke to Donald Trump’s move to build a
border wall along the U.S.-Mexico frontier during his presidency. The remark’s revival during the farewell, withTrumppresent,drewsubtlebut poignantattention.
The Cardinal also highlighted the Pope’s lifelong advocacy for immigrants, offering a striking contrast to Trump’s immigration policies during his second term, which had sparked global condemnation.
Trump-Zelenskyy exchange
While farewell proceedings were ongoing, Trump and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy held a brief conversationatSaintBasilica.
TheWhiteHouselaterdescribedthe meeting as “productive”, while Zelenskyy’sspokespersoncalledita short exchange. Trump noted that further discussions could follow the funeral.
Pope Francis’ funeral not only marked the passing of a religious leader but symbolised the end of a papacy defined by compassion, inclusiveness, and moral courage in the face of political and social challenges.
In a solemn and historic moment, President Droupadi Murmu attended the mass funeral of His Holiness Pope Francis, held at the iconic Saint Peter’s Square in Vatican City on Saturday. Paying homage on behalf of the nation, President Murmu joined thousands ofmournersfromaroundtheworld inbiddingaheartfeltfarewelltothe belovedspiritualleader.
TheIndiandelegationtothefuneral was further strengthened by the presence of Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju, Minister of State for Minority Affairs George Kurian, and Deputy Speaker of the Goa Assembly Joshua De Souza, all of whom attended the ceremony as officialrepresentativesofIndia.
Adaypriortothefuneral,onFriday, President Murmu had visited the Basilica of Saint Peter to pay her respects to the late Pontiff. Sharing themomentonherofficialXhandle, the post read, “President Droupadi Murmu paid homage to His HolinessPopeFrancisattheBasilica of Saint Peter in Vatican City.” Her tribute resonated with the deep respectthatthepeopleofIndiaheld forthePope.
Pope Francis, revered globally for his humility, compassion, and progressive vision, passed away on April 21 at the age of 88, marking the end of a profoundly influential papacy.Hispassingleftavoidinthe heartsofmillionsacrosscontinents, cutting acrossreligiousandcultural lines.
President Murmu’s attendance at the State funeral, as stated by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), was a gesture of solidarity and
Following the news of the Pontiff’s demise, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his deep sorrow. In a heartfelt post on X, the Prime Minister wrote, "Deeply pained by the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. In this hour of grief and remembrance, my heartfelt condolences to the global Catholic community. Pope Francis will always be remembered as a beacon ofcompassion,humilityandspiritual courage by millions across the world."
The Prime Minister further highlighted the Pope’s lifelong commitment to service, saying, "From a young age, he devoted himself towards realising the ideals
respect, offering condolences on behalf of the Government of India andtheIndianpopulace.
According to a statement released by the Vatican on Thursday, the funeral witnessed an unprecedentedgatheringofatleast 130 foreign delegations, including 50 heads of state and 10 reigning monarchs, showcasing the global impact Pope Francis had during his lifetime.
of Lord Christ. He diligently served the poor and downtrodden. For thosewhoweresuffering,heignited aspiritofhope.”
Reflecting on his personal interactions, Prime Minister Modi recalled,"Ifondlyrecallmymeetings withhimandwasgreatlyinspiredby hiscommitmenttoinclusive and allaround development. His affection forthepeopleofIndiawillalwaysbe cherished. May his soul find eternal peaceinGod'sembrace."
ThefuneralofPopeFranciswasnot just a religious event but a global moment of reflection, mourning, and tribute, honoring a leader who transcended borders and touched livesacrossfaithsandnations.
10 Things to Know About Pope Francis: A Legacy of Humility, Courage, and Compassion
Pope Francis wasn't just the first pope from Latin America — he was also one of the most unexpected, deeply human, and reform-minded leaders the Catholic Church has seen in modern history. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, he led with humility, lived simply, and listened closely — to the cries of the poor, the wounds of the abused, and the fearsofaworldincrisis. Hispapacy
was marked by empathy, courage, and a constant push to make the Church a place of welcome, not walls.
1. He lived like the people he served
Pope Francis didn't just preach humility — he lived it. Unlike his predecessors, he refused to move into the lavish papal apartments and instead chose a small room in
the Vatican guesthouse, Casa Santa Marta. He cooked his own meals andtraveledbyminibus.Thiswasn't symbolicminimalism;itwaswhohe was. From his early days as ArchbishopofBuenosAires,hewas known as the "slum bishop," taking public transport andwalkingamongthepoor.
His first act as pope — quietly asking the crowd in St. Peter's Square to pray for him before he blessed them set the tone for a papacy rooted in connection over hierarchy.
2. He was the first Pope from the globalsouth —anditmattered Born in 1936 in Buenos Aires to Italian immigrant parents, Francis grew up in a working-class family. His father was an accountant, and his mother a homemaker. He worked as a bouncer and janitor before studying chemistry. These early experiences — shaped by displacement, economic hardship, and a deep immigrant identity — informed his empathy for the poor and migrants. His first papal visit was to Lampedusa, a small Italian island where thousands of refugees from Africa were arriving in overcrowded, dangerous boats.
Instead of political platitudes, Franci’s spoke of "the globalisation ofindifference"—acalltotheworld to stop looking away from human suffering.
3. He took on the climate crisis withamoralvoice
No other pope had ever so boldly addressed environmental destruction as Pope Francis did. In 2015, he released the landmark encyclicalLaudatoSi,callingclimate change one of the most urgent moral issues of our time. He emphasised that the destruction of naturedisproportionatelyharmsthe world's poor linking ecological andsocialinjustice.
He appealed not just to Catholics, but to people of all faiths and even those without religion urging everyone to treat the Earth as our shared home. As someone who had studied science and workedinalab,hearguedthatfaith andsciencearenotenemies.Rather, theyarebothpathstowardtruth.
4. He faced the church's darkest scandal — andapologised
One of Francis' most defining moments was his reckoning with thesexualabusecrisisintheChurch.
In 2018, during a trip to Chile,
survivors of clergy abuse confronted him for supporting a bishop accused of covering up abuse.Initially,Francisdefendedthe bishop a move that sparked globaloutrage. But what followed was unprecedented.Headmittedhehad made a grave mistake, sent investigatorsto Chile,receivedover 2,600 pages of testimony, and dismissednearlyeverybishopinthe country involved in the cover-up. Morethaninstitutionalaction,itwas hispersonalapologytosurvivors particularlyJuanCarlosCruz that left a deep impact. Francis met him at the Vatican, saw childhood photosofhimasavictim,andasked for forgiveness, not just from the Church,butfromhimself.
5.Heblessedsame-sexcouples
The Pope made headlines worldwide when he declared that if someone is gay and is seeking God withgoodwill,"whoamItojudge?" Later, he allowed priests to bless same-sex couples though not their unions stressing that every persondeservesloveanddignity.
He emphasised that blessings are forpeople,notinstitutions,andthat to deny someone a blessing based
ontheirsexualorientationistodeny their humanity. This step, while measured, was radical within the traditionalframeworkoftheChurch and drew both praise and criticism. But for Francis, the focus was always clear: inclusion over exclusion, compassion over condemnation.
6. He elevated women — even as heheldontotradition
While Pope Francis maintained the Church's stance on not ordaining women as priests or deacons, he made historic moves by appointing women to positions of real power.
Sister Nathalie Becquart, for example, became the first woman with voting rights in the Synod of Bishops.
He cracked doors open and said that once they're slightly ajar, the rest could follow. His appointment of women drew attention from beyondreligiouscircles — business andpoliticalleaderssawitasasign that even the mosttradition-bound institutionscouldevolve.
7. He encouraged inclusion of LGBTQpersons
The Pope championed a Church that wasn't top-down but walked with its people. His Synod on
Synodality was arguably the largest listening campaign in the Church's history.Catholics — youngandold, devout and distant were invited tosharetheirexperiencesandideas. Amongthemanyvoicesheardwere calls for deeper inclusion of LGBTQ persons, greater transparency, and more localised leadership. This process wasn't about immediate change but about fostering a culturewheretheChurchlistensfirst beforeitspeaks.
8. He wasn't afraid to challenge politicalpower
From the war in Ukraine to the famine in Gaza, Pope Francis consistently urged for peace and negotiation. In one of his final interviews, he spoke of children from war zones who had forgotten how to smile. He asked leaders to stop being "Pontius Pilates” turning away from injustice with washed hands—andinstead,tosoftentheir hearts.
When asked about conservative critics in the U.S. who opposed his reforms, he responded not with defensiveness but clarity. He said being "conservative" should not meanbeingclosedofftotheworld.
Clinging to the past without seeing
new realities, he said, is a "suicidal attitude."
9.Hebelievedthechurchbelongs toeveryone
PopeFrancisconstantlyemphasised that the Church was not a gated community for the perfect. "Everyone," he said rich or poor, devoutordoubting,straightorgay, clean or broken — has a place. The Gospel, he believed,isfor all, and if the Church places customs officers atthedoor,itlosesitsidentityasthe ChurchofChrist.
This inclusive stance angered traditionalists but ignited hope in many who had felt abandoned by the institution. He didn't change all Church teachings, but he changed thetone andthatmattered.
10.Heknewthepowerofhope
Despite the health battles he fought, Pope Francis remained hopeful. In his final Easter message on the 20th of April, he smiled and waved to the crowd from a wheelchair and said, "There can be no peace without freedom of
religion, freedom of thought, freedom of expression and respect fortheviewsofothers.Norispeace possible without true disarmament. The requirement that every person provides for their defence must not turnintoaracetorearmament," Just a day later, he passed away quietlyinhisresidenceattheageof 88.
Askedoncewhatgavehimhope,he spoke not of theology or politics, but of people heroic mothers, menwithdreams,womenwholook
toward the future. In a world of suffering, he still believed in the basicgoodnessofhumanbeings. Pope Francis didn't change everything but he changeda lot. More importantly, he made people feel seen. He didn't shout from above but walked among the people. He faced painful truths, madespaceforothers,andneverlet the Church forget its most importantmission:love.
Source:MSN
Interfaith community pays tribute to Pope Francis in Mangaluru
DaijiworldMediaNetwork- Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Apr 25: The interfaith community of Mangaluru gathered at Milagres Church grounds to pay tributetothelatePopeFrancis.The event, attended by prominent figures, remembered the Pope's humanitarian concern and commitmenttointerfaithdialogue.
Dr Mohan Alva, founder of Alva’s Education; Dr Jyothi Chelar;
and Fr J
Mohammed Monu, former taluk panchayat president;
Saldanha, PRO of Mangalore diocese,spokeaboutthePope.
president, Minority Morcha, BJP; Sathish Kumpala, district BJP
The gathering included Dr Peter PaulSaldanha,bishopofMangalore diocese; Dr Aloysius Paul D'Souza; CaptBrijeshChowta,MP,Dakshina Kannada; Vedavyas Kamath, MLA, Mangaluru South; Harish Poonja, MLA,Beltangady;PadmarajPoojary, KPCC secretary; Anil Thomas,
president; and Ramanath Rai, formerminister.
FrWalterD'Souza,parishpriestofSt Sebastian Church, Bendur, and his team conducted the prayer meet. Roy Castelino, PRO of Mangalore diocese, welcomed the gathering, and Aloysius D'Souza compeered theevent.
Prior to the tribute meet, the community offered a special mass at Milagres Church. The attendees then paid floral tribute to Pope Francis's picture, expressing their respectandcondolences.
TheGovernorofferedflowerstothe Portrait of Pope Francis, the late Sovereign Head of the Vatican City andstoodinsilenceforamoment.
Archbishop of Bombay John Rodrigues, representatives of various religions and Consuls General of various countries in Mumbaiwerepresent.
Pope of the Simple
He was chosen before he was born, he was the one
He was chosen, a small-town boy, to carry the Cross of the Lord
So many came before him, so many may follow after
But his footsteps can only be matched by one just like him
A man of faith burned in his soul, to walk the talk, whatever he did
Choosing him, broke the mold of an age-old domain, of the Vatican
A non-conformist, like Our Savior King, upset many out of inertia
Making many enemies as he gently but fiercely paved the way
He was chosen to be a Holy Seer, a God Man, like no other
He was chosen from an unorthodox tribe, to blur the dividing lines
Though his health could not match, the power of his soul
The lives he touched, his work unmatched, to any Pope before
The weight of the Cross he cradled in humble adoration
A man of God, who swore to Loyalty for those entrusted in his care
May his loving gaze and gentle smile be our guiding light, forever
Having left his imprint in the hearts of those who knew and loved him
- By: Molly Pinto.
*MY POPE FRANCIS*
What aLight!!
By DrOscarRebello
Thereisonethinganatheist,acynic, anda truebelievercanagreeupon.
They all believe unconditionally in Pope Francis.
The curtain finally fell on one of the mosteventfullivesofthiscentury.
In a blaze of sheer chutzpah, Pope Francisdeparted.
Having given his Easter blessing while visibly ill, he bid adieu to the stage he owned, he celebrated, and the one on which he strode like a Colossus. What aLife!!
What aLessonforusAll!!
Everytraumaticepochthatapeople pass through provides a Hero who transcendsTime andSpace.
An individual who Illuminates and leadsbyexample.
The harrowing period of a brutal BritishoccupationinIndiaproduced aGandhi.
The de-humanising experience of SegregationgavetheUSAitsMartin LutherKing.
The sheer ignominy of Apartheid grantedusa Mandela.
So, every Trauma bequeathed the worlda Hero.
HowthenwasFrancisdifferent??
We are arguably living in the most successful and contented period in allHumanHistory.
We have everything at our fingertips
Travel
Internet Communication
Food—Too muchofitactually
Entertainment RelativePeace.
We couldn't be living in a better periodof HumanHistory.
Yet, on the not-so-distant horizon, one can sense the Dread, the oncomingTornadoof Despair. Wallscomingup.
HatredswellingintheHumanHeart.
The insurmountable gulf between therichandthe poor.
The Clouds of War and Suspicion looming. Evil,whichlurkedaroundthecorner,
is now despairingly in the centre stage.
That is why Francis is so consequential.
AstheinevitableDarknessenvelops all of us indeed threatens all of us—this Man remained the unflinching,unblinkingLight.
From the timeless virtues of Compassion and Love, Justice and Peace,herelentlesslyhammeredhis messageacross. Despitehisfailinghealthandallthe ordeals, he had to surmount, he constantly told us that there was Another Way to leadour lives other than the current, negative, hatefilled toxic one we are increasingly enamoredbytoday.
He could have been a diplomatic fence-sitterifhe chosetobe.
Takenthe easywayout.
But to the very Last Day, he treads thePathof Christ, unapologetically thatof Christ.
And that is why He is so Consequential.
I can predict three Fallouts from his Papacy.
Rome will be stuffedto the gills forhisFuneralonSaturday.
Almost everyone will be there: both Friend and Foe, Prince and Pauper. Every Religious, Political and Geographical denomination will be present. Because this human being touched lives so Profoundly and Meaningfully.
His burial site, not in the precincts of the Vatican as is the custom, but at the Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, will become the PilgrimageSiteforeveryone:
TheFaithful
TheFaithless
TheEnvironmentalist
TheWarrior
ThePeacemaker
APilgrimageSiteforGenerationson End.
The normally strait-jacketed Churchwillbeputonnotice.
The next Pope will necessarily have to follow in the Red Shoes of Francis. Nocompromise.
A Dogma and Doctrinaire Fundamentalist Pope will not be palatableanylonger.
In the twelve years of his Papacy, Francis showcased that what matteredintheworldtodaywasnot theStructure of the Church, but the Message of Christ in all its humility of Tolerance, Acceptance and Justice.
We have been fortunate to have lived in the Era of one of the most Enduring and Endearing Human Beingsof History.
Whether his message will percolate down to us is an open question but acceptitwemust:franklyinourAge itistheonlyMessagethatCounts.
Asafriendsaidtome:
*My favorite quote of Pope Francis, is that he believes that Hell is Empty*
*In a world of dark forces, He was a Maverickwhobelievedintheradical goodnessof all Humanbeings*
*Maywelive uptothatbelief*
Touché
There are essentially three kinds of leadersthroughoutHumanHistory.
*The majority use their devious brains to do both Convenient and Inconvenient.
That'sAll!!
*The insignificant cowardly ones whosimplydonothingandlettheir time run out. Vichy, Neville Chamberlain.
*And then there are the Rare Diamonds that choose Relentlessly, Doggedly, Fiercely, to distinguish betweenRightandWrong.
The universal Roman Catholic Church is entering a fresh new era, changes have been consistent and soon the face of the church will rapidly change, and great revolutions will rise for the good cause.
In India the Catholic Church is widespreadand seen in different
shades. The common and standard Catholic religion is gauged by the church brand of Bombay or now Mumbai and its multifacetedcrosssection of Catholic faithful made up of a representative populationof the lengthand breadth of INDIA. The Marathi and Konkani hues are always prominentand influential; the wide universal nature is interwovenand now surfacing after Vatican II of the mid 1960s and is gradually adaptingand will transform even more visibly soon. Therefore, it is educative and enlightening to take a brief glance attheHistoryoftheCatholicChurch in now popular Mumbai the cultureand commercial Capital of the Sub-Continent. So, dear VEEZ Weeklyreadersgetontopandnote thepastandrecenttimesofChurch existence for better understanding and participation and results. Let’s movein:
After the Portuguese funded the Archdiocese of Goa, in 1534,the Portuguese took control of the territories of Bassein (Vasai), Salsette, Thana and the Bombay (now Mumbai) group of islands. Missionaries accompanied the conquering fleets to serve as chaplains. They further fanned out into the countryside evangelising, gathering communities and providing for their spiritual sustenance. Just a few years before this, at the southernmost reach of the present Archdiocese, the first Portuguese Churches sprang up in Chaul (today's Revdanda). The Franciscans were the first Religious Ordertomaketheirpresencefeltin Bassein and its surrounding territories. Under the indefatigable Antonio do Porto, the Franciscans established churches in and around Bassein and, more successfully, in neighbouring Salsette from 1547 onwards. In 1551, the Jesuits set up a small house and school for the converts in Thana. A few years later in 1557, in the valley now covered by the waters of the Powai-Vihar lakes, a unique community of Christians lived and worked, and this may be seen as an experiment
that inspired the later internationally renowned Jesuit Reductions of Paraguay and Brazil. The year 1637 marked the establishment of the Vicariate Apostolic of Bijapur by the Sacred Congregation for the Propagation ofFaith(henceforth,"Propaganda"). The Vicariate of Bijapur increased rapidly in size, absorbingGolconda, andextendedfromtheArabianSea to the Bay of Bengal, from MadrasMylapore to Calcutta. It finally comprised the whole Moghul Empire and was also referred to as the Vicariate of the Great Moghul. From the end of the 17th century, this Vicariate was served by the Carmelite Fathers, whose headquarters was at Surat, north of Bombay.
Brief Overview of the British Era: In 1665, Bombay (now Mumbai) passed into the hands of the British. This was done through the marriage treaty of 1661 between Charles II of England and Infanta of Portugal, whereby Bombaywascededtothe Britishas part of the marriage dowry. At the time of transfer, the Church on
Bombay Island continued to be under the jurisdiction of the ArchbishopofGoa.OnFebruary14, 1689, Bombay was invaded by Sidi Yacut, which provided the British with the opportunity to seize Jesuit property at Parel. This was a retaliatory measure, because they believed that the Jesuits were supporting Sidi. The Jesuits made attempts to get the property back but failed. They were officially deprived of the property in 1791.
The Archdiocese of Bombay and Induction of the First Archbishop: The year 1886 is significant for two events: A new ConcordatsignedbetweentheHoly See and Portugal on June 23 and the establishment of the Episcopal Hierarchy in India on October 1 by Pope Leo XIII. The Concordat of 1886 was a triumph of papal diplomacy over Portuguese pretensions. It was also a victory in the long struggle between the Propaganda and Padroado, wherein, the Propaganda policy of saving and expanding the Vicariate triumphed. Three months later, Pope Leo XIII issued the Bull, ‘Humanae Salutis’ which enabled
him to establish the Indian Hierarchy. As a result of the Bull, Bombay (together with Agra, Verapoly, Calcutta, and Colombo) was raised to the status of an Archdiocese and had at its head an Archbishop. Bishop George Porter, S.J. was the first Archbishop of Bombay.HeservedtheArchdiocese of Bombay from 1886 – 1889. It is important to note that the Concordat of 1886 did not put an end to the tensions and troubles of the double jurisdiction. The Concordat introduced the idea of territorial jurisdiction for the first time. Prior to this, Catholics in Bombaywerefreetoworshipinany Church of their choice. TheNewCathedral: Thestoryof the ‘Holy Name Cathedral’ tells a uniquehistoryoftheArchdioceseof Bombay. This dates to 1720 which marked the exit of the Franciscans fromBombayIsland.Soonafter,the Carmelites took over the administration of the Church. The CarmeliteVicar-Apostolicresidedin MeadowsStreetatFortandsetupa Chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, which was open to public worship in 1760. The Chapel
was made independent Parish in 1767. The parish grew and to accommodate the increasing congregation the then Archbishop Theodore Dalhoff S.J. felt the need to secure a site for a new Church, school and residence. The foundationstoneofthenewChurch was laid by Archbishop Dalhoff on July 9, 1902, at Wodehouse Road. TheChurchwasblessedonthefeast of The Holy Name of Jesus on January 15, 1905. In 1920, the building on Meadow Street was demolished. The Church of the Holy Name of Jesus was effectively raised, on January 1, 1942, to the status of a Pro-Cathedral after the existing Cathedral at Bhuleshwar was closed to the public and later demolished in 1941. On March 3, 1964, at the request of Cardinal Valerian Gracias, the Church was elevated to the status of a Metropolitan Cathedral. It was consecratedonNovember28,1964, during the 38th International Eucharistic Congress in Bombay.
The popular Catholic Churches of Bombay (Now Mumbai):
Bombay, has a rich history of Catholicism that datesto the arrival of the Portuguese in the 16th century. The city is home to numerous historic churches, many of which were established during the colonial era and continue to serve as important religious and culturallandmarks. ThePortuguese Influence and the Establishment of Churches The introduction of Catholicism in Bombay can be traced to the Portuguese conquest of the region in the early 16th century. In 1534, the Treaty of Bassein ceded Bombay and surrounding areas to the Portuguese, who actively promoted Christianity.
Mumbai, formerly known as
Portuguese missionaries, particularly the Franciscans and Jesuits, played a pivotal role in spreadingthefaithandestablishing churches. One of the earliest churches built during this time was the Gloria Church, originally constructed in 1632 in Byculla. Anothersignificantchurch from the Portuguese era is St. Michael’s Church in Mahim, which dates to 1534andisoneoftheoldestRoman Catholic churches in Mumbai. The
British Takeover and Catholicism in Bombay in 1661, Bombay was handedovertotheBritishaspartof thedowry of Catherine of Braganza when she married King CharlesII of England.TheBritishinitiallyshowed little interest inCatholicism, but over time, theyallowed Catholic institutions tocontinue functioning.During British rule, severalchurches were built or reconstructed. One notable example is St. Thomas Cathedral, established in 1718, though itprimarily served the Anglicancommunity. However, Catholics continued to flourish, and many of the older churches were expanded.Iconic Catholic Church-es of Mumbai. Today, Mumbai is home toseveral historically significant Catholic churches, includingMount Mary Basilica(Bandra) – Perhaps the most famous Catholicchurch in Mumbai,theBasilicaofOurLadyof theMount, commonly knownas Mount Mary Church,was originally built in the16th century and laterreconstructed. The annual Bandra Fair held inSeptember attracts thou-sands of devotees. Holy Name Cathedral (Colaba)
– Servingastheheadquartersofthe Archdiocese of Bombay, this cathedral,completedin1905,isone of the most significant Catholic places of worship in the city.
Other Notable Churches in MumbaiHoly Cross Church, Kurla –OneoftheoldestchurchesinKurla, Holy Cross Church has been a key placeofworshipforCatholicsinthe area. The church has a rich history and has served as a center for community activities and religious gatherings.
St. Andrew’s Church (Bandra) –Established in 1575,this is one of the few churchesin Mumbai that survived theMaratha invasions. It remains akey landmark in Bandra, knownfor its architectural beauty andreligious importance. St. Peter’sChurch(Bandra)Builtin1853 by the Jesuits,this church is renownedforitsGothicarchitecture and continues to be a major
religious center. St. John the Evangelist Church (also known as the Afghan Church, Colaba) – Built in memory of the British soldiers who perished in theFirst Afghan War (1839-1842), this church is an architectural marvel with its towering spires and intricate stained-glass windows. The walls enclosing the compound of St. Andrew's church were built by a Parsi, Manockjee Sorabjee Ashburnerin1862.Itisrecordedon a slab on the main gate of the enclosure. In 1879, Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy constructed a flight of steps from the foot of Mount Mary hill to the north side of the church known as the "Degrados de Bomanjee"('StepsofBomanjee').
Church
of Our Lady of MountCarmel, Bandra – Founded in1894, this church has a deeprooted history in Bandra. It iswell known for its involvement in social work and for being astronghold of faith for the Catholic community in Mumbai. Modern-Day SignificanceCatholic churches in Mumbai are not just places of
worship;they serve as community centers, historical landmarks, and cultural hubs. Many of these churches continue to hold traditional services, charitable activities, and festivals that bring together people from all walksof life.Theinfluenceofthesechurches extends beyond the religious sphere, contributingto the educational and social fabric of the city. The Catholic churches of Mumbai stand as a testament to thecity's colonial history and the enduring faith of its Christian community. From the early Portuguese missions to the Britishcolonial era and the present day,it played an integral role in shaping the religious and cultural landscape ofMumbai. Whether through their architectural grandeur, historical significance, or spiritual importance, they continue to be cherished landmarks in
GloriaChurch(OurLadyofGlory), Byculla – Originallybuiltin1632by the Portuguese, this church was laterreconstructedin1911inGothic style. It stands as one of Mumbai’s most beautiful churches with its stunning architecture and historical significance. St. John the Baptist Church,Andheri – Thischurchdates to 1579 and was originally built by theJesuits.Althoughabandonedfor manyyears,itremainsanimportant historical landmark with stories of hauntingsaddingtoitsmystique.
church has playeda vital role in the spiritual andsocial lives of its parishioners. Itcontinues to be a focal point of religious activities in thearea.
Church of Our Lady of Dolours, Wadala – This church,established in the early 20th century, is known for its grandarchitecture and vibrant parish community. It remains an important center for Catholic worship and festivities in Wadala.
TheRoman CatholicArchdiocese of Bombay, covering theGreater Bombay
MetropolitanArea: Number of Parishes: 121 Area Covered: The Archdiocesecoversthecivildistricts ofMumbaiCity, MumbaiSuburban, Thane, and Raigad.Total Area: 10,103.4 square kilometers. Catholic Population: 506,976Indian
Holy Trinity Church, Powai –
Established to serve the growing Catholic community in Powai, this
CatholicsArchbishop: Archbishop JohnRodrigues succeeded OswaldCardinal Gracias as the Archbishop of Bombay on January25, 2025. Deaneries: The archdiocese comprises eleven Deaneries.Other important
towns:Thane, Navi Mumbai andRaigad
BriefHistoryofBandra:
Tradition has itthat the suburb was originally known as Vandra or Ape asitwasthehomeofmonkeys,then BandorasthePortuguesecalleditin 1505,thencalledBandera,Bandura, Bandore, Pandara, Bandorah, Bandara and finally Bandra till a railwaysignboardfinalizeditatthe endofthelastcentury.Salsettewas originallyseparatedbya tidalcreek which Portuguese called Bandora creek. English changed it to Mahim creek. Bandra had 2 hills, Mount Mary hill and Pali hill. On 12th Apr 1867 the first railway service was inaugurated with one train per day betweenVirarandBombay.
Bombay belonged to the Portuguese. There was an 18-hole golf course in Bandra called Danda Green with an English style Club House on the top of the hill, surrounded by trees. Membership wasonlyforthe Britishwholived in Pali Hill. Each cottage had a stable for horses. Bandra consisted of the villages Sherly, Malla, Rajan, Kantwady, Waroda,Ranwar, Boran, Pali and Chuim. Ranwar also had a tenniscourtandthefamousRanwar Club famous for its Christmas and NewYearevedances.Mostadultsin Bandra worked for the East India Company... and hence were called EastIndians.
Bandra was a tiny fishing village inhabitedbyfarmersandfishermen. It was acquired by the British East India Company while the rest of
In the Bandra of the forties and earlier, large cottages with large gardenswereavailableforrentatRs 30 a month. Marriages were celebratedfor8daysfromThursday to Thursday for a Sunday wedding and the whole village was invited. Thursdaywaspigslaughterdayand Friday was to make papads for drinks,Saturdaywastomakefugias and bring water from the village well to bathe the bride or groom. Sunday was the wedding ceremony and long reception. Monday was a
day of rest and to finish the remainingfoodandonTuesdaythe feet of guests were washed in exchange for cash. Then farewell dinner on Wed and guests left on Thursday by which time the honeymoon was over.
Bandra at one time was populated mainly by East Indians (original residents of Bombay Salsette, Bassein, and Thana), a few Goans and Manglorian immigrants, Parsis, Muslims, Europeans and Hindu Kolis.Tillaslateasthe1930sBandra had only one bus service from Pali Naka, Hill Road to the Rly station. Other people just walked to the nearest Rly station. After World WarIIthebuildingboom startedto accommodate immigrants.
The five oldest roads in Bandra are as follows: Ghodbunder Road, which originally ran from Mahim causeway,thenskirtedBazaarRoad, went past the Bandra talab (lake) and continued to Godbunder. The Road was later made straight by cutting through the talab. Bazaar Road began at Ghodbunder Road opposite the mosque and ran through the market keeping close
to the coast which is now the reclamation.HillRoadstartingfrom thestationwentthroughthemiddle ofBandratown,pastSt.Andrewsto terminate at the foot of the Mount near Mehboob studio. Pali Road beganatSt.Peter'sandcutthrough Pali village till it reached Danda. BJ Road runs from St. Andrews to Lands’ End, was built by Byramjee Jeejeebhoy and opened to the public in 1878. Main roads in Bandra, Perry, Carter, Bullock, Kane, and Bates were named after British collectors and magistrates. Mr. Carter was a collector in 1924, and Mr. Bullock was the Chief Magistrate.
There are over 150 crosses at various places. Many crosses were built to ward off the plague epidemic (1896-1906). The oldest is the one relocated in St. Andrew's churchcompound.Stands17fthigh and made of a single stone. It was originallyintheJesuitseminaryofSt Anne built in 1610.The bldg. was destroyed in 1739, and the cross was relocated to St. Andrew's church.Thesurfaceiscarvedallover with 39 emblems of the passion of Christ. Bazaar Road is only 2 km
Christians in Bandra are mostly of theKoli,BhandariandKunbiorigins.
The architect of Mount Mary's church was a Bombay architect Shahpoorjee Chandabhoy. The basilicawasbuiltin1904atacostof 1 lakh. Also, the first time a nonCatholic was asked to build the church. It was built to serve the garrison posted at Castella de Aguada - the fort at Land's End Road. It was destroyed in a fire in 1739 and rebuilt in 1761, the year marking the beginning of the Bandra feast as it is celebrated today.
St. Stanislaus started in 1863 as a 'NativeBoy'sorphanage',became a highschoolin1923andwasthefirst English medium school in the suburbs.In1661whenKingCharles married Catherina of Portugal, Bombay was given to England as part of the dowry. Salsette was not partofthistreatyandremainedwith the Portuguese. In 1739 with the threat of a Maratha invasion, the
Portuguese appealed to the British for help and they suggested to the Portuguese to destroy all fortificationsaroundthechapeland the fortress Aguada. However, the Marathas took over and ruled for 2 decades. But after the battle of Panipat in 1761, Maratha power declined and the British took over andSalsette,includingBandracame under British rule. The Portuguese were left with just Goa, Daman and Diu.
The English found in this newly acquired territory of Salsette thousands of Indian families who were converted to Christianity. It was from these families the English drew their supplies of clerks, assistants and secretaries. At that timetherewashardlyaHindu,Parsi or Muslim who could read Roman characters. There was also a large influx of Christians from Goa, Karnataka and Kerala and this promptedlocalconvertstotakethe nameof'East Indians'andform the EastIndianAssociationon26thMay 1887 to distinguish the 'sons of the soil'whowerethefirstemployeesof theEastIndiaCompany,fromIndian Christians who came from further
downtheWestcoastandsharedthe same names and religion, and vied for the same jobs.
Crossing the Mahim creek was by ferry to the industrial town of Bombay.Aftermanyboatscapsized, a road was built by Lady Jamsetjee in 1843 at a cost of Rs.1,55,800. It was designed by Lt. Crawford and opened to the public in 1845. The railway started in 1867 with one trainbut6 yrslateritwasincreased to 24 each day and now 940 trains stop at Bandra every day. The Tata AgiaryonHillRoadwasbuiltbyTata inmemoryofhiswifein1884.
Bombay now Mumbai is thus a blendofINDIAandholdsnearevery
combination and permutation that may be found in the dedicated hinterland, also different blends of overseas culture can be seen in this overcrowded and symbolic nesting stronghold. From the poorest have not to the unimaginably affluent humans on earth is perhaps to be found here. The Church has in different ways and angles been a catalystto enlarge and increase the life and existenceof every blend and example of human life on the planet EARTH - expectedly in the coming times there will be many greatenlargementsofhumanethos andwitnesstotheSupremeGOD!
-By: VEEZNEWSNET.
Mangalurean Mira D’Silva to contest
Australian federal elections in 2025
MediaRelease
Melbourne,April21: TheKonkanispeaking community of Australia, especially in and around Melbourne, has something to celebrate and be proud of. Mira D’Silva, an ardent supporter of the KaravalKonkanscommunity,has
been confirmed as the Liberal candidate for the Lalor seat in Victoria.
Mira’s journey has been nothing short of inspiration. Born and brought up in Bengaluru to Mangalurean (Kulshekar) origin parents, Mira migrated to Australia a little over two decades ago and has embraced this country as her home.
From doing odd jobs as a firstgeneration migrant to now being recognisedasaforcetoreckonwith across the Australian political landscape, Mira’s trajectory is truly remarkable.
Success, accolades,and recognition have not in any way distanced Mira from her roots, culture, or heritage. Assomeonewhoproudlyprofesses her love for her mother tongue, Konkani, Mira remains equally grateful to her country of birth, India, whose multicultural demography helped shape her worldview and prepare her for the challengesahead.
A successful entrepreneur, Mira is also well known for her philanthropy, her support for Konkani culture and heritage, and her assistance to newcomers in Australia. A conversation with Mira leaves one inspired by her deep commitment to language, culture, community, and social causes alwaysexpectingnothinginreturn.
As the first Mangalurean and Konkani-speaking community member to step into Australian politics, Mira now counts on the support of everyone around her in this challenging election campaign. A win for Mira will be a matter of pride and a sense of achievement for every migrant who came to Australia with hope and can now daretodream.
Karaval Konkans Australia Inc. extends its wholehearted best wishes to Mira for the upcoming Federal election. Those wishing to volunteer and support her campaign can register at:https://www.miradsilva.com.au/v olunteer
The Lalor seat spans 180 square
In a recent interview with the Karaval Konkans Australia team, Mira shared insightful anecdotes and life experiences that clearly demonstratehowherprinciplesand valuesformastrongfoundationfor success.
kilometres on the south-western edge of Melbourne. It includes the satellite city of Werribee and the suburbs of Hoppers Crossing, Tarneit,WilliamsLanding,andparts of Truganina and Point Cook. The Federal elections have been scheduledfor3May2025. Thejourneyisbynomeansaneasy one. Elections are only won when communities come together, rally
behindtheirown,andsupporteach othertothefinishline.Thiselection presents an opportunity for the community to unite and create historybysupportingMiraD’Silvain becoming the first Mangalurean to enterthecorridorsofCanberra.
(From the Editorial Desk of KaravalKonkansAustraliaInc)
Pilgrims of Hope and Becoming Hope
IntheJubileeyear2025,Catholicsall over the world celebrate the theme ‘Pilgrims of Hope’. Visits to various identified Churches are being organized by Parishes for their faithful. I added one holy place to this list and visited it on 23 April 2025. It is the ancestral village of
Pandita Ramabai- a Christian Missionary. Mala village is about 4 KMs from Attur St Lawrence Church inKarkalaandlocatedclosetoMala Post Office on Bajagoli road. The street named after Ramabai SaraswatistartsnearthePostOffice. At the end of the street a Memorial (Smarak) to Pandita Ramabai Saraswati was inaugurated on 23 April 2025 (which is also her birthday) in her ancestral village by menofgoodwill.Shewasbornhere in1858.
The inaugural function was organized by the relatives of Ramabai and her community- the Chitpavan Brahmins living in this village. The land for the memorial
has been donated by Shri Vishnu Dongre, a landlord and relative of Ramabai. A beautiful and inspiring fiber glass bust of Ramabai prepared locally has been installed at this place. (Fig. 1) Two values which summarize her work i.e. Love and Compassion are highlighted near the entrance of the enclosure. Mr. Yogish Chiplunkar, a retired PWD Engineer from Goa State who lives here, has taken the lead in getting the monument ready. There is arrangement of benches around the monument so that the visitors canrelaxafterclimbingthehill. Cars and autos can be hired to reach the place. But walking is advised for pilgrims as the distance is less than one kilometer from the Post Office locatedonthemainroad.Itisinthe (Fig. 3and4)
middle of the areca plantation and full of greenery even in summer. In thePicturebelow,theauthorisseen in the middle of the evergreen plantation and near the bust inauguratedtoday.(Fig.3 and4)
The inaugural function was attended by Pastor Barnabas from Pune who was a part of Kedgaon Mukti Mission for 20 years. It was a private function organized by her relatives who belong to the Chitpavan Brahmin community. It is a small but educationally forward community in this part of our district. Shri Umesh Poojary, the President of Mala Gram Panchayat presided, and he recognised the need to provide solar lamps to this place. Many women of this community too attended the function as seen in the photograph. Entire expenditure has been managed through goodwill and donations from well-wishers. The author was the only Catholic community member who was presentontheoccasion. WhenRamabaiwasalivethepeople of this Chitpavan community opposed her for violating Hindu customs and liberating the Hindu widows of high caste. Bala
GangadharTilakwasastaunchcritic of Ramabai and attacked her very often in his newspaper, Kesari for breaking Hindu customs and alleged that she is converting widowsandorphanstoChristianity. She visited her ancestral village in 1890-91 after starting the Sharada Sadan in Mumbai on return from the USA. She visited the remains of the Ashram started by her father at Gangamoola. “Ramabai’s family (in Mala), observed caste restrictions, so while Ramabai stayed with them she was treated as an outsider. She hadtoserveherself,washherdishes and wash the place on which she sat, while her (step) brother and sister-in-law would purify themselves whenever they sat by her or touched her hand. This was reported by Ramabai herself in her letters to Sr. Geraldine. (Keith J White: Let the Earth hear her voice, 2022) No prophet is welcome in his orherhometown.Shetookwithher two child widows from the village willing to go with her to Kedgaon Mukti ashram and looked after them. Therefore, the installation of her bust by the members of her communityinherancestralvillageis a very significant event. I am sure
hergreatsoul(Mahatma)rejoicedin heaven to see this change after 100 years.
On this occasion one of the speakers, shri Satyanarayana Bhat, retired Principal of the Ayurvedic College drew attention to Quantum Physics theory and said that the air breathed by her when she lived in this village is still circulating here as particles even after hundred years andherpresenceinthisplaceisreal. Dr. Gopal Marathe, Biochemistry Professor of Mysore University also spoke and said that according to a saying or Shubashita,if the wheel turns it gathers speed, if the sun turns it is good for growth, if a brahmintravelshegainsknowledge butandifawomantravelssocietyis spoiled. He said that Ramabai disproved this saying by travelling across India and gaining knowledge. Mr. Barnabas answered the questions raised by the audience and stated that neither Ramabai nor Mukti Mission have converted people to Christianity without their consent and Bala Gangadhar Tilak was wrong in criticizing her social work. Shri Shantaram Chiplunkar, retired Tahsildar also spoke and threw light
on the travails of Hindu high caste women till recent years and highlighted the reformatory role played by Pandita Ramabai a century ago. The function was attended by many women of the Chitpavancommunityasseeninthe picture which is a happy development for the women and Ramabai’sMission.
Ramabai was born a Hindu in a Chitpavan Brahmin community in 1858 at Ganagamoola in Karkala Taluk. Today this place is inside Kudremukh forest. Her ancestral village, Mala, is at the base of the Kudremukh ghat. Later she converted to Christianity and worked as a missionary and social reformer. She worked for the liberation (Mukti) of Hindu widows andorphansespeciallygirls.Sheset up the Mukti Mission. She died in 1922 at Kedgaon (Pune District). In my article titled VisittotheHoly Landpublished in issue 357 of Veez in August 2024 I described my visit to Kedgaon, near Pune, the Karma bhoomi of Pandita Ramabai Saraswati. For more information thatarticlecanbeseen.
Ramabai gave hope to the Widows and orphans during her time and
her Mukti Mission is continuing her good work. For a long time, the Chitpavan Brahmins did not appreciate her work as she had revoltedagainstHinducustomsand also had found solution in Conversion. They have rectified this mistakenowbyinstallingthebustin her native place and giving a due place in their midst. The Catholic community does not treat her like Mother Theresa as she was not a Catholic. Her work is no less than that of Mother Theresa and she can be rightly called Mother Theresa of Kedgaon.MangalorediocesanChair in Christianity and St Agnes College hadorganizeda nationalseminarin 2008on PanditaRamabai-ASearch for spirituality, emancipation of womenandcooperationbetween religions . More such seminars are neededbytheChristian community tounderstandhercontribution.
A trend is noticed in recent times projecting her as a Hindu Icon, giving more importance to her Hindu accomplishments and scriptural knowledge which earned her the titles of Pandita and Saraswati.Butherrealgreatnesslies in her social work, in the upliftment of Hindu high caste women,
abandoned women, girls and orphans and teaching them selfrespect. Her pioneering work in starting Kinder Garten schools, encouragement to female education, starting of schools for the visually handicapped, selfreliance of women by learning various trades and printing skills to manage a printing press, protection of women from oppression, her defense of female education before the religious heads of Udupi Mutts and her fight against oppressive customsneedsgreaterfocus.Thatis herworkforLiberation or Mukti.
A visit to this memorial during the Jubilee Year 2025 by the Pilgrims of
Hope will surely help to understand the missionary and social work of Ramabai and imbibe her spirit. It wouldbespirituallyrewardingifthe religious sisters and fathers, Catholic Women’s groups, Catholic Sabha, SVP members, members of Christian Youth organizations, college students visit this place during this Jubilee year and learn how she became a Hope for the hopeless destitute women and orphans. The Christians around Karkala must undertake this pilgrimageduringtheJubileeyear.If nothing else, you will enjoy the scenicbeauty.
Dr.Charles Lobo
Taming a Dragon
Dinkarray Mandaliya
In 1972, the then-American President Richard Nixon got the idea of taking some work from the Chinese sleeping dragon. He thoughtthatbillionsofpeoplethere could make cheap items for us. American workers don’t need to work to make brooms, shoes, or garments. However, there was a
problembecausetherehadbeenno diplomatic ties between China and America for the past 25 years after Mao took control, defeating Chiang Kai-shekinthecivilwar. Nixontook a risk and made the first visit to Chinabya USPresidentinFebruary 1972.
Well, Richard Nixon successfully employed a cheap Chinese labor force for America. It worked very well. China continued adding many moreitemsathalforone-fourththe cost in America. China was very happy because the unemployment problem was resolved, Chinese workers got trained, gained technical know-how, and, more importantly, China received money. The Chinese government and people worked very hard. As the government got money, it developed vast and highly efficient supply chains dedicated to electronics and other manufacturing. This includes component suppliers, specialized factories, and logistical infrastructure, making production fasterandmore cost-effective.
China proactively constructed townships for labor and all
amenities to start industry. There were no labour problems and no trade unions in China. So, the American billionaires started moving factories to China. China gradually started making complex electronics items and machinery. China'strade surpluswiththe world for the year 2024 was over $950 billion.Ithadatradesurplusof$300 billion with America, and even with a country like India, it had a trade surplus of over $100 billion. This developmentdidnotoccurinayear ortwo,butithasbeenover50years since Richard Nixon's first visit in 1972.
America has followed the opendoor policy. Study visas are easy. Admission to American universities,
wheremostofthescientificresearch isbeingdone,hasremainedopento the world. In the 2023-2024 academic year, over 270,000 Chinese students studied in American Universities. Unbelievable but true. At the start of the university semester, plane loads of students arrive at airports, airports getfloodedbystudents,andspecial immigrationcountersare opened. China is now exporting complex technologytotheworld.Americano longer makes computers and hightech items. China has 55 nuclear power plants, has built five nuclear plantsinPakistanandoffersnuclear power plant technology to the world. It has become a moneylendertotheworld. Well,ifthisgoesonpeacefully,there isnotmuchofaproblem,butChina isnowadvancedinmilitaryterms.It has advanced naval capabilities, hypersonic weapons, and a nuclear arsenal. China is a threat to neighboring countries and the South China Sea. It manufactures and supplies the narcotic drug fentanyl to the world. China has carried out intellectual property theftandforcedtechnologytransfer from American companies
operatinginChina.Thegovernment indulges in high-level bribes to get offers and contracts from other countries.
Trump:TamingtheDragon Trump is too worried now. The Dagon has become very powerful bynow,andTrumpwantstotameit. After WWII, Europe and Japan were almost destroyed, and America remained a mighty and dominant country. European countries and America formed NATO (North AtlanticTreatyOrganization)against the Soviet Union, which is now useless. America and Europe ignored the possible future threat from China all the while. Instead, they were and are still feeding the dragon. This cannot be stopped because almost all items in American houses come from China. Itishardtofindanyitemthatisnot manufactured in China. Moving these industries from China to
America or other countries will take years. ThetimefortamingtheDragonhas gone.
'Mhataro Chorbela' Konkani drama performedatMiraBhayandar
Art worship is difficult in this period: Francis Fernandes Cascia (News: Rons Bantwal)
Mumbai(RBI),Apl.20:Artworshipis a difficult subject in this era. Art worship is possible only with the collaboration of art lovers and art parents. That is why this play of minehasbeenstagedforhundreds of performances and it is a symbol of the appreciation of art lovers. Senior Konkani theater, renowned stage artist, Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy award winner, comedy kingactor Francis
FernandesCasciasaid.
FrancisCasciawastheChiefguestat aculturaleventorganizedbyDivine MercyKonkaniOrganizationinMira Bhayandar's Divine Mercy Church Hall on Easter Sunday for the benefitof church building repair lastSunday.
Divine Mercy Church Parish Priest Rev.Rev. Fr. Allwyn Nazarethfelicitated to Senior Konkani artist Francis Fernandes Cascia and theater director Joy PaladkaandCongratulations to
them.Rev. Fr. Michael D'souza, Fr. Maria Anthony Pathinathan(CPPS),NunsSr.Rachel Laharia, Sr. Kiran Ekka, Sr. Neelam Lakrawaspresentonstage.
Maurice Pinto Hirgan (Karkal), Cecilia Dsouza, Ivan Quadros, Shanthi Pais, Mark Noronha, Norbert Noronha, Annie D'Souza, Rosemary Dsouza, Arun Pais, Leena Dsouzahonoredthefelicitatorsand theguests.
Francis Fernandes CasciaKonkani Drama Troupe staged 'Mhataro
Chorbela'a super hit konkani comedy play (Drama)written by Francis Fernandes Cascia. Under veteran stage directorJoy
Paladkain its 89th successful performance. Joy Paladka, Betty Naz, Julie Vas, Betty Naz Bandra, Julie Vas Marol, Gregory Sequeira Niddodi,PeterPaisBasroor,Shanthi
Barboza Boliye, Flora Dsouza Kalmadi, Peter Cutinho Mundkur, LavinaDsouzaJerimeriandComedy KingFrancis Fernandes played the lead roles and won the audience's appreciation.
Eliza Quadras welcomed. Florine Fernandesintroducedthehonorees. compared by Henry Sequeira. Matilda Danti proposed a vote of thanks.
BOATMAN’S HUB OPENS WITH A GRAND CELEBRATION OF CULTURE, CUISINE & COMMUNITY
An evening of blessings, live music, and coastal culinary flair marks the successful launch of Dubai’s newest dining destination
Mumbai (RBI), Apl.25: Boatman’s Hub, the highly anticipated coastal cuisine concept by the Fortune Group of Hotels, located at Dubai GrandHotelbyFortune – AlQusais; officially opened on April 23 with a vibrant celebration that blended tradition, music, and gastronomy in truecoastalspirit.
The festivities began earlier in the daywithaspecialvisitbyFr.Michael Cardoz from St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Dubai, who offered solemn prayers and blessings, and shared the first meal at the restaurant with Mr. Praveen Shetty Wakvady, Chairman of Fortune Group. His heartfelt gesture set a spiritually
groundedtonefortheday.
Later in the evening, before the doors opened, a blessing was also offered by Swamiji Bahushrutdas Ji fromtheBAPSHinduMandir,whose prayers brought anaura ofpeace andspiritualgracetotherestaurant.
Later in the evening, the grand ribbon-cuttingceremonywasledby an esteemed panel of guests, including Dr. Ronald Colaco, entrepreneur and an exceptional philanthropistastheevening’sChief Guest. Mr. Hussain Abbas Lootah, a close friend of Mr. Shetty, Mr. Sarvotham Shetty, President –Kannadigas UAE & UAE Buntsand theiconicsingerMrs.RitaRose,who also participated in the evening’s musicallineup.Alongside,MsPrachi Shetty – Executive Director of FortuneGroupofHotels.
Guestsweretreatedtoacaptivating evening of live music, highlighted by a soulful performance from Engelbert and Alria, the talented children of legendary Goan singer Alfred Rose, who moved the audience with renditions that honored their father’s musical legacy. Rita Rose took to the stage as well, singing a few nostalgic hits from her celebrated album, receiving warm applause from an enthusiasticcrowd.
TheBoatman’s Hubdelighted guests with an impressive culinary offering by Celebrity Chef Sarita, specially flown in from Goa - that showcased the best of Mangalorean, Goan, and Malvani flavors.
Livefoodstationsservedanenticing spreadofgrilledseafood,traditional curries, and regional specialties, offering a vibrant coastal feast that wasasimmersiveasitwasdelicious.
Theeveningdrewanimpressivemix of VIP guests, influencers, industry professionals,andfoodlovers,allof whom praised the restaurant’s ambiance,service,andauthenticity.
Mr. Praveen Shetty, Chairman of Fortune Group of Hotels, shared, “We are humbled by the blessings and support we’ve received today. The Boatman’s Hub is more than just a restaurantit’s a celebration of community and coastal heritage, and we look forward to welcoming everyonewithopenarmsandwarm plates.”
Withagrandlaunchandglowing
first impressions, The Boatman’s Hub is now officially open, ready to welcome diners into a journey of coastalculinaryexcellence.
For Reservation: Boatman`s Hub, Located at Dubai Grand Hotel by Fortune,DamascusRoad,AlQusais, Dubai Mobile/WhatsApp: +971 55 425 3900, Email: dghfnb@fortunehotels.ae -RonsBantwal
MCC BANK OFFERS TRIBUTE TO HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS
MCC Bank arranged a gathering of all the directors and staff members to offer tribute to His holiness Pope Francis at its Administrative Office on24.04.2025. Themeetingstartedwiththeprayer songbyMrsKarenCrasta andteam
Rev. Fr Faustine Lobo, designated director of Father Muller Charitable Institutions, was present during the occasion.
Rev. Fr Faustine Lobo also joined in offering tribute to the noble soul of His holiness Pope Francis. He
recalled his meeting with His holiness on several occasions. He said that Pope Francis was the “VoiceoftheVoiceless”,whosawhis master Jesus Christ, the Healer not in grandeur but in poor and downtrodden. He said that Pope Francis literally followed the footsteps of St. Francis Assisi by leading a simple and humble lifestyle throughout his life. Pope Francis was progressive and believedinremovingtheredundant and irrelevant practices. He was
deeply compassionate, caring for mankindwhichsufferedduetowars and conflicts world over. He advocated interreligious harmony among the people and wished to bring peace on earth. He was the Global personality (Vishwa Manava) in the real sense striving for the betterment of humanity. He said that the world is orphaned due to his demise and wished that His holiness be the beacon of light for ustofollowhisidealsinourlife.
Mrs Irene Rebello, Director
presentedthe pathtraversed by His HolinessPopeFrancis,renderingfull justice to the position held by him as the supreme pontiff of Roman catholic church. While presenting the life journey of His Holiness, she highlighted his simplicity, concern
for the sick, poor and the downtrodden. She explained the effortsofHisHolinessineradicating thearchaic customsandbeliefsand improving the lives of the havenots. She also explained the efforts of His Holiness in empowering women. She recalled the trademark of His Holiness, i.e., the face reflectingdivinegracewithpurityof heart and unbridled love for humanity.Shewishedthatthelifeof HisHolinessbethemodelforallthe peopletoemulateintheirlives.
The Chairman, Sahakara Ratna Anil Lobo, paid homage by offering floral wreath to the portrait of His Holiness Pope Francis on behalf all thedirectors,staffandcustomersof theBank.
Rev. Fr Faustine Lobo and Vice Chairman,MrJeraldJudeDsilvaalso paid homage to His Holiness Pope Francis.
All the Directors, Staff members of the administrative office and FoundersBranchwere present. The General Manager, Mr Sunil Menezes, proposed a vote of
Konkani TV Canada has beautifully produced music videos in 2 parts along with a title track as a tribute to the legendary icons of Konkani music. These heartfelt productions under the dynamic leadership of Canada’snightingaleSoniaD’Souza Monteiro, created to honor and preserve the rich heritage of Konkanimusic,havebeensharedon theirofficialYouTubechannel.
Created with love and respect for our roots, these tributes are a celebration of our rich cultural heritage, crafted far from home yet deeplyconnectedtoit.
Theireffortstopreserveandpasson our traditions to the younger generationaretrulyinspiring.
the music arrangement and direction for this music album. Joswin Pinto, the renowned music directoroftheKonkanimusicworld, hascarriedoutmusicprogramming. VocalrecordingdoneatGlenStudio by Canada’s yet another talented musician Glen Saldanha. This video has been mixed and mastered by SrikanthSrinivas.
Canadaisrenownedforitsstunning landscapes and breathtaking naturalbeauty.MothiyamSo’roffers viewersacaptivatingglimpseofthis scenic splendor through the lens of Design Out Loud, a respected videoproductioncompanybasedin Canada. Throughoutthefilmingprocess,ace cinematographer Aman Chandak has meticulously captured the essence of Canada’s beauty, ensuring that the visual storytelling enhances the music without overshadowing the soul of the songs.
They have put immense effort, due diligence, and careful research to ensurethateveryoriginalcomposer and singer receives the credit they deserve.
Special appreciation also goes to the talented singers from Canada
whohavelenttheirvoiceswithheart and soul to bring these timeless songstolife.
With heartfelt reverence, the video paystributeandhonortotheiconic figures like late Wilfy Rebimbus, MeenaRebimbus,MelwynPeris,the late Mick-Max, Apolinaris D’Souza, Gration D’Souza, Lawrence Saldanha, Timothy Serrao, the late Victor Concessao, the late Henry
Links:
Thomas D’Souza, the late Jerome D’Souza, Henry D’Souza, Mike Simons, the late P H Pinto, Oswald D’Souza, late Claud D’Souza, Eric RosarioandJoyceOzario.
This wasn’t just about music, it was a labor of love, deeply rooted in research and sincere appreciation fortheoriginals.
Title track: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ube7KzupvLc
Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tG6eFvJMRD4
About the Author: Prinson D’lima is an alumnus from Aloysius Institute of Business Management, Mangalore and
currently residing in Doha-Qatar, with 17 years of experience in the field of advertising media in India andQatar.
MediaRelease
Somyacho Pashaanv with Karaval Konkans Australia evokes reverence, tears,andrenewaloftrue Catholic spirit
Lent is a solemn time of reflection, reverence, penance, and renewing our unique connection with God, who sent His only begotten Son to redeemmankindfromthebondage ofsin.
Karaval Konkans Australia Inc. organisedapowerfulandspiritually uplifting Lenten reflection for the Konkani-speakingcommunityof
Melbourne, drawing over 200 people to St Christopher’s Parish, Syndal, Melbourne, on Palm Sunday, 13th April 2025, to contemplateGod’sinfinite love. The evening commenced with the Stations of the Cross, a deeply reflective 14-step Catholic devotion tracingthefinaljourneyofJesus ChristfromHiscondemnationtoHis entombment.
20-minuteplaytitled
“What the Lord’s Passion Teaches Me”.The
RiannaLasrado,RishanPinto,
NadineDsilva,MelissaMonis,
Yonathan Dsouza, and Noah Dsouza, delivered their lines in fluent Konkani, despite having grown up in Australia—an impressive testament to their commitmentandculturalpride. The play was a collaborative masterpiece, with the script penned by Ashley D'Silva and
Wilson Kalakar, song lyrics by Maxim Monis, music to the song by Nolan D'Silva, andmusic & audiomixingbyPrajothD'sa.The entire production was brought together under the direction of Wilson Kalakar, whose vision and guidance made the performance trulyimpactful.
Following the play, Holy Mass was celebrated by Rev. Fr. Jacob Alvares,whoblessedthepalmsand delivered a stirring homily on the passion and crucifixion of Christ. A carefully curated selection of hymns, beautifully sung by the KKA choir under the leadership of SandriaD’Silva,addedtothesacred atmosphere,reinforcingthethemes ofLent.
Toconcludethe evening,attendees enjoyed a traditional meal of Paze and Galmbi Chutney, lovingly prepared by the committee members. This shared meal rekindled fond memories of communal gatherings back home, strengthening the bonds within the community.
The Karaval Konkans Australia Inc. Committee expresses deep gratitude toallthose whoattended and contributed—through time,
Temporary Profession at Rosa Mystica Novitiate — 2025
The Temporary Profession of three newly vested novices Sr Renisha Menezes, Sr Chandrika, and Sr SofiyaRodriguesfromRosaMystica Novitiate,Kinnikambla,washeldon the22ndofApril2025at10:00a.m. The solemn occasion was marked with a Eucharistic Celebration, officiated by Rev. Fr. Joseph Martis, Parish Priest of Derebail Parish, and concelebrated by Fr. Roshan OP. During the Eucharistic celebration, Sr Lilly Pereira, the Provincial Superior of Mangalore Province, received the vows of the newly professed sisters, officially welcoming them into the Congregation of the Sisters of the Little Flower of Bethany. A short felicitation program followed, where the newly professed sisters were warmly congratulatedbytheProvincial Superior,theirparents,family
members, and the gathered communityofsisters.Thededicated efforts of Sr Sonia, the Novice Directress, her assistant Sr Lilitta, Sr Savitha Dsouza, and all those who contributed to the formation of the novices along with the sacrifices made by their parents were gratefully acknowledged. The Provincial Superior honoured their parents with shawls as a token of appreciation. The newly professed sisters expressed their heartfelt gratitude to Sr Rose Celine, the Superior General, and her Councilors for their prayerful support and blessings. They also extended sincere thanks to their Provincial Superior, vocation promoters, directresses, and their parents for their constant encouragement and guidance throughouttheirformationjourney. The celebration concluded with a festivemeal,sharedinaspiritofjoy and fraternity. The Bethany Congregation rejoices with the newly professed sisters and wishes them abundant blessings as they embarkontheirconsecratedlife.
-Sambram Digital
Hieveryone:
I'm just back after emceeing the PEO-WT Critical Minerals seminar held at the Old Mill Restaurant in Toronto,earliertoday.
Gordana Slepcev led & moderated the seminar, with a panel of 3
Although 95 people registered, there were several No-Shows, and Roman Lysiak & Azar Moghtader who were at the Registration Desk will have an accurate count of the attendees.
Ray Seker did a great job in arranging our Venue and making sure everythingransmoothly.
I wish to thank everyone else who worked behind the scenes to make this first regular PEO-WT seminar (since thehiatus causedbyCovid in
