MANGALORE: EWTN Transmission Begins

MANGALORE: Catholics Rejoices as Cable Operators Relay EWTN

MANGALORE September 7, 2007 (KonkaniCatholics.com): One day ahead of their popular Marian feast, 'Monti Fest', Catholics in Mangalore cannot believe their ears as they hear that EWTN, the leading global Catholic TV Channel is now being relayed to their homes by the city's cable operators.

"It was like tasting heaven for some time" said Joannes Rodrigues, an engineering student in the city who couldn't wait to get home to check it out.

Joannes along with a small group of like minded friends has been working behind the scenes for the last three years in order to make EWTN known in the city. "It is doing the work of the Lord that gives greater joy than owning the latest mobile phone" he said expressing his joy over the news.

Eternal Word Television Network, EWTN was started by Poor Clare nun, Mother M. Angelica in Alabama, USA, on August 15, 1981. Now in its 27th year of service, it is the largest religious media network in the world, transmitting programming 24 hours a day to more than 123 million homes in 140 countries and territories on more than 4,800 cable systems, wireless cable, Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS), low power TV and individual satellite users.

Taking the lead from Joannes, Fr. Victor Vijay Lobo, the Communications Director of Mangalore Diocese successfully negotiated the possibility of EWTN transmission with 'V-4', the partnership of the major cable operators in the city. Their service extends also to the towns of Belthangady, Moodabidri, Karkal and Bantwal.

Explaining the general lack of ongoing catechetical formation, Fr. Vijay said, "Many people do not know how to answer the faith questions posed to them by Christian Fundamentalists." He believes that "EWTN will greatly help in strengthening the faith of the people by giving them the real teachings of the Catholic Church."

When asked if the viewers will be able to follow the English broadcasts, Fr. Vijay said, "Though English is not understood in the villages, it is well understood by the youth and especially those in the city."

"In any case, one can always watch the programs like the the Rosary, Mass, live broadcasts of Papal pilgrimages and events like the upcoming World Youth Day in Sydney next year", he remarked with optimism.

In order to make EWTN known to Catholics in and around Mangalore, Fr. Vijay plans to have announcements made in Churches, parish publications and through handbills.

Mangalore To Host Two National Seminars

August 6, 2007

MANGALORE, Karnataka (SAR NEWS) -- ‘Communications in the Church’ is the theme of two national seminars to be held in Mangalore August-end.

The first seminar for bishops with the theme “Shepherds of the Media Age” will held August 20-23 and the second one for the diocesan communications directors and the regional communication secretaries with the theme ‘Communicating in a new way in the Media age” will be organised August 23-26 by the CBCI Commission for Social communications at the Pastoral Centre here.

The bishops’ seminar will delve on pastoral communication skills, computer skills, Jesus the Perfect Communicator, communications -- opportunities and challenges, media, human rights and civil liberties.

About 20 bishops are expected to participate in this seminar.

The second seminar for the diocesan communications directors deals with the topics: Communications - opportunities and challenges, media, human rights and civil liberties, Jesus the Perfect Communicator, Whither Church communications in India, Catholic communicators and print media in India, Performing arts – a people’s medium, Catholic communications, Civil society and social concerns, New media – a new forum for Catholic communicators, Media and consumer rights.

About 120 diocesan directors, regional secretaries of communications and others associated with the Church media are expected to participate in the seminar.

Both the seminars will have their inaugural session at Sandesha, the regional social communications centre with Cardinal Telesphore Toppo inaugurating the seminar and Bishop Aloysius D’Souza of Mangalore welcoming the participants. (SAR)

KARKALA - St. Lawrence Feast 2007

MANGALORE-KARKALA: St. Lawrence Shrine, Attur - Feast 2007

The solemn mass of the annual feast of St. Lawrence at Attur will be at 10.30am on 10 August. The New Vicar General of Mangalore Diocese, V. Rev. Msgr Denis Moras Prabhu will be the main celebrant on the occassion.

The preparatory novena will be at 10.30 am everyday from 1st to 9th August. It will be led by Fr. Baptist Menezes, Episcopal Vicar Udupi (1 Aug), Fr. Mathew Vas (2 Aug), Fr. Vincent D'Souza (3 Aug), Fr. Michael D'Silva (4 Aug), Fr. Stany Goveas (6 Aug), Fr. Vincent Coelho (7 Aug), Fr. Alfred Pinto (8 Aug) and Fr. Cyprian Pinto (9 Aug).

Lunch will be provided on novena days to all pilgrims.

For more information, contact: Rev. Fr. Arthur Pereira, Parish Priest, Attur, Ph: 08258-233842,230322

Konkani-speaking Catholics Put Bible Online

Konkani-Speaking Catholics Put Bible Online in their own Language

July 27, 2007

MANGALORE, India (UCAN) -- A Catholic community has made the Bible in a southern Indian tongue available online so that people around the world can read Scripture in the Konkani language.

Austine Crasta, who runs the community's website (konkanicatholics.com), initiated the project with the help of friends and Mangalore diocese. The Bible project is part of the website, whose motto is "Uniting Konkani Catholics Worldwide for the Faith."

Crasta explained to UCA News that the online Bible is "for Konkani Catholics in remote corners of the world who do not have access to the Bible in their mother tongue." He said it may also help members in places where religious practices are restricted and the Bible is not permitted.

Some of them in certain nations have to meet secretly to worship, he pointed out, and their "powerful witness inspired me to perform this service."

Many young Konkani people "spend much time on the Internet," he added, so "they may also get an opportunity to meet the Lord" through the online Bible.

Michael Mendonca, a Catholic layman prepared the electronic form of the text, and two other youths designed and developed the site, with the support of Father Francis X. Lewis, public relations officer of Mangalore diocese.

About 1.7 million people in India use Konkani, one of the country's 22 officially recognized languages. Most live on the southwestern coast of India, served by Mangalore and Karwar dioceses and Goa archdiocese.

About 1 million Catholics live in the area. When Bishop Aloysius Paul D'Souza of Mangalore launched the site (konkanibible.org) on July 26, he said it can help "all Konkani people come to know God and bear witness to Christ."

Mangalore diocese released its hard-copy Konkani bible in Kannada script during the Catholic Church's Jubilee of the Year 2000. Now that text is available online. Konkani lacks its own script, so it uses Karnataka state's official Kannada-language script or the Roman script.

Konkani Catholics are so called because of the language they use. Many of their forefathers migrated from Goa in the 16th and 17th centuries for socio-political and cultural reasons. They have produced more than 35 bishops and thousands of missioners who serve around the country and beyond. In recent years, many members have migrated to European and West Asian nations.

Reproduced by Konkani Catholics with permission from UCA News (www.ucanews.com)

UDUPI: Pilgrims Hurt as Bus Rams Into Truck

UDUPI June 13, 2007 (KCNews.org): Dozens of passengers including several pilgrims were hurt when the bus they were travelling in rammed into a truck from behind this afternoon on National Highway 17 at Brahmavar, near here.

According to those at the spot of the accident, the bus skidded on the rain-wetted road slope and hit the truck in front which had slowed down to turn left.

Most of the passengers on the local bus were pilgrims of Udupi, Perampalli, Udyavar and around returning after the annual festive celebrations at St. Anthony's Shrine, Kerekatte.

Flavy Arouza of Udyavara who was travelling in the same bus says she miraculously escaped unhurt despite sitting in the front. When she looked around she could see passengers bleeding from their nose, mouth, temples or head. The pilgrims were also heard invoking Jesus and Mary.

The injured were admitted in the nearby hospitals. No one is reported to be serious.

It was raining heavily at the time of the accident.

Two more accidents were reported at the spot the same day.

Earlier in the day, Bishop Aloysius Paul D'Souza of Mangalore escaped unhurt when his car met with an accident at Udyavar near here. He was travelling to celebrate the festive Mass at the same shrine. The Mass started an hour late at 11.30am

OBITUARY: Fr. Henry D'Souza (59), Hyderabad

Fr. Henry D'Souza (Hyderabad) Passes Away

June 1, 2007: Fr. Henry D'Souza, a senior priest of Hyderabad Diocese, passed away at 3.30pm at the Home for the Aged, Secunderabad, Andhra Pradesh yesterday. He was 59.

Hailing from Bondel in Mangalore, Fr. Henry was ordained for Hyderabad Archdiocese on February 11, 1979 and served the the Archdiocese of Hyderabad in many capacities.

He was the parish priest of St. Mary's Church, Secunderabad, Holy Famiy Church, Trimulgherry and the Cathedral St. Joseph's Church, Hyderabad. He was also the Secretary to the Archbishop of Hyderabad, Secretary to Hyderabad archdiocese Social Service Society (HASSS) and the Chancellor of the archdiocese at the time of his death.

The Funeral Mass for Fr. Henry D'Souza will be at 3pm at St. Mary's Church, Secunderabad on June 3, 2007.

Fr. D'Souza underwent a kidney transplant four years ago and in April 2007 had one of his legs amputated due to gangrene. His health condition is said to have worsened upon returnig from visiting his ailing 97 year old mother about 4 months ago. The cause of his death however, is said to be acute diabetes.

Many people in Hyderabad will remember Fr. Henry for the selfless help that he rendered their families, especially in sponsoring the education of their children and often out of his own expenses.

Fr. D'Souza's mortal remains lies at the Home for the Aged in Secunderabad.

With inputs from Lawrence Monteiro, Hyderabad

INTERVIEW: Oscar Fernandes, Mangalore

May 30, 2007

UCAN Interview - 'My Faith Sustains Me In Politics'

MANGALORE, India (UCAN) -- Compromising one's values will not advance one's political life much, according to Oscar Fernandes, a successful Catholic politician in India.

The 66-year-old federal minister from Mangalore, in the southern state of Karnataka, says his Catholic faith has sustained him during his 35 years in politics.

During that time, he has guided his Congress party as its national general secretary. Recently, he shared with UCA News how he lives his Catholic faith as an Indian politician. The interview follows:

UCA NEWS: What motivated you to enter politics?

OSCAR FERNANDES: It was my Catholic faith that motivated me. I was one of 12 children in my family, and I grew up with a strong Catholic background. As a child I was an altar boy, and as a youth I was active in Church activities. This active involvement with the Church really helped me to think bigger and get into politics. Moreover, I had over a dozen votes in my house itself (he laughs).

As a public figure, do you see yourself more as a Catholic or a politician?

I am both. I never separate my Catholic identity from politics. My faith is personal, and I never had to sacrifice my Catholic identity in politics. However busy I was, I never missed my family prayers, although I miss Sunday Mass sometimes. I believe that my religious identity is more a being and living, and it has been inseparable from my public life.

Has being a Catholic in a predominantly Hindu country helped your political life?

I feel, yes. India is a great nation with secular ideals. Here people do not discriminate against you in the name of religion; only politicians do. People are carried away by how you live your religious and personal life, rather than which god you believe in. I never hide my religious identity anywhere and never felt let down because of this. In fact, political life has been smooth and progressive because I believe in Jesus.

Who is Jesus for you?

Jesus has been a hero for me. He has been the greatest public servant, a revolutionary leader and selfless social activist. He is my role model and motivator. My religion believes in giving rather than receiving, sharing rather than bearing, and helping rather than being helped. I believe my political career was a special call and vocation for me.

Politics and politicians are generally disliked. How can you make a difference in Indian politics?

I believe in witnessing rather than preaching. I hardly preach Christianity, but the people of India know that I am a Christian. They see me praying, they see me happy and content, and they know that I love them. My principles are based on Christian values and I live them. I came into politics in 1972 by winning municipal council elections, and ever since I have lived a Catholic life and political career.

Christians are, by and large, apathetic about politics. But of late, thanks to the efforts of Catholic Sabha (council), hundreds of Catholics have contested panchayat (village council) elections and won. Quite a number of Catholics from various states have also come into national politics. So their thinking is changing.

What is Catholic Sabha? What were its objectives and what has it done so far?

I was one of the founders of (Mangalore diocese's) Catholic Sabha, which has completed some three decades. It was started to protest an anti-conversion bill introduced in parliament in 1979. Later, it became one of the strongest Catholic lay movements. It has provided a platform for many Catholics to enter politics. It has helped many youths to get into civil service, encouraged Catholics to contest panchayat elections and get involved in other social-service activities. We now manage a special school and rehabilitation center for mentally retarded children. Though I am more active in national politics, I have never ignored the Catholic Sabha, my first step in politics.

What are the challenges a committed Christian faces in politics?

It is embarrassing to be amid politicians who believe in mere politics and compromise without scruples to further their political future. But I have neither compromised my Catholic identity nor sacrificed the values I inherited from my devout parents. And those values have been my strength. In politics, if you do not assert your identity, you will get nowhere.

Christians now face persecution in India. As a Catholic minister, how do you respond to this?

I think Christians are luckier and safer in India than in any other country. Indians are so accommodating and hospitable. India has welcomed and supported different religions and faiths. How can we say India is a bad place for Christianity? The problem is politically motivated and never culturally rooted. It is caused by aggressiveness from both sides -- politicians looking for an issue for vote banks and some Christians acting like a politician to push their faith. Both are not correct.

Christianity has to spread through Christian witnessing rather than street preaching. I survived in Indian politics for the past three decades as a practicing Catholic. I was never persecuted for my faith.

You always appear in public with your wife, never alone. Does this ever hinder you?

It is never a bother, but my strength. We have been married for 25 years and never have we stayed separately. She is with me in all my success and failures, good days and bad days. Is it not Christian witness?

I am what I am because of my parents and I want my children also to say that. So we are together and we nurture our children with a good Catholic background. Children will get settled and they will go. But a wife can never leave like that. I believe if we are successful in our family life, we will be successful everywhere. And if we pray together and are strong in our faith, we can move mountains.

MANGALORE: Advocate Melvin Noronha Christian Marriage Registrar

Karnataka Govt. Appoints Advocate Noronha As Registrar Of Christian Marriages

MANGALORE, Karnataka -- Melvin P. Noronha, a leading advocate of Mangalore, has been appointed the Registrar of Christian marriages in South Kanara, by the Karnataka State government.

Forty-year-old Noronha represents many diocesan institutions and religious congregations in the diocese and is very active in social and Church spheres. He is the founder-president of the Cordel unit of the Catholic Sabha, a lay organisation working for the betterment of the Catholic community in the diocese.(SAR)

My Testimony - Valerian Dalmaida

The Grace of Divine Intervention

From Desperation to Everlasting Hope

By Valerian Dalmaida

I am a Catholic from South India, born in 1960, in a family of staunch Catholic faith, hardworking, graceful and God was with us all the time. From my childhood I loved Jesus and Mother Mary. Everyday early morning and evening prayers at home, Angelus, Rosary, singing hymns. I was active in all church activities right from my childhood. After graduation, I was in Bombay between 1980 and 1983, for my article training in Chartered Accountancy. In those three years along with studies and work, I gained lot of worldly knowledge both good and bad; away from home I learnt all bad habits, but intelligent I was, I qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1988 besides having a very good practice, assets and properties at the age of 28. In 1989, I got married to Blanch and by God’s grace I received two children both boys one in 1992 and another in 1993.

My intelligence, qualification, money and recognition at a young age made me very proud, I remained a Sunday Christian and at the same time participating all the rituals and religious practices of other religions and acknowledging in the process that "ALL GODS ARE SAME". Life had up and downs, I was in Middle East with my family, earned good money, returned to India after a stay of 5 years, set up better offices back at home for own practice and consultancy. World was beautiful; smoking, drinking, late nights, parties, recognition, name, salutes, money and all worldly things, you name it, I had it.

1998 saw the software boom in India. Caught up with this boom, I set up a public limited company for software development and related business. The private placement of shares brought in a lot of money, activities were in full swing, good business, by the beginning of 2000, the company set up its full pledged software development centre at Bangalore and branches in five cities of Karnataka. In total 113 people working, a monthly expenditure of over USD 22,000; I was really busy, no church, no mass, no prayers, no rosary, away from family, always busy and on top of all this, I started criticizing Catholics, priests and nuns, I used them for inauguration of offices only with the aim of publicity and marketing of the company products.

Public Issue was planned, approved by SEBI and everything was perfectly going until November 2000, when software public issues had no response, I could not bring out the issue, I needed money for development, I wanted the show to go on. The pride in me, was so much that I started borrowing by mortgaging my assets, personal loans from banks, jewels, fixed deposits and even pledging my wife’s salary. In 8 months, the debt to banks and suppliers was to the tune of USD 250,000. Yes, I reached to a point from where there was no return. For the first time I was feeling the ground under my feet was swiping away. I found myself a pauper, penniless, rationing for food at home, from abundance to nothing, children starving, no money for school fees, not even to buy a chocolate, borrowing for the very existence.

"Do My work, I will do yours"

May 17, 2001, 9.30 in the night, one of our software engineers flying to Singapore on a credit ticket and credit foreign exchange, not knowing what is the position of the company and the owner. Coming out of my office, no vehicle, my life was gloomy, thinking of such a huge debt, I had made up my mind to suicide, and I was walking, not knowing where, either to be hit by a running vehicle or ultimately to walk on the railway track. Yes, I was walking, in tears, desperate, thinking about my qualification, wife, children, mother, brothers and sister, where I was? How I was? How I became? And, I was passing through the Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, alone, sobbing and was "HELPLESS". For the first time, after two and half years, standing on the road, as if for the last time, looking at the cross on top of the Church, I uttered without my knowledge THREE words : "JESUS, SAVE ME." And, Alas! In that darkness, I saw a bright light coming from the cross towards me, so bright, I could not see it, I took off my eyes, I lifted my right hand and covered my face and lo, I felt the touch of a hand, my right hand was held tightly by another hand, I heard a voice "DO MY WORK, I WILL DO YOURS." I could not understand, what was happening to me, a total renewal, and my steps were towards my house and alone in the house, and I could not sleep. I was crying, in fact, sobbing like a little child, my entire life since my childhood came in front of me in flashes; it was like I was seeing in a mirror, all my past life. This continued till 5.30 in the morning. I could not sit and I washed my face and ran to the same church for the morning mass, after two and half years.

"Give thanks in all circumstances"

When the mass began, Again, the same voice, speaking to me: "Valerian, read 1 Thessalonians 5:16, 17, 18." This continued during the whole mass. I came out of the Church, I didn’t know, that there are 2 letters of St.Paul to the Thessalonians. I asked one of my friend to read the bible for me for 1Thessalonians 5:16-18. And he read it for me "REJOICE ALWAYS, PRAY CONSTANTLY, GIVE THANKS IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES; FOR THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS FOR YOU."

Since that day, till today, the Holy Spirit is guiding my steps to the Eucharist daily morning. I came back to the Lord, unknowingly, what a renewal, a "U" turn; I could understand the scriptures more beautifully, each word of the Lord, so loving and life giving. God showered with so many spiritual blessings, the gift of faith and the gift of word of knowledge, there was peace in my heart and I could feel the Kingdom of God is within me. I attended a retreat by Rev. Fr. Augustine Vallooran VC, of Divine Retreat Centre, Potta, in December 2001 in my home town, I had a confession, and during adoration, I saw the same bright light which I saw earlier from the cross, from the Holy sacrament coming into my heart. Ah, what a tremendous love, I was surrounded by the love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

The worries, court cases, police cases, waiting in the courts and police stations, criminal cases and warrants for cheque bouncing, no vehicle, no money, walking miles together, the Lord was with me, I was thanking Him, in complete faith, accepting and surrendering to His will. Jesus is living, I could feel him, and I could talk to Him. Yes, he took me for a retreat to Potta in January 2002. I received the gift of tongues and Jesus, revealed me how to pray in my personal prayer. In May 2002, once again, Holy Spirit guided me to another retreat with my wife and two sons. During the week long retreat, all of us received the gift of prayer. On returning from Potta, a visit visa to the Middle East was waiting for me. I thanked the Lord, I left India, in fact, I had to escape, and that was how God told me. Triune God, was leading me, feeding me, within 30 days of landing in this foreign country, God gave me a job according to our needs. I have repaid more than USD 320,000 loan in the past 5 years. God is using me for his kingdom, He is faithful, He keeps His promise, He made me his powerful instrument of faith, and I am spreading the light of Christ and the love of God to those I meet.

Praise the Lord!

KARNATAKA: Four Catholic Colleges Granted Autonomy

Four Catholic Colleges Granted Autonomy

Mangalore, May 24, 2007 10.07 Hrs (CBCI News):

The Karnataka Government has given autonomy to four Catholic colleges affiliated to Mangalore University. The institutions are: St. Aloysius College, St. Agnes College, St. Ann's College of Education and Roshni Nilaya School of Social Work.

The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) has credited the 87-year old St. Agnes College with “Five Star” and the 127-year old St. Aloysius College with “A” Grade.

The St. Ann's College of Education, which offers B.Ed., M.Ed. has received five-star grade.

Jesuit Father Swebert D'Silva, principal of St. Aloysius College, said that the college was fully prepared to switch over to the autonomous system from the academic year 2007-08.

St Aloysius College is located in the heart of Mangalore situated on the top of Light House Hill with a magnificent view of the Arabian Sea. It offers Graduate and Post-Graduate Diploma and Ph.D. programmes in a wide variety of subjects in Humanities, Sciences, Commerce and Management. The college also teaches Pre-University courses in Science, Commerce and Arts.

The college traces its origins to 1880 when some European Jesuits who had landed in Mangalore three years earlier put up a college for the education of Catholic youth.

St. Agnes College was started as a center of learning in higher education since 1920. Students from Mangalore and from other districts of Karnataka and Kerala are the major student population who flock in to the portals of this college.

There is also an inflow from the gulf countries to pursue courses in Business Management, B.Com, Computers and Micro Biology. Since recent times students from other parts of the country especially Mumbai and Bangalore are also seeking admission to St. Agnes College.

“What characterizes St. Agnes College as a unique institution is its inbuilt traditions shaping human person of staff and students and a constant striving to establish higher education of relevance and excellence. Excellence is not trifle, but trifles make excellence, both in the classroom and in the daily curricular and extra curricular programmes,” said the Principal Sr Carmelita, AC.

The St Agnes College has been the first ever Catholic women's college in India.