Udupi/M’belle: Popular support to ’Mission Sunday Auction’ helps to raise Rs.1,30

By Eugene DSouza
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi/M’belle, 19 Oct 2014: Popular support to ‘Mission Sunday Auction’  on 19 October 2014, enabled St. Lawrence Parish, Moodubelle to raise Rs. 1,30,000/- for the missionaries and their work of providing various socio-economic amenities to the underprivileged people in various parts of the world. Once a year, on the third Sunday in the month of October has been earmarked as ‘Mission Sunday’ throughout the world, the day when Catholics all over the world pray for the missionaries and raise funds for their various activities. The means of raising funds for this purpose include the special Sunday collection, contribution of individual families through the ‘Mission boxes’ and the ‘Mission Sunday Auction’ which has been a regular annual practice in most of the parishes in Mangalore and Udupi Dioceses.

 

Like in previous years, this year too ‘Mission Sunday Auction’ was organized after 7.30 am Mass. The auction was organized by the ICYM members. The articles for auction were generously donated by the parishioners which included perfumes, sarees and dresses, cooked meat, snacks, bananas, vegetables and areca nuts, homemade wine and coconuts, etc. This year, besides cocks, one Jersy cow donated by Rocky Castelino of Mattar and one murrah of rice donated by Ivan D’Almeida were the novelties.

 

Soon after the mass, parishioners gathered in front of the church portico under the shade of the shamiana. As the auctioning was getting on way, people patronized the snacks and tea as well as other stalls selling idlis and cooked meat managed by the members of the Stree Sanghattan. The Stree Sanghattan members had been helping in raising funds for the Mission Sunday by keeping stalls since the last three Saturdays and Sundays by preparing various dishes and idlis. Last year the Stree Sanghattan had raised  around Rs.55,000/-  for the Mission Sunday fund and this year they expect to raise at least Rs.60,000/- Their selfless service has been appreciated by Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Joswey Fernandes.

 

The auctioning of various items was anchored by Rev. Fr. Paul Sequeira and Rev. Fr. Reginald Pinto. Rev. Fr. Paul Sequeira was at his wittiest best as he enticed the parishioners to raise the bids for a noble cause. Rev. Fr. Roshan D’Souza and Rev. Fr. P. Raj were also present during the auction. Besides the ICYM volunteers led by President Glen Joy Alva, Vincent Fernandes-Animator of ICYM, Henry Fernandes, former Vice President of Parish Pastoral Council, Alphonse K. Alva and Mrs. Emilia Noronha-present Vice President and Secretary of the Parish Pastoral Council helped in arranging the articles for the auction.

 

 

The highest bid for the Jersy Cow was Rs.10,500/- from Richard Rodrigues. Other items were claimed by enthusiastic parishioners by bidding for various amounts. The entire auctioning exercise was quite entertaining with speculation among the audience  and urge to upstage the others among the bidders.

 

As in previous years, this year also Mukunda Kamath, one of the fervent devotees of St. Lawrence participated in the auctioning and claimed a cock. Advocate William D’Mello, after bidding for  coconuts and bananas donated these items to St. Lawrence PU College for  midday meal. Similarly, Benedict Martis, after successfully bidding for certain articles re-donated them for Mission Sunday which were auctioned again.

 

Rev. Fr. Joswey Fernandes expressed happiness over the outcome of the auction of various articles donated by the parishioners for the purpose of raising funds for the  Mission Sunday. He expressed his gratitude to the generous donors, those who participated in the auction, the ICYM and Sthree Sanghattan members for their cooperation and parishioners for their support which enabled to raise Rs. 1,30,000/- for missions through auction only.

 

Speaking to this reporter, Rev. Fr. Joswey Fernandes said that last year the total amount raised by St. Lawrence Parish, Moodubelle through various sources was  Rs. 2, 45,000/-. This year, he expects to raise at least Rs. 2, 50,000/-