Journey with St. Lawrence to the wards of Moodubelle Parish

Report and Pictures by Dr. Eugene D’Souza
Bellevision Media Network

21. SACRED HEART II WARD

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Moodubelle, 28 July 2010:
The Sacred Heart: The Sacred Heart, also known as Sacred Heart of Jesus is one of the most famous religious devotions to the physical heart of Jesus as the representation of His divine love for Humanity. The devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is predominantly used in the Roman Catholic, Anglo Catholic and Lutheran Churches. It stresses the central Christian concept of loving and adoring Jesus.

It is believed that the devotion to the Sacred Heart had originated during the  eleventh and twelfth centuries. However, the devotion to the Sacred Heart, as we know it, began about the Year 1672. On many occasions, Jesus appeared to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, a Visitation Nun, in France. During these Apparitions, He explained to her the Devotion to His Sacred Heart as He wanted people to practice it. He asked to be honoured in the symbol of His Heart of Flesh; He asked for Acts of Reparation, for Frequent Communion, Communion on the First Friday of the Month, and the keeping of the Holy Hour. Later, the Catholic Church approved the Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

In the Roman Catholic tradition, the Sacred Heart has been closely associated with Acts of Reparation to Jesus Christ. In his encyclical, ‘Miserentissimus Redemptor’, Pope Pius XI stated: "the spirit of expiation or reparation has always had the first and foremost place in the worship given to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus". The Sacred Heart is often depicted in Christian art as a flaming heart shining with divine light, pierced by the lance-wound, surrounded by a crown of thorns, surmounted by a cross and bleeding. Sometimes the image is over the body of Jesus with his wounded hands pointing at the heart. The wounds and crown of thorns allude to the manner of the death of Jesus, while the fire represents the transformative power of love.

The Feast of the Sacred Heart has been a Solemnity in the Roman Catholic liturgical calendar since 1856, and is celebrated 19 days after Pentecost. As Pentecost is always celebrated on Sunday, the Feast of the Sacred Heart always falls on a Friday.

About the Ward: The boundaries of the Sacred Heart II Ward include: Moodubelle-Udupi Main Road towards the north, Mother Theresa Ward towards the south, Moodubelle-Katingeri Road in the east and Red Hill Junction-Ankudru Road in the west. The regions included in the ward are Kadubettu, Red Hill, and Babbarya Kere. The Church Aided Higher Primary School, St. Lawrence High School and PU College, Syndicate Bank, Udupi Taluk Industrial Cooperative Bank, Post Office, Mescom and the Lion’s Seva Bhavan are situated in the Sacred Heart II Ward. The dispensaries of Dr. H.B. Shetty, Dr. Rajeshwari Koradkal and Dr. Madhav’s ‘Geetanjali’ Clinic are also located in the ward. There are 30 Catholic families in the Sacred Heart II Ward.

Mrs. Jacinta D’Souza is the Gurkarn of the Sacred Heart II Ward since ten years. She is also the Parish Council and the Catholic Sabha member as well as the Eucharistic Minister. Formerly, Mrs. Jacinta had served in St. Vincent De Paul Society for five years each as president and secretary and also as president and secretary of the Catholic Sabha and as representative of  ‘Sandesh’. Mrs. Jacinta’s husband Victor D’Souza has been working in the ADC Arabian Drilling Company based in Saudi Arabia as Maintenance Supervisor for the last ten years. Their son Avinash, after completing  Mechanical Engineering  at Nitte Engineering College is pursuing M.Tech in Manufacturing at Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT).

Mrs. Jacintha D’Souza - (Gurkarn)

  
Alphonse K. Alva & Matais D’Souza (Representatives)

Alphonse Kulachandra Alva and Mathias John D’Souza are the representatives of the Sacred Heart II Ward. Formerly Alphonse was the Gurkar of the ward  for ten years and is presently member of the Parish Finance Committee. Professionally, Alphonse is the proprietor of the Alva Electricals-Government Licensed Electrical Contract.  He is the Secretary of the Udupi District Government Licensed Electrical Contractors’ Association. He is also LIC Agent and the Zonal Club Member of the LIC Agents. Mrs. Shanti Alva, wife of Alphonse helps him in his business. She is the Eucharistic Minister in the parish and also teaches Catechism in Sunday School.

Mathias John D’Souza, the other representative of  the ward is the member of the Central Core Committee of the Small Christian Community (SCC). Professionally, he has retired from BSNL after 41 years of service. He had joined BSNL as a telephone operator in 1965 and had worked in various places such as Sagar, Madikeri, Bhatkal, Udupi, Honnavar, Karkala and finally at Moodubelle.

The Sacred Heart II Ward has contributed a large number of religious priests and nuns to the service of the church and society. Late Fr. Faustine Alva and Fr. Charles Alva (Dhiranand Bhatt), brothers of late Robert Alva had served in the Allahabad Diocese for many years. Fr. Faustine Alva was  ordained a priest in 1941. After many years of priestly service he passed away in 1970. Fr. Charles Alva was ordained in 1955. He expired in 2004 after a long period of missionary work in various fields.

  
Late Fr.Faustine Alva & Late Fr.Dhiranand Bhatt

  
Fr. Peter D’Sa & Fr. Ranjan D’Sa

Fr. Peter D’Sa (OCD) son of late Charles and Lilly D’Sa joined the Carmelite Order in 1968 and was ordained in 1978. After serving in Mumbai, Goa, Hassan District and Mangalore, Fr. Peter is serving as a missionary in the Morogoro region in Tanzania in Africa. Fr. Ranjan D’Sa (OCD), son of late Benedict and Felcy D’Sa was ordained a priest in 2001. After serving in Madanthyar, Kota, Goa and USA  he is presently doing pastoral work in Canada.

Fr. John Baptist Mendonca

Fr. John Baptist Mendonca who had originally joined the Lucknow Diocese as a secular priest worked in many places such as Shantinagar in Gonda District and  Raniket in Almora District of Uttarakhand. Later he opted for the Bareilly Diocese and is presently the parish priest of Our Lady of Assumption Church and also works as the principal of Maria Assumpta Senior Secondary School at Kashipur. Fr. John Baptist Mendonca has completed fifty years of his life in June 2009 and celebrated the Silver Jubilee of his priesthood on 6th April 2010.

Among the religious women of the Sacred Heart II Ward, Sr. Ethel (AC), sister of Fr. Peter D’Sa  presently serves in Bangalore. Sr. Hilda Theresa D’Sa who had joined the congregation of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary(FMM)  in 1963 is the sister of William D’Sa (Willie Master). Prior to joining the religious order, she had worked as a teacher in the Church Aided Higher Primary School, Moodubelle for three years. Till 1996, Sr. Hilda served as a teacher in different schools in Karnataka. Presently, she is serving in Kollegal as social activist, helping the NGOs, doing Prison Ministry, marriage counselling and pastoral work.

 
Sr. Celestine Lobo   &      Sr. Hilda D’Sa

  
Sr. Marie Vera & Sr. Nirmala Alva

 
Sr.Rita Rose D’souza & Sr. Theresa Sequira

Sr. Rita Rose D’Souza (FMM), daughter of late Lawrence and late Florine D’Souza joined the congregation of Franciscan Missionaries of Mary in 1963. Presently she is serving in Amalagundi in Tumkuru District.  Sr. Marie Vera (BS) (Elizabeth), daughter of late Joseph and Josphine D’Souza joined the Bethany Convent in 1966. Before joining the convent she had been a teacher in Pamboor School (1956-1961) and Church Aided Higher Primary School, Moodubelle (1961-1966). After joining the convent, Sr. Marie Vera was sent to Germany for ten years (1973-1983) and Rome (1983-1987). Presently she is in the Bethany Convent in Bangalore.  Sr. Celestine Lobo (AC), daughter of late Salvador and late Sobina Lobo is presently serving in the Carmel Convent in 24 Paraganas in West Bengal. Sr. Nirmala Alva, daughter of late Robert and Theresa Alva is serving in St. Antony’s Convent at Nainital District of Uttaranchal. Sr. Theresa Sequeira (BS) of Kattingeri, daughter of late Antony and Sabina Sequeira and  sister-in-law of  Peter Raphael Aranha of the Sacred Heart II Ward works as Headmistress of Mukti Prakash High School at Neerude.

The Sacred Heart II ward is known for a number of teachers both retired and presently in service. Boniface Barboza (Benny Master) who had joined the Church Aided Higher Primary School in 1951 had been a popular teacher. In 1960 Benny Master was appointed as the Headmaster of the school. He retired  in 1990 after meritorious service of 30 years. After retirement also Benny Master had been  quite busy with in parish and social activities. He was the editor of the parish journal ‘Suvad’ for many years.  Benny Master married Eugene Teacher from Bajpe who had been teaching in the same school since 1960. Their son Conrad Francis, after completing M.Com and MBA is presently working in Houston, Texas in USA and is happily married.

Boniface Barboza

Louis D’Sa had been a teacher in the Shri Mahabhaleshwara Anudhanitha Higher Primary School, Edmeru for nearly fifty years and retired from the school in 1984. His wife, Theresa D’Sa had worked for 22 years in a school at Bantakal and 18 years in the Church Aided Higher Primary School, Moodubelle and retired from service in 1992. One of their sons, Alwyn D’Sa is a lecturer of English in St. Aloysius College, Mangalore and is presently doing research for Ph.D. degree in literature. His wife Kusum who has acquired Ph.D. degree in literature is also a lecturer in the same college.

Louis & Theresa D’sa

Alwyn & Kusum D’Sa

William D’Sa, younger brother of Louis D’Sa, popularly known as ‘Willie Master’ has worked as a teacher for a period of 40 years in the Church Aided Higher Primary School, Moodubelle and Lourdes Higher Primary School, Kanajar. For his service in motivating and supporting a physically challenged girl from Kanajar named Malini Bhandary to complete education up to graduation and helping her to get a job, the Karnataka Government has conferred on him the Rajya Prashasthi in December 2009. Willie Master had also helped a visually challenged boy named Udaya Nayak to develop his music skills by providing him  a flute and later a Cascio. While teaching in the Lourdes’ School in Kanajar Willie Master was asked by the education officer to provide training to teachers of the schools in the Karkala Taluka. Willie Master has been a member of the Lions Club of Moodubelle since its foundation and had held various positions in the organisation.

William D’sa

Willie Master is married to Rita and they have two sons and a daughter. Eldest son, Mark is working as Finance Manager in Toyota Motor Company at Miami, Florida (USA) and lives with his family there. Second son, Sunil Kumar is a Computer Professional and works in Bahrain. His wife Dr. Sunita is a Dentist. Daughter Prema works as secretary in a reputed company in Canada and her husband Vijay Danti is a Microbiologist.

Prof. Wilfred D’Souza

Prof. Wilfred D’Souza, son of late Lawrence and late Florine D’Souza had served as a lecturer and Head of the Department of Commerce in Milagres College, Kallianpur for 33 years. He had also served as NCC officer in the college. Prof. Wilfred started his own business known as ‘Wilson Industries’ in Udupi. He has been an active member of the Lions Club of Udupi and was the District Governor (District 324-D4) in 2005-06. He donated part of his land in Moodubelle for the construction of the Lions Seva Bhavan. Prof. Wilfred D’Souza has written a research book titled ‘History of the Mudarthas’ on the origin and spread of the Mudarthas from Goa to coastal Karnataka.

 
Peter Raphael Aranha & Preetham Roy Aranha

Peter Raphael Aranha, the present Headmaster of the Church Aided Higher Primary School had joined the school as a teacher in 1975. He became the Headmaster following the retirement of Benny Master in 1990. For his service in the field of education, Peter Raphael Aranha  was chosen as one of the Best Teachers at the District level in 1998, awarded as the Best Teacher at the Karnataka State in 2001 and  was given the highest teachers’ award in India, the Best Teacher National Award in 2002 which was conferred on him by A. P.J. Abdul Kalam, the then the President of India.

Besides his achievements in the educational field, Peter Raphael Aranha has active in parish and social fields. He was the Founder President of the Moodubelle unit of the Catholic Youth movement (YCM) now renamed as the Indian Catholic Youth Movement (ICYM). Presently, he is an active member of the St. Vincent De Paul Society and also its President for some time; one of the members of the governing body of the Ozanam Home for the Aged at Kallianpur that is run by the St. Vincent De Paul Society and editor of the Parish journal-‘Suvad’. 

Peter Raphael Aranha  is married to Leena Sequeira of Kattingeri, who is  also a teacher in the same school. They have two children. Elder daughter-Priya has done BSc in Nursing and teaches Nursing Course in Yenopayya Nursing School at Derlakatte in Mangalore and the younger son-Preetham has an engineering degree in Instrumentation. He is working for the Tata Consultancy Service (TCS) and is presently in the United States.

  
Mrs. Leena D’Sa & Pritish Burton D’Sa

Mrs. Leena D’Sa who has M.Sc and B.Ed. degrees to her credit has been serving  in St. Lawrence High School as the teacher in Mathematics and Science for the past 27 years. Among her two sons Naveen D’Sa is an engineer in Computer Science. The second son Pritish Burton D’Sa had served as the President of the Students’ Welfare Council of the prestigious MGM College, Udupi during its Diamond Jubilee Celebrations. Under his leadership many inter-collegiate, University and state-level competitions were successfully organised. During the college day celebrations he was awarded as the best outgoing student of the college in the commerce discipline for overall excellence. He is presently preparing for the C.A. examinations. He has already cleared first level of the C.A. examination and is preparing for the second level which will be held in November 2010.

Family of Mrs. Jacintha D’Souza

Alphonse and Shanti Alva

Family of Victor D’Souza

Victor D’Souza, younger brother of Prof. Wilfred D’Souza is the Chief Media Coordinator of Bellevision in Doha-Qatar. He has been working as the Project Coordinator in Almana Company in Doha since 25 years. Victor’s wife, Mrs. Connie D’Souza has been working in Oriental Insurance Company limited since 23 years. Their daughter, Carol is doing engineering course in St. Joseph’s Engineering College, Vamanjoor, Mangalore and is presently studying in the 7th semester. Their son Christopher D’Souza (Chris) is studying in 8th standard in St. Mary’s English Medium School, Udupi. He is a very talented young boy with interest in competitive examinations like the National Talent Search. He is a good organ player and is an integral part of the Church Choir.

  
Ivan Joseph Sequira & Ronson D’souza

  
Prabhat Louis Alva

Calisth & Gracy Alva

Ivan Joseph Sequeira, son of Lawrence and Carmin Sequeira is a System Analyst and Project Manager of Information Technology and Systems and works in Geneva, Switzerland. Ronson Stephen D’Souza is a Mechanical Engineer (BE) and works for Maxel Company in Dubai. Prabhat Louis Alva, son of late Robert and Theresa Alva has been working as a Captain in the Great Eastern Shipping Company.  Calisth Alva, son of Isac and late Christine Alva after helping his father in his business for many years started his own business of STD booth and taxi service in 1988. In 1998, Calisth started the telecommunication sales and service. He is being assisted by his wife Gracy Alva in running the business.

Visit of St. Lawrence to the Ward: It was on rainy Sunday, 18 July 2010 at 5 pm, the statue of  St. Lawrence that was brought in procession by the members of St. Thomas II ward was ceremoniously transferred by the Gurkar of that ward, Robert D’Souza to the Gurkarn of the Sacred Heart II Ward, Mrs. Jacintha D’Souza. Thereafter members of both the wards made their way holding umbrellas to protect themselves from rain and singing hymns in honour of St. Lawrence to the residence  of Mrs. Jacintha D’Souza above the Post Office where Fr. Joswey Fernandes installed the statue with prayers and blessed the house. Following snacks and coffee,  members of both the  wards dispersed. In the evening the neighbours recited Rosary at the residence of Mrs. Jacintha D’Souza.

On Monday, 19 July St. Lawrence visited the houses of Peter Raphael Aranha, Salvador D’Souza, Mrs. Hilda D’Souza, Mrs. Leena Lobo, Mr. Boniface Barboza and Victor Fernandes where the Saint rested. On Tuesday, 20 July the statue of St. Lawrence was taken to the residences of  Lawrence Fernandes, Mrs. Helen Lobo, Mathais D’Souza,  Mrs. Leena D’Sa, Lawrence Sequeira, Baptist Mendonca and finally to the residence of Alphonse Alva where the statue was kept for the night. On Wednesday, 21 July  the statue was taken to the houses of Mrs. Lilly Mendonca, Mrs. Anita Mendonca, Calisth Alva, Mrs. Ancilla Menezes, Mrs. Jacintha Machado, Louis D’Sa  and William D’Sa where the statue remained till the next day.

On Thursday, 22 July the statue of St. Lawrence was taken to the house of Thomas Lobo where  Fr. Lancy Saldanha offered Mass for the elderly and the sick members of the ward.  There were around 60 members who attended the Mass. Thomas Lobo and his wife Dulcin Lobo were felicitated by Fr. Lancy on completion of 57 years of their married life. On Friday, 23 July St. Lawrence visited the residences of Mrs. Cecilia D’Souza, Mrs. Christine D’Souza, Mrs. Eliza Saldanha and Robert Quadros where the saint remained for the night. On Saturday, 24 July, the statue of St. Lawrence was taken to the house of Mrs. Lilly Mathais and from there to the residence of Victor Cony D’Souza where preparation for the ward feast on the next day was made.

The Ward Feast: The ward feast was celebrated on Sunday, 25 July from 12 noon in a grand way at the residence of Victor Connie D’Souza. Fr. Joswey Fernandes presided over the programme. Fr. Lancy Saldanha, Sr. Vineetha and Henry Fernandes, Vice President of the parish Council  were the guests of honour. Other guests included Sr. Hilda, Gilbert D’Souza, member of the Belle Grama Panchayat, Robert D’souza, Gurkar of St. Thomas II Ward, Mr. and Mrs. Bernard D’Souza and some members from neighbouring wards.

The entire programme was anchored by Peter Raphael Aranha who acted as the Master of Ceremonies. Mrs. Jacintha D’Souza formally welcomed the guests and ward members. Fr. Joswey Fernandes conducted the prayer service following which tribute was paid to two elderly members of the ward who had passed way during the week when St. Lawrence was making his journey through the ward-late Mrs. Dulcin Mathais (101) who expired on 19 July 2010 and  late Mrs. Christine D’Souza (89) who passed away on 23 July 2010.

   
late Mrs. Dulcin Mathais &  late Mrs. Christine D’Souza

The Secretary of the ward, Mrs. Pushpa Fernandes read the report of the activities of the ward following which those couples of the ward who have completed fifty and more years of their marriage were honoured by Bernard D’Souza. These couples are: Thomas and Dulcin Lobo (honoured earlier on 22 July), Louis and Theresa D’Sa (Louis D’Sa could not attend due to ill-health), Baptist and Helen Mendonca.

William D’Sa, Peter Raphael Aranha and Pritish Burton D’Sa were felicitated by Fr. Joswey Fernandes for their achievements. In the absence of William D’Sa his wife Mrs. Rita D’Sa accepted the honour on his behalf. Fr. Lancy felicitated the youngsters who had achieved success in their final examinations-Gladson Loyed Alva who had scored 81 per cent marks in SSLC examination, Vinitha Mendonca who had passed the Second PUC Science examination, Brinal Machado who had secured distinction in Engineering in Computer Science and presently working in Bangalore, Renita D’Souza who will be completing BSc Nursing this year, Pritish D’Sa who has completed BCom from the MGM College and is presently doing CA course and Avinash Jason D’Souza who got distinction in BE Mechanical and presently studying for M Tech in MIT, Manipal.

Next, the past and present office bearers of the ward were honoured by Henry Fernandes-Alphonse Alva who was the Gurkar of the ward for ten years and present representative, Mrs. Gracy Alva, former representative and secretary, Mrs. Jacintha Machado, former secretary, Mrs. Jacintha D’Souza, present Gurkarn since ten years, Mathais D’Souza, present representative and Mrs. Pushpa Fernandes, present secretary of the ward.

In recognition of their service to the society in general, the Gurkarn of the ward, Mrs. Jacintha D’Souza felicitated Gilbert D’Souza, member of the Belle Grama Panchayat, Henry Fernandes, Vice President of the Parish Council, Sigfred D’Souza, the Web-master of Bellevision.Com who works in Dubai  and Dr. Eugene D’Souza, Media Co-ordinator in Moodubelle.

Sr. Vineetha, Superior of the Loreto Convent honoured Mrs. Connie D’Souza and her children, Carol and Christopher for their achievements and help and cooperation in organizing  the ward feast with the support of Victor D’Souza who is in Doha-Qatar and could not attend the programme. Mrs. Connie not only hosted the ward feast but also coordinated the preparation of the feast lunch. Carol had trained the children to dance and sing and Christopher had provided music for the programme.

Fr. Lancy, Henry Fernandes, Sr. Vineetha and Fr. Joswey in their messages appreciated the excellent preparation and conduct of the ward feast and complimented the members of the ward who were felicitated for their achievements and service.
Young boys and little children entertained the gathering by presenting two beautifully executed dances.  A group of children led by Carol sang a Mando song. Carol and a little boy also sang solo songs. There was also American housie game. Alphonse Alva proposed the vote of thanks and Fr. Joswey Fernandes recited the grace before the meal. The feast lunch was prepared by the members of the ward in a true spirit of cooperation and unity.

In the evening at 4 pm, the members of the Sacred Heart II Ward assembled at the residence of Victor Connie D’Souza from where the statue of St. Lawrence was taken in procession to the accompaniment of hymns and fire crackers. At 4.30 pm, the statue of St. Lawrence was transferred by Mrs. Jacintha D’Souza, Gurkarn of the Sacred Heart II Ward to the hands of  Jerome D’Souza, Gurkar of the Sacred Heart I Ward who had been waiting with the members of his ward at the bust stand of  Moodubelle. Sacred Heart I Ward is the last ward through which St. Lawrence will be making his journey during this week before returning to the Church on Saturday, 31July 2010.