Margaret Alva to launch Catholic Association of South Kanara centenary celebrations

 

Mangalore, 18 Sep 2013: Centenary year celebration of Catholic Association of South Kanara (CASK), oldest Catholic Lay organization in South India will get underway here on September 22. CASK has drawn up plans to take up six programmes to mark centenary year celebration including owning an office premises, publishing a book on 100-year history of CASK and Mangalorean Catholic community, and hold personality development programme for school students.

 

Derek Lobo, president of CASK told reporters here that the association was set up in July 1914 by then Bishop Paul Perini. CASK publishes a monthly magazine titled "Mangalore" since July 1927 — one of the oldest monthly magazine in India with credit of uninterrupted publication for 87 years. Over the last 100 years, CASK has worked towards fulfilling the objectives that includes promoting educational, economic, cultural, social and general welfare of the community.

 

The association has rendered assistance to underprivileged and vulnerable groups of society, irrespective of religion, caste, creed or any other distinction; supported publication of books, periodicals, and other literature authored by community members and also support preservation of Konkani language, literature, culture, heritage, arts, architecture, music and fine arts; and act as the voice of the community in upholding its rights and privileges.

 

The association has also interacted; networked and functioned as a link to unite community spread across India and abroad. As of date, CASK has about 900 members and about 1,200 members of the community who subscribe to ’Mangalore’ magazine. Margaret Alva, governor of Rajasthan will launch the centenary celebration. Reverend Aloysius Paul D’Souza, Bishop of Mangalore and patron of CASK will preside over the centenary celebration launch.