Moodubelle: New Parish Pastoral Council constituted

By Eugene Moodubelle and Anil Alva
Bellevision Media Network

Moodubelle, 27 February 2011: The new Parish Pastoral Council of St. Lawrence Parish, Moodubelle was formally constituted by taking the oath of office by the newly elected office bearers and members  on Sunday, 27th February 2011 during the 7.30 am mass. The newly elected Vice President of the Parish Pastoral Council, Mr. Alphonse K. Alva and the Secretary, Mrs. Jacinta D’Souza, the members of the Finance Committee and all the other members took the oath of office soon after the homily. Thereafter, the outgoing Vice President, Mr. Henry Fernandes symbolically transferred his responsibility to the newly elected Vice President, Mr. Alphonse K. Alva, so also the outgoing Secretary, Mrs. Meera Lobo transferred her responsibility to the newly elected Secretary, Mrs. Jacinta D’Souza.

 

  
Mr. Alphonse K. Alva and Mrs. Jacinta D’Souza 

 

Earlier, on Wednesday, 16th February 2011 at 3.30 pm, elections were conducted  for the new Vice President, Secretary and members of the Finance Committee in  the meeting of the Gurkars, representatives and other constituent members of the Parish Pastoral Council. In these  elections, Mr. Alphonse K. Alva   and Mrs. Jacinta D’Souza were elected as the Vice President and Secretary respectively. The members also elected six Finance Committee members: Benedict Martis, Meera Lobo, Henry Fernandes, Albert Martis, Wilma Rodrigues and  Gladys Rebello.

 

The newly constituted Parish Pastoral Council comprises of the parish priest who is the President and the three other resident priests (4), Superior of the Loreto convent (1), Superior of   Assisi Nilaya (1), Presidents of SSVP, Catholic Sabha, Tertiary Order, ICYM, YCS, Stree Sanghatana, SCC, etc. (15), Gurkars (23), Ward Representative (45), Nominated by the Parish Priest (12), Representative of Parish Educational Institutions (1), and Honorary members (2), making a total of  104 members.

 

 

Following the completion of two terms as the Gurkars, new Gurkars were elected in 10 wards out of 23 wards. Whereas in 13 wards the previous Gurkars are being continued for a second term. The 10 new Gurkars are: Abraham Fernandes (Holy family Ward), Paul Mathias (Fatima Ward), Emilia Noronha (St. Anne II Ward), Gerald D’Souza (St. Roque I Ward), Benedicta Castelino (St. Paul I Ward), Sobina Martis (St. Francis Xavier II Ward), Alphonse K. Alva (Sacred Heart II Ward), Jacinta Mathais (St. Teresa Ward), Stany D’Souza (St. Thomas I Ward) and Teresa Alva (St. Thomas II Ward).

  

 
Mr. Henry Fernandes and Mrs. Meera Lobo

 

As it was felt that St. Thomas I Ward had around 50 houses and was considered to be quite large to manage, there had been a demand to bifurcate the ward.  Following a meeting of the ward members held at the residence of Anita Alva, Gurkarn of St. Thomas I Ward on 6th February 2011 presided over by Fr. Joswey Fernandes, the parish priest, it was unanimously decided to bifurcate the ward into two and the new ward was named as St. Lawrence Ward increasing the total number of wards from 22 to 23. While Anita Alva took the responsibility as the Gurkarn of St. Lawrence Ward, Stany D’Souza  was elected as the Gurkar of St. Thomas I Ward.