ICYM Udupi Unit Celebrates Annual Day

Report and Pictures by Anil Alva
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi, 27 April 2010: The Udupi Unit of the Indian Catholic Youth Movement (ICYM) celebrated the annual day in the evening of Sunday, 25th April 2010. During this occasion, the ICYM had organised a cultural evening. The parish priest of Our Lady of Sorrows, Rev. Fr. Mathew Vaz presided over the programme. The chief guest of the function was the Episcopal Vicar of Udupi District, Rev. Dr. Baptist Menezes. Other guests of honour included Dr. Gerald Pinto, Head of the Department of Physics in the Milagres College and also a prominent writer in Konkani under the pen name ‘Jery Niddodi’, Miss Saritha Mendonca, president of ICYM Udupi Varado, Mr. Arvin Alva, vice president of the parish pastoral council.

The cultural programme was started with prayer song followed by welcome dance. Following these preliminaries, Nitin D’Souza, president and Vinita Saldanha, secretary of ICYM, Udupi Unit conducted the president, chief guest and guests of honour to the stage. Nitin D’Souza welcomed the guests and all the people those who were attending the cultural programme organised by the ICYM.

Secretary of the ICYM, Udupi Unit presented the annual report of the various activities conducted by the ICYM during 2009-10. Dr. Gerald Pinto distributed prizes to the winners of various sporting events that were conducted by the ICYM on Sunday, 18th April 2010. Addressing the youth, Dr. Gerald Pinto appreciated the good work that is being done by the ICYM in various fields of activity.

The Episcopal Vicar of the Udupi District, Rev. Dr. Baptist Menezes gave away prizes to the winners of parish teams who had won the tournaments in Cricket, Volleyball and Throw ball. In his speech, Dr. Baptist Menezes congratulated the winners of the various team competitions and encouraged the ICYM to carry on the good work that they have been doing in the parish.

One of the important programme of the function was felicitation of Miss Manisha D’Souza for her achievement at the state and national level competitions in Shuttle Badminton. The 9th standard student of St. Mary’s English School, Udupi, Manisha is being recognised as the national level Badminton player. She has been winning a number of medals in various competitions held in different parts of the state and country. Besides being an accomplished Badminton player, Manisha is also proficient in music, elocution and also in studies. Rev. Fr. Mathew Vaz felicitated Manisha by placing the shawl on her shoulders and Dr. Baptist Menezes offered her memento.

In his presidential message to the ICYM, Rev. Fr. Mathew Vaz said that in any organization, the youth are always ahead. It is important that youth should take a leading part in social and political activities. The youth are like the pillar of the society and the parents have greater responsibility in shaping the future of the youth who in turn will shape the future of our society and the nation.

Following the end of the stage programme, the animator of the ICYM, Udupi Unit, mr. Alphonse D’Costa, Headmaster of St. Mary’s English School proposed the vote of thanks. As part of the entertainment programme the ICYM members presented a play named “End Point.”