Journey with St. Lawrence to the wards of Moodubelle Parish – XVIII (St. Peter II Ward)
Report by Dr. Eugene D’Souza, Moodubelle
Pictures by Anil Alva
Bellevision Media Network
18. ST. PETER II WARD
Moodubelle, 07 July 2010:
About the Ward: The picturesque St. Peter II Ward endowed with beauty of nature is surrounded by Kappandakarya Road to the south, Arbi River to the north, St. John the Baptist I ward towards the east and Arbi Road and the Holy Family Ward in the west. The regions within the ward include- part of Kappandakarya, Mulikambala, part of Arbi and Tantiguri. There are 30 families within St. Peter II Ward.
Edward Noronha (Gurkar)
Joyce-Mendonca & Marcel-Lobo (Representatives)
The Gurkar of St. Peter II Ward is Edward Noronha. He is the ex-officio member of the Parish Council and the Catholic Sabha. He is working as the second division clerk in the office of St. Lawrence Composite PU College. Edward Noronha is assisted by two Representatives: Marcel Lobo and Mrs. Joyce Mendonca.
There are five vocations in St. Peter II Ward, two priests-Fr. Gregory D’Souza and Fr. Sunilkumar D’Souza and three sisters-Sr. Aneena, Sr. Benigna and Sr. Viola, who serve the church in different places.
Sr.Viola
Fr.Gregory-D’Souza & Fr.Sunil-D’Souza
Fr. Gregory D’Souza, son of late Martin and Celestine D’Souza was born on 1st April 1946, and was ordained a priest on 8th December 1972. He is a missionary in the Diocese of Meerut in Uttar Pradesh. He has served as assistant priest as well as parish priest and manager in several parishes and schools of the diocese. He was also Diocesan Director of Social Work for ten years; Assistant executive Director of Caritas India for six years and Asian Representative Member of Peace at Rome-part of Caritas International Network for two years. Presently, Fr. Gregory is the Parish Priest as well as Manager of Senior Secondary School, Kheda, Pilakhuwa in Ghaziabad district in UP. Fr. Gregory has MA degree and Certificate in Social Work from Cody International Institute, Part of St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Canada, North America.
Another priest from St. Peter II Ward, Fr. Sunilkumar D’Souza, son of Gilbert and Leena D’Souza was born on 27th October 1975. Presently, he is the Parish Priest at Tannirbavi near Mangalore.
Two sisters of Fr. Gregory, Sr. Aneena and Sr. Benigna have been the members of the Bethany Sisters Congregation. Sr. Aneena is working in Bangalore and Sr. Benigna is presently serving at Gadag in Dharwad District. Sr. Viola (AC), daughter of Andrew and Rita Lobo presently teaches in St. Agnes College, Mangalore.
Akil Vijay D’Souza & Norman Castelino
St. Peter II Ward has a number of distinguished lay people who have made a mark in their academic pursuit and career building. Akil Vijay D’Souza, born on 24th October 1983 is the brother of Fr. Sunil D’Souza. He had secured 7th Rank in BSc in the Mangalore University. He is presently working for Teles Computer Systems in Bangalore. Norman Castelino, son of Francis and Pricilla Castelino has the distinction of being the top scorer in the SSLC examination in his batch in St. Lawrence High school, Moodubelle. After acquiring Engineering degree from St. Joseph’s Engineering College, Mangalore, Norman joined Infosys in Mangalore and is presently working for the same company in Texas in the United States.
Wilma Rodrigues & Veronica (Castelino) Alick
Mrs. Veronica (Castelino) Alick, aunt of Norman Castelino after completing her studies in Moodubelle moved to Delhi. After clearing the Staff Selection Commission’s Examination and the selection process, Veronica was appointed to the clerical post in the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) under the Ministry of Urban Development. Mrs. Veronica steadily rose in the office hierarchy over the period of 32 years and at present occupies the post of Superintendent in the Central Public Works Department. She is in the Circle Office in Presidential Estate at New Delhi. Her office is responsible for providing and maintaining all amenities to the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Mrs. Wilma Rodrigues is presently the Secretary of the Catholic Sabha. She is also the former President the Small Christian Communities (SCC) and Stree Sanghatana. She has been quite active in various activities of the ward.
One of the special features of St. Peter II Ward which has not been observed in other wards is that there are five pairs of identical twins. These twins are: Nevil Wilson and Noel Nelson D’Souza, sons of Gilbert and Leena D’Souza, born on 3rd December 1988. Nevil is studying in Third Year BCom in St. Mary’s College, Shirva and Noel is studying for Third Year BSc in MGM College, Udupi. Jevitha and Sunitha Lobo, daughters of Gilbert and Jacintha Lobo were born on 22nd March 1993. Both of them are studying in First Year BSC in Poorna Prajna College, Udupi. Jesmitha and Jessica Mendonca, daughters of Jerome and Joyce Mendonca were born on 9th March 2000. Both of them are studying in 6th standard in the Church Aided Higher Primary school, Moodubelle. Joyson and Jaison Mascarenhas, sons of John and Lilly Mascarenhas were born on 10th June 2001. Both brothers are studying in 4th standard in St. Lawrence English Medium School, Moodubelle. Blemisha and Anisha Crasta, daughters of Benedict and Anitha Crasta were born on 30th June 2004.
Visit of St. Lawrence to the Ward: On Sunday, 27th June 2010 at 5 pm the statue of St. Lawrence was received by Edward Noronha, Gurkar of St. Peter II Ward from Mrs. Gracy Rebello, Gurkarn of St. Peter I ward near the junction of Moodubelle-Kappandakarya Road and Moodubelle-Arbi Road. Thereafter members from both wards went in procession to the residence of Edward Noronha singing hymns in honour of St. Lawrence. Fr. Joswey Fernandes, who had accompanied the procession, recited the Centenary Prayer and blessed the house of the Gurkar and few neighbouring houses. The statue of St. Lawrence rested in the house of Edward Noronha for the Sunday night.
On Monday, 28th June from 3.30 pm, the statue of St. Lawrence was taken in procession to the residences of Andrew Lobo, Mrs. Emilia Noronha, Dominic Nazareth, Mrs. Faustine D’Souza and finally to the residence of Mark Mary D’Souza where evening prayers and Rosary were recited. For the night St. Lawrence stayed at the residence of Mark Mary D’Souza.
On Tuesday, 29th June from 3.30 pm, members of the ward met at the residence of Mark Mary D’Souza and went in procession to the houses of Mrs. Stella Mascarenhas, Robert Mascarenhas, Piad D’Mello, Mrs. Emilia D’Souza, Mrs. Magdalene D’Mello and Mrs. Rosy Rodrigues where prayers and Rosary were recited at 7 pm.
On Wednesday, 30th June, St. Lawrence paid his visit to the houses of Mrs. Cony Sarita Mendonca, Ronald Joyce Mendonca, Basil Severine D’Almeida, Mrs. Lucy D’Souza, Victor D’Almeida, Vincent Lobo and Francis Pricilla Castelino where the St. Lawrence rested for the night following prayers and Rosary.
The statue of St. Lawrence was taken on Thursday, 1st July to the residences of Mark, Mrs. Alice D’Souza, and thereafter to the house of Mrs. Eveline Menezes where Fr. Arun Mendonca offered holy Mass for the sick and elderly persons of the ward which was attended by nearly 70 persons.
On Friday, 2nd July from 3.30 pm, St. Lawrence made his journey through the houses of Mrs. Mary Menezes, Andrew Lobo, Marcel Lobo, Gilbert D’Souza, David Hilda Fernandes and Basil D’Souza where the daily routine of prayers and Rosary were followed.
On Saturday, 3rd July at 5 pm, the statue of St. Lawrence went to the residence of Mrs. Celestine Sequeira where St. Lawrence took rest for the night. In the night from around 8 pm, the ward members met at the residence of Dominic Nazareth for preparing meal for the ward feast on the next day. There was a lot of enthusiasm among the members in preparing for the ward feast.
Ward Feast: The ward feast was celebrated on Sunday, 4th July 2010 at 12 noon at the residence of Lawrence D’Souza. Besides the ward members who had gathered in large numbers, the guests included- Fr. Joswey Fernandes, Fr. Paul Sequeira, Fr. Lancy Saldanha, Henry Fernandes and Mrs. Meera Lobo, President and Secretary of the Parish Council respectively and also Gurkar and Gurkarns from the neighbouring wards-Charles Quadros, Mrs. Gladys Rebello, Mrs. Gracy Rebello and Ms. Theresa Lobo.
The Ward Feast programme was efficiently compeered by Cyprian Castelino. Fr. Paul Sequeira conducted the prayer service following which there was a welcome dance performed by the twin sisters-Jesmitha and Jessica Mendonca. Mrs. Wilma Rodrigues formally welcomed the guests who were offered roses.
Five of the elderly persons of St. Peter II Ward were honoured by Fr. Joswey Fernandes. These five persons are: Andrew Lobo (94), his wife Mrs. Dulcin Lobo (82), Vincent Lobo (80), Basil D’Almeida (79) and Mrs. Emilia D’Souza (78).
Speaking at this occasion, Fr. Joswey expressed happiness at the progress of the journey of St. Lawrence through the majority of the wards of the parish and said that this journey of the saint has infused a new spiritual life and a sense of cooperation among the people of various wards. This spiritual exercise will definitely help in building a strong parish community united in one spirit and cooperation.
Fr. Paul Sequeira felicitated three students for their achievement in PUC and SSLC examinations. These are: Jevitha and Sunitha Lobo (PUC) and Royline Rodrigues (SSLC). In his message, Fr. Paul wished the ward members a warm and fulfilling feast and said that coming few days after the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, the ward feast on the occasion of the visit of St. Lawrence to their ward has a special significance.
Francis Castelino, Marcel Lobo and Mrs. Carmine Menezes were honoured by Fr. Lancy Saldanha for their social work in the ward. Fr. Lancy also complimented the ward members on their feast day.
Mrs. Veronica D’Souza, who led the Moodubelle Parish team in ‘Vovyo’ competition held at the Udupi Varado that had won the first position, was felicitated by Henry Fernandes. Mrs. Veronica has been an expert ‘vovyo’ singer which has enabled to keep alive the age old tradition of ‘vovyo’ in the ward.
Edward Noronha proposed the vote of thanks. There were few games for entertainment, a group song and a hilarious skit performed by the youth of the ward led by Nevil D’Souza. Fr. Lancy recited the grace before the meal followed by lunch prepared jointly by the members of the ward under the leadership of Dominic Nazareth.
In the evening at around 4.45 pm, the members of the Holy Family Ward under the leadership of Gurkar Charles Quadros assembled near the residence of Louis Fernandes to receive St. Lawrence from St. Peter II Ward. At 5 pm, the members of St. Peter II Ward brought St. Lawrence in procession and in the presence of Fr. Joswey Fernandes and to the accompaniment of the sound of fire crackers, Edward Noronha, the Gurkar of St. Peter II Ward transferred the statue of St. Lawrence to Charles Quadros and members of both the wards went in procession singing hymns to the residence of Charles Quadros.