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The Lions Club, Moodubelle celebrated its Silver Jubilee with grandeur and splendour on Thursday, 15 December 2022. It was exactly 25 years ago that the Lions Club, Moodubelle was established by 32 members on 15 December 1997. Out of these 32 Charter Members, Ln. Commodore Jerome Castelino, retired Indian navy Officer and the chief promoter of the  Lions Club, Moodubelle was the Charter President and Ln. Devadas Hebbar was the Charter Secretary. It is the matter of great honour that the same Charter Office bearers are the President and Secretary after 25 years under whose leadership the Silver Jubilee of the club is being celebrated. Within five years of its existence, the Lions Club, Moodubelle constructed its own building”Lions Seva Bhavan” to carry out meetings and service activities.

The grand Silver Jubilee celebration commenced at 5.45 pm on Thursday, 15 December 2022 when the VIPs-District Governor, Ln. M.K. Bhat, Chief Guests-Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo and Ln. Austin Prabhu, Candidate for International Director, First VDG-Ln. Nery Cornelio and Region Chairman-Ln. Elias D’Souza were taken in procession from the church premises to the Lions Seva Bhavan accompanied by 6 Bullet Bikes driven by Peta-worn Lion Members and a jeep. At the main entrance at the junction, the VIPs were greeted by  President Ln. Commodore Jerome Castelino, Secretary-Ln. Devadas Hebbar, Treasurer-Ln. Elias Lobo and other members of the club as  little girls offered flower bouquets to the VIPs and the band by the Manasa students played melodious tunes.

On entering the premises of the Lions Seva Bhavan, the District Governor Ln. M.K. Bhat inaugurated the major service project, namely, a 40 seater School Bus, costing Rs. 20 lakhs, donated by the Lions Club, Moodubelle in  memory of its Silver Jubilee to St. Lawrence Educational Institutions.   Following a brief prayer service, Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo blessed the School Bus. Thereafter, Ln. Commodore Jerome castelino presented the School Bus to the Correspondent of St. Lawrence Educational Institutions, Rev. Fr. George D’Souza by handing over the bus key to him.

The formal Silver Jubilee Celebration programme was held inside the Lions Seva Bhavan. Following the welcome dance presented by the students of St. Lawrence English medium School, the dignitaries paid homage to four Past District Governors (PDGs)-G.Naganur, Dr. H.V. Shivashankara, Prof. Wilfred D’Souza and H.P. Basavarajappa. They also paid homage to four departed Charter Lion Members of the Lions Club, Moodubelle-Benedict Martis, Boniface Barboza, Peter Raphael Aranha and William D’Sa. Thereafter, the dignitaries occupied their seats on the dais.

Following the prayer and welcome address by Ln. Commodore Jerome Castelino, Ln. Dr. Austin Prabhu formally inaugurated the Silver Jubilee celebration by lighting the lamp along with other dignitaries on the dais.

Ln. Devadas Hebbar, Secretary of the Lions Club, Moodubelle presented the report of the progress and various service activities of the4 Lions Club, Moodubelle during the past 25 years with the help of audio visual effectively edited by Ln. Ivan Menezes.

The Presidents of the Lions Club, Moodubelel during the past 25 years were felicitated by Governor, Ln. M.K. Bhat.

Speaking on this occasion, the District Governor, Ln. M.K. Bhat said that he was happy to be part of the Silver Jubilee celebration of the Lions Club, Moodubelle. He further said that he was glad to inaugurate the School Bus donated by the Lions Club, Moodubelle to St. Lawrence Educational Institutions on the occasion of the Silver Jubilee celebration.

The Past District Governors (PDGs) during the last 25 years of the existence of the Lions Club, Moodubelle were honoured by Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo.

In his response for the honour, on behalf of the PDGs, Ln. Jayakar Shetty Indrali said that he appreciated the gesture of the Lions Club, Moodubelle for honouring the PDGs on the occasion of the Silver Jubilee celebration.

Following the Silver Jubilee celebration song presented by the students of St. Lawrence English Medium School, in his message, Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo pointed out that those who are concerned with the needs and miseries  of the people and those who come together to alleviate the pain and sufferings of the people are closer to God. The Lions Clubs have been doing the same as is evident form the fac that the lions Club, Moodubelle that was established 25 years ago has been in the forefront of the service activities. Speaking about the forthcoming  Christmas celebration, the Bishop said that there is a lot of similarity between the message of Christmas and the work that is being sone by the Lions Clubs.

Next, Ln. Dr. Austin Prabhu was honoured by the Bishop and other dignitaries on the dais. Ln. Dr. Eugene D’Souza introduced Ln. Dr. Austin Prabhu. Born on August 8, 1950, in Nanthur, Mangalore, Ln. Dr. Austin Prabhu joined Lionism in the year 1979 by becoming a member of the Lions Club of Padil-Mangalore. After his marriage to Terry, he migrated to the USA and continued his Lion Membership in  Chicago Damayan Lions Club in which he held all the official posts including the  Presidency in 1992-1993. He was the  Charter President, of the Broadview Kala Sampath Lions Club from 1996-1998. He has been an outstanding leader throughout his 43 years of Lionism breaking a number of Lions Records including becoming Governor of District 1A twice.

His commitment to the principles of Lionism and to the service of those less fortunate makes him a great leader in Multiple District1. He received numerous awards. Ln Dr. Austin was honoured by the then President of India, Mrs. Pratibha Patil.  His humanitarian service in Lionism was also appreciated and recognized by Dharmadhikari of Dharmasthala Shri Virendra Hegde.. He was conferred with the Life Time Community Volunteer Service Award by President George W. Bush. He had an opportunity to meet and interact with Mother Teresa.

Ln. Dr. Ausstin Prabhu has been a resident of the Forest Park since 1981. In recognition of his humanitarian service to the community in the Forest Park, the Mayor of Forest Park named Des Plaines Avenue from Harrison to York as ‘Honorary Dr. Austin Prabhu Way’ in 2018.

Ln. Terry whom he married 37 years ago has been an outstanding lion member becoming the Governor of District 1A. They are blessed with four children and all of them including sons-in-law and daughters-in-law are Lion members.

Lion Dr Austin has been a writer, actor, public speaker, publisher, and a true leader with multi skills, knowledge, and experience. Before immigrating to the USA, he edited and published four local news magazines in Konkani- Mithr, Jhelo, Kannik and Yuvak. Presently he edits and publishes online weekly E-magazine “Veez Konkani’ in four scripts: Kannada, Devnagari, Malayalam and English and “Veez Illustrated English Weekly”. He is also the editor of  Illinois Lion & Leo State Magazine for the State of Illinois, and Governor’s Newsletter for District 1A.

In his address in Kannada language Ln. Dr. Austin Prabhu said that where there is a need there is a Lion. He narrated the good work that is being done by the Lions Clubs International throughout the world. He said that there are poor people all over the world who require help in various ways. The Lions Clubs all over the world do their best to bring joy and happiness by providing them necessary financial and moral support. He congratulated the Lions Club, Moodubelle for having completed 25 years of community service.

The Souvenir of the Silver Jubilee Celebration titled “Rajata Spandana’ edited by Ln. Dr. Eugene D’Souza was released by Ln. Elias D’Souza-Region Chairman of Region V.

The felicitation messages   were given by the First Vice District Governor Ln. Dr. Nery Cornelio, and PDGs  H.S. Manjappa and Ravindranath

Ln. Commodore Jerome Castelino presented mementos to the dignitaries on the dais and acknowledged the presence of other important personalities in the audience.  This was followed by the Thanksgiving Dance presented by the students of St. Lawrence English Medium School. Rev. Fr. Clement Mascarenhas, former Parish Priest of St. Lawrence Church, Moodubelle and presently the Parish Priest of Christ the King Church, Karkala Town had composed the prayer and Silver Jubilee Celebration Songs as well as songs for the Welcome and Thanksgiving Dances. The students of St. Lawrence English medium School were trained by Mrs. Maria Barboza.

Ln. Lavina Noronha proposed the vote of thanks and Mrs. Sarita Alva compered the programme.