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Udupi : Catholic Sabha Udupi Pradesh and John D’Silva Foundation, Mumbai jointly organized  Felicitation Function  on Sunday, 6 September 2015 at Mount Rosary Millennium Hall, Santhekatte, Kallianpur, to honour one student from each parish of Udupi Diocese who had scored highest marks in SSLC  in the examinations held in March/April 2015 and also one student from each Deanery in CBSE and PUC-Arts, Commerce and Science examinations held in March/April 2015 and a get together of Catholic students who secured distinction marks in SSLC examination.

The Felicitation function was presided over by Most Rev. Dr. Gerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop of Udupi. Mr. Anthony Maria Emmanuel, Joint Director of Agriculture, Udupi District was the chief guest who delivered the Keynote address. Other dignitaries on the dais included Rev. Fr. Ferdinand Gonsalves, Spiritual Director, Catholic Sabha, Udupi Pradesh. Mr. John D’Silva, Chairman, John D’Silva Foundation, Mrs. Gladys D’Silva, Re. Fr. Philip Neri Aranha, Parish Priest of Mount Rosary Church, Kallianpur, Mr. Elroy Kiran Crasto, Immediate Past President of Catholic Sabha, Udupi Pradesh, Mr. William Machado, President of Catholic Sabha, Udupi Pradesh, Mrs. Alice Rodrigues, Secretary of Catholic Sabha, Udupi Pradesh, Mr. Hubert Lewis, President of Catholic Sabha, Kallianpur Deanery and Mr. Santosh Cornelio, President of Catholic Sabha, Mount Rosary Unit.

The function began by welcome dance by the Mount Rosary school students. Following the welcome address by William Machado, Most Rev. Dr. Gerald Isaac Lobo inaugurated the programme by unfurling the ‘Pingara’.

Most Rev. Dr. Gerald Isaac Lobo honoured those students who had scored distinction marks in SSLC from each deaneries of the diocese. In his keynote address, Mr. Anthony Maria Emmanuel while complimenting the meritorious students for their stellar achievement said that the teachers and parents have been greatly responsible for their success and they should make it a point to improve on their success. Consistency in their efforts is necessary to achieve greater heights in future as well. Such an attempt would no doubt lead to some kind of stress. Little stress is necessary to achieve, but too much of stress might lead to breakdown which is unhealthy. Further, Mr. Anthony said that besides aiming at engineering and medicine, students should think of other avenues in which they can make their own mark. He emphasized on the need for the Christian students to enter the civil service and pointed out how one can prepare himself or herself for such competitive examinations.

Mr and Mrs John D’Silva and the Bishop felicitated the students  from each parish of the diocese who had scored highest marks in SSLC and one student from each Varado who had scored highest marks in CBSE and PUC (Arts, Commerce and Science) along with their parents by offering them medal, certificate, cash prize and flowers. Three students from three Varados-Kallianpur, Kundapur and Shirva representing the meritorious students who were felicitated expressed their feelings. They thanked Catholic Sabha, Udupi Pradesh and John D’Silva Foundation for recognizing and honouring them. They said that they would keep up their efforts and achieve better results in their future studies as well.

Rev. Fr. Ferdinand Gonsalves traced the origin and growth of Catholic Sabha since 37 years in undivided Mangalore Diocese and since 3 years in the newly formed Udupi Diocese and its role in socio-political field. On this occasion, Mr and Mrs. John D’Silva were honoured by the Bishop and dignitaries by offering them shawl, huge garland and fruit tray.In his message, Mr. John D’Silva narrated the reason behind the establishment of John D’Silva Foundation and its contribution in promoting education among the Christian students of the Udupi Diocese.

Most Rev. Dr. Gerald Isaac Lobo thanked Mr. John D’Silva for his generosity and prayed for Divine Blessings on him and his wife who had just celebrated the Golden Jubilee of the marriage.  The Bishop complemented the students for their achievements especially Anil Pinto of Hirgan who secured 622 marks out of a total of 625 and stood first in Udupi and Mangalore Districts and secured second rank in the state of Karnataka. Meanwhile,  the Bishop pointed out that  while many students get distinction marks at SSLC, in PUC  few students hold on to their distinction marks.  Further he lamented that he could find hardly any Catholic student in the list of those students who clear CET or any other qualifying competitive examinations. He asked the students to have dreams like the late President APJ Abdul Kalam and work hard to achieve their dreams. He said that he himself has a dream for the Udupi Diocese that in ten years at least 25 Catholic youth should enter civil military service.

Mrs. Alice Rodrigues Secretary of Catholic Sabha, Udupi Pradesh proposed the vote of thanks.