To Mark the Parish day of St Sebastian Parish, Bendur, the organizing committee of the parish inaugurated various competitions at St Agnes High School Auditorium, here on October 7.
The programme began with an invocation. The convener of the Organizing committee Oswald Pais welcomed the gathering. The competitions were symbolically inaugurated by the Parish Priest of St Sebastian Church Bendur, Fr Antony Serrao by lighting the traditional lamp along with other dignitaries on the dais.
Addressing the gathering Fr Antony said that, when we meet someone or get together we feel happy. We all have a family and we live together and share our joy and sadness with the members. A church is a large family and we the parishioners are the members. We need to share our joy and sadness with other members during such occasions.
Further Fr Antony said, “It is a chance to exhibit our God given talents. We have the opportunity to take part in the church activities and we all should take part in it”. He also said that when we meet together our bond will be strengthened and we will come more closer, for that we need to change our mindset. To change our mindset we need the spirit of unity and the unity will make the Parish to grow more stronger.
Parents should encourage their children to take part in the various activities held in the parish. In the competitions sometimes there will be some misunderstandings and differences but we need to forget all that and keep the sportive spirit alive.
Flavia Pinto delivered the vote of thanks. Rashmi Peris compered the programme. Flower arrangements and drawing competitions were also held.
Parish festivals bring tons of opportunities for the parishners to gather together and celebrate the joy of unity within the family and the community.
We fully endorse the sentiments of Fr.Anthony on the importance of Parish festivals that will encourage parishners to come up with so many plans and programs that will be bring multitudes of benefits to everyone. The display of prayerful events followed by celebrations thru display of talents could automatically attract families to contribute their share and make the seasonal events enjoyable and also memorable.
Parish festivals also bring back so many past memories that will also remind us of so many family members and friends that are either not present in Mangalore or gone for their heavenly rewards. There are so many ways a parish can develop ideas that will encourage parishners come forward year after year and create new feelings of joy and peace.
Exchange of visits between family members, and also exchange of greetings from a distance can also trigger new opportunities to communicate with each other and not only renew friendship but also a chance to reconcile any differences one might have.
We therefore strongly recommend Annual gatherings at each parish whereby give chance to many parishners to host the occasions by giving opportunity for many parishners to come forward and create new committees with new ideas for change and progress.
Congrats to Organizing committee. Let children of our Parish may come out with their talents. All the best.