Pope Appoints Fr Henry D’Souza as Bishop of Bellary

Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Fr. Henry D’Souza, presently Executive Secretary of the CBCI Commission for Social Communications, New Delhi, as Bishop of Bellary Diocese in Karnataka.

The Ecclesiastical provision swas made public in Rome today at 12.00 Noon, corresponding to 4.30 PM, in India.

Cardinal Oswald Gracias, Vice president of CBCI and President of CCBI, announced the appointment at the CBCI Centre, New Delhi. Archbishop of Ddelhi Vincent Concessao and Archbishop of Hyderabad Marampudi Joji were among others were present at the occasion.

Fr Henry D’Souza, (58) has been the Executive Secretary of the CBCI Communications Commission for 7 years.Earlier, he served as the Secretary, Proclamation and Communication Commission of Karnataka Regional Bishops’ Council (1989-2000).

Fr D’Souza was Founder Director of SANDESHA Regional Institute of Communications (1989 –2000) and Director of Sandesha College of Fine Arts, Mangalore (1996-2000).Besides, he has been President of UNDA OCIC–India (Catholic Communicators’ Association), now Signis India (1986-1992) and Secretary, Signis - Asia (1989-1995).Also, he served as Secretary of Mangalore Christian Council (Ecumenical, 1984-1994), Vice President, DARSHAN Film Society, Mangalore (1995-2000) and Secretary, Association for Communal Harmony, Mangalore (1991-1995).

File Photo: ICYM Silver Jubilee Celebrations, Dec.2002

The very name of Rev Fr. Henry D’Souza, inspires thrill to Barkurians. Why not, historical St. Peter’s Church, Barkur is the only parish in the whole of Mangalore Diocese fortunate to have his services as Assistant Parish Priest – May 1976, soon he was ordained priest – till May 1978 when the legendary Late Rev Fr. Joseph D'Souza (Aab Padryaab) was the Parish Priest, and is known for his rapport with each and every parishioner in Barkur and knew all of them by name!

Secondly, it was Fr. Henry D’Souza who laid the foundation to the ever shining CYM of Barkur on 10th September 1976. It was Fr. Henry again, who was the spirit behind the forming of now famous St. Peter’s Association Barkur – Bombay in 1988. Once again it was Rev. Fr. Henry D’Souza who gave birth to ICYM Barkur Ex-Member’s Association Barkur in Dec. 2002. He still remembers Barkur very fondly and is in touch with ICYM, St.Peter's Association (Barkur) Mumbai and many Parishioners.

Twice Fr D’Souza was appointed Member, Syllabus Committee for Fine Arts by Mangalore University in 1998 and 1999.

The Press Council of India had appointed Fr D’Souza as an observer of print media in Karnataka during the Parliamentary Elections in 1997 and 1999.

Fr D’Souza has produced a number of dance dramas ballets such as NISARGA VIJAYA (Environment) - a ballet on environment in Kannada and NAVODAYA (Life of Christ) - a Kannada dance drama dedicated to YESU KRIST JAYANTI 2000.

Besides, he has edited and published titles on Church Communication, such as Catholic Communications in India.

The See of Bellary was vacant due to the passing away of Bishop Joseph D’Silva on Nov.17, 2006.

The Diocese of Bellary owes its initial growth to the Franciscan fathers, constituted as a Diocese in 1949 with John Forest Hogan, ofm, as the first Bishop.

The Diocese of Bellary now consists of the districts of Bellary, Raichur, Koppal and Davanagere all in Karnataka state.Bishop Hogan was succeeded by another great Franciscan Bishop Ambrose Yeddanapalli, ofm. Bishop Joseph D'Silva was appointed as the third Bishop of Bellary on October 27, 1992, by Pope John Paul II and took charge on March 9, 1993. He served the diocese with much dedication until his death.

On the occasion of the golden jubilee of the Diocese of Bellary and Yesu Krist Jayanthi-2000, a beautiful shrine of Mother Mary of Bellary cum Biblical Museum were built and dedicated.

The diocese has about 25,000 Catholics, 55 diocesan clergy and about 230 Religious men and women. Monsignor Mark Gonsalves from Halekody Barkur is the Vicar General of  Bellary Diocese.

Team barkuronline.com is proud to be associated with Fr.Henry and  take this opportunity to congratulate Fr.Henry D’Souza on this great occasion and pray for his good health and the Diocese and its people enrich with great divine qualities in him spiritually and materially in days to come.

Self Employment Induction Camp and On spot Employment Registration Drive

Self Employment Induction Camp and On spot Employment Registration Drive was organized  recently at Barkur jointly by Mogaveera Yuvaka Sangha, Bennekudru and ICYM Barkur at Srimathi Rukmini Shedthi Memorial National Government First Grade College, Barkur with the help of District Employment Exchange Office and District Industrial Development Board.

Rev.Fr.R.C.M. Aranha, Parish priest Barkur inaugurated the programme by lighting the lamp. Prof.C.Rajshekhar Hebbar, Principal, Srimathi Rukmini Shedthi Memorial National Government First Grade College, Barkur was the chief guest.

G.Narayana Raju, Koint Director, District Industrial Development Board , S.D.Basavaraju, Employment Officer, District Employment Exchange, Ramesh Moorthi, Industrial Development Officer, District Industrial Development Board were the resource person for the camp and drive. Dr. Manoj D’Lima, President, ICYM, Barkur, welcomed all the guests and participants of the camp and Sathish Amin, President, Mogaveera Yuvaka Sangha proposed the vote of thanks.

Many youngsters around Barkur were benefited from the camp and registered themselves with District Employment Exchange. 

News and Pics : Dr.Manoj D'Lima

Dr.Gabriel Fernandes receives yet another research grant.

Visitors of our site need no introduction to Dr.Gabriel Fernandes, a well known Research Scientist at the Department of Medicine at University of Texas in San Antonio, USA. He is featured as our personality of the month and he is a staunch supporter and sponsor of our site. His initiative of helping to graduate the needy rural students in and around Barkur through his Village to College Foundation is the best programme Barkur might have ever witnessed.

Recently we did a news item about the research grants received just to give our visitors a glimpse of achievements of Dr.Fernandes. So far he received the grants of about 12 Million Dollars and recently he is been awarded with yet another grant of $ 800000 from NIH. These NIH grants are difficult to get now a days and Dr.Fernandes attributes this success to the prayers of his sister, Sr.Concilia who passed away recently at Hyderabad and thankful to God for His kindness towards him, and says sometime we need to believe in miracles or others prayers.

He was in Barkur on a brief personal visit in the month of February and distributed scholarships to the students. About Rs.80,000 were distributed among 40 deserving students of Srimathi Rukmini Shedthi Memorial National Government First Grade College.

Same time Dr.Fernandes met the villagers of Moodadhdu and K.Jayaprakash Hegde, Ex-Minister and MLA along with Pro.Rajshekhar Hebbar, Principal, Srimathi Rukmini Shedthi Memorial National Government First Grade College,and discussed about the ways to improve the village. He expressed his interest in having a survey done on the life styles of the people in general and food habits in particular to know the effects on the health of the people.

At the same meeting the villagers have expressed a desire to have a road from the newly constructed Kudru bridge to the proposed Bennekudru-Kudru connecting bridge and Dr.Fernandes promised to pay Rs.2,00,000 as an initial amount to get the work started. Accordingly a Road Development Committee has been formed in the village comprising of the local villagers headed by Urban D’Souza and Wilfred Roche and  Pro. Rajshekhar Hebbar and Kishore Gonsalves as the honorary advisors. The ground work is expected to begin shortly on this project.

Team barkuronline.com wish Dr.Fernandes all the best in his future endeavors and wish there were more like him and B.Sudhakar Shetty  to make Barkur a much better place.

-Kishoo, Barkur.

Ward Day celebrated at Bennekudru

The Ward  Day of Bennekudru  was   celebrated  at the residence of Stanly  Lewis recently. Rev Fr  Remegeous  Aranha  Parish  Priest presided over the function. Vice President of the Pastoral Committee Harold D’Souza, Secretary Irene Pais, Superior of IHM convent Sr.  Lenny  were the chief guests. Dolphy D’Lima, Victor D’Souza,  Micheal D’Souza   and others from the other wards  were present at the occasion. 

The programme started with a prayer song by tiny tots.   Anitha Quadras welcomed the gathering.      Gretta Gonsalves read a passage from Bible and later asked few questions related to bible passage, Sharlet  Dias and Ivan Quadres were the winners of this quiz.

Harold D’Souza addressed the gathering  on  the importance of ward gathering. Later Shwetha Pinto gave a brief report about the events of the ward.

The elder members of the ward aged 75 years and above were felicitated with the flowers and memento.

Dalwyn  Dais who  won gold medal in 400 mts hurdles at State level  and 400 mts hurdles relay at National Level , and has been selected at National Level  Athletic  meet,   was felicitated with garland and flowers by Fr Remegeous Aranha. He is the second son of proud parents Donath and Mary Dais.

Walter Pinto , retired soldier of Indian National Army served for 17 years was felicitated with memento and garland.

The winners of various competitions like games, bible quiz etc, held at different gathering of ward were distributed with prizes by Harold D’Souza.

Sr Lenny gave away the prizes for all those who participated in preparing the Christmas cribs in their houses. Sydney John Lewis was the sponsor of the prizes.

A small entertainment programme was organized with dances  songs and skits  with participants  Carol Fernandes, Saritha Quadras and small kids was appreciated by all. Stany Lewis  thanked  the  main sponsors Veerendra and Jolvin Furtado, and thanked the gathering for their support and co operation. Thanks giving song was sung by  the children and programme came to an end with a light refreshments.

More News