A Double Celebration for the Cardoza Family in Saligrama

A celebration of the First Holy Communion of David, their son, and the blessing of their newly built house “Lourina.”

The New Year, 2009, is a year of blessings for many of us just as it is also for the family of Freeda and Derick Cardoza and their two beautiful children, Dephine and David. Monday, January 5, was an important day in the life of this family. First of all their beloved son, David, was all prepared and received his First Holy Communion at St. Anthony’s Church in Sastan where the family worships. Secondly, was the blessing and inauguration of their newly built home named after Derick’s mother “LOURINA”. I participated in the celebration of both of these events. It was a marvelous experience for me to see the faith, love and unity of the relatives and friends of this family. I will cherish this memory for a long time. Infact, Freeda Cardoza is related to me. She is my cousin as her maiden name was Andrade. Freeda now works in our ALLINA RELIGIOUS GIFT SHOP in Sastan. On this special occasion I wish them many happy and peaceful years in their new home and I also wish David a bright future. May he continue to hunger for the Lord when he receives Holy Communion just as when he received our Lord Jesus the first time in his life.

By Fr. Tony Andrade ( frandrade@aol.com) 12/02/2009

Nice web-site you are maintaining. Normally people have blogs to focus them and their achievements. I find variety of articles so often - about people, events and celebrations. Keep the good work on in future. I was surprised to know one more huge and beautiful temple Babbu Swamy - built in a place where already 365 temples existing. Its a very professional article, I enjoyed. My fellow Barkur classmate told about it, because I was bit away from reading this site. Thank you.

Vincent D'Souza, 12/02/2009

Dear Gretta,Evette,Nunilla,

My heartfelt condolences to hear the demise of your dear Mom Mrs Rita Picardo. May God give you all three and your family members to bear this loss and give courage, resilience and fortitude to bear this loss. I do agree no one can fill the void created by her untimely death. Only time will heal the wounds and sorrows. She was not only my neighbor but was leading light in our lives in childhood. My hats are off for her humble and kind nature. May her soul rest in peace.

With thoughts and prayers at this trying times,

Dr Derick D'souza and all family members in London and in in Mumbai,12/02/2009
 

Christening Ceremony

Nathan Mervyn Lewis
Son of Harold & Antonita Lewis Kemmannu / Muscat ,Held on 17th January 2009 at St Peter's Church, Barkur, and the Cradling ceremony on 18th January 2009

First came love
Then came marriage
Then came Nathan
In a baby carriage
Now's the time
To make it all complete
And we held the Christening
Of this child so sweet

With all best wishes,

Harold & Antonita Lewis, Edward Pais family - Barkur, Teresa Lewis family - Kemmannu, Roshan & Hendrita Almeida Sastan/Mumbai,Friends & Relatives,10/02/2009

Dear Gretta, Evette and Nunilla, accept our heartfelt condolences on the sad demise our your loving mother. We pray that may Lord Almighty grant you strength to bear this loss. May her soul rest in peace.

John & Joyce Gonsalves, Barkur/Muscat,10/02/2009

Dear Gretta, Evette & Nunilla, Please accept our heartfelt condolences on the sad demise of your beloved mother. May Almighty God grant you enough courage and strength to bear this great loss. May her soul rest in peace....

Noelyn Lewis (nee D'Souza)& fly. Abu Dhabi.08/02/2009

Dear Margret Evette and Nunilla. Kindly accept our heartfelt condolence on the sad demise of your beloved mother. With deep sympathies from

Jossie, Carol & Janice Bahrain.,UDUPI /BAHRAIN, 08/02/2009

Congratulations to the newly married couple, LAILA AND PRAVEEN

The newly married couple, Laila and Praveen with Rony and Fr. Tony

January 10, 2009 was a beautiful day in the life of Laila and Praveen. At the Church of St. Peter the Apostle in Barkur, this beautiful young couple tied their knot of love and humbly received the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony. I was there along with 3 other priests to celebrate their wedding. It was a beautiful ceremony and something I will remember always.

My brother Anthony Ronald, and I extend our sincere gratitude to Laila who worked with us almost 5 years. She was instrumental in establishing the ALLINA RELIGIOUS GIFT shop in Sastan. Today people of all religions and faiths can come anytime to this religious gift shop and purchase a gift for their loved ones.

On this special occasion of her marriage to Praveen I wish this wonderful couple the very best and a bright future. May God bless Laila and Praveen in a very special way and continue to bless the good work she began in the Allina Religious Gift Shop.

-Fr. Tony Andrade, frandrade@aol.com ,06/02/2009

Immigrant Barkurians in Bombay having an impressive history of more than a hundred years and it was in the year 1939; they organized themselves under one banner – St. Peter’s Barkurians Association, (SPBA) which was one of the oldest of its kind and very active till the year 1964.

Exodus of Young Barkurians to Middle East countries, in the following years compelled to keep the Association low profile, for almost two decades at dormant state.

It was the Ex-ICYM Members once again reactivated the Barkurian spirit when they formed St. Peter’s Catholic Youth Association Barkur – Mumbai (SPCYA) under the President ship of veteran Lawrence A. Sequeira in the year 1985. They carried out various public utility programmed both for native Barkur parish and its members in Mumbai for the next three – four years, including the sponsoring of ICYM’s historical three days Decennial celebrations in the year 1987.

Eventually the success story of Barkurian youth motivated senior Barkurians to join their hands to come together as giant St. Peter’s Association Barkur – Mumbai (SPA) on 17-04-1988.

Since then the Association is at the forefront to support any social cause on one hand and on the other supporting Konkani culture in Mumbai. Every year during Diwali Holidays – some mega event is must….. and thus far half a dozen Wilfy Nite’s, Henry Nite, Fr. Vaz Show, Kazara Upranth, Mhataro Chorbela, Mand Sobhann, Johnny Lever Nite etc. etc….just to mention few.

It created a history of its kind when SPA sponsored Parish Feast of Barkur Church in 2008 and perpetuate its memory now donated a Railway Shelter at Railway Station. It is appropriate to call back here that – it was SPA among others who worked hard to get Matsya Gandha – Konkan Railway train to halt at Barkur.

We take this opportunity to congratulate the SPA for their yeomen service, for last two decades and call upon the railway commuters to utilize this facility.

P. Archibald Furtado, Muscat ,03/02/2009

One of the finest and best article I ever seen in barkuronline.com  pages is the latest about new temple - rather renovated temple of Maldidevi and Babbuswami, from Archie's pen. Its amazing to note its deep roots at Barkur. However, thanks to you people for highlighting its past and related stories. Wonderful photographs pasted over there give more credence to the whole write-up, as it is rightly said one photograph reach 10 people while one article reach person. You people now made the site more cosmopolitan and include all sections of society - in one word BARKUR.

Further, its my request to write an article or ask for an review on CD released by Eric Soans  - of course prelude to its coming, by Archie a well written narrative, already there. Its a wonderful work need more attention. What you feel Kishore, James and Archie and all...? Few days back I came to know about this through Mithr weekly and my wife bought one - First I  was not knowing it was her native, Barkur - boys work!!

MM Alvares - alvaresmm@hotmail.com, 02/02/2009

Happy Birthday

Sydney John Lewis

Many many happy returns of the day and lots and lots of wishes for a very happy birthday. We miss you on this day.

With lots of love and wishes from

Mummy, Daddy, Shiney and Sunny, Bennekudru, Barkur, Also wishes from the Friends and relatives at Barkur and Mumbai, 31/01/2009.

Difference between the Old and the New Testaments.

A grumpy always unhappy and angry man asked me, “Give me one good reason why I should get married?”

“Have you read the Bible, especially the Old Testament and the New Testament?”

“What the Bible has got to do about getting married,” growled the agitated man.

“You see my friend, in the Old Testament, God was always angry, jealous, all fire and brimstone, and a God of vengeance, always fighting and waging wars.

However, in the New Testament God is all loving, caring, happy, and forgiving. Man, what a difference ‘laying’ baby Jesus in a manger makes.”

James Fernandes, USA, 31/01/2009

Welcome back Mr. Fernandes, I do, as  many others, like &    appreciate your inputs - which contain moral and truth.

I read somewhere that St.Peter’s Association, Mumbai donated a railway waiting stand at Barkur station, which is ready and mostly got inaugurated. Could you please update on this.All the best,

MM ALVARES - alvaresmm@hotmail.com - 31/01/09

Whenever I read your initials MM Alvares, I am reminded of the M&Ms. (sort of peppermints). These two twins got jobs as ‘Quality Control Supervisors’. Their job was to check at random the logo on these peppermints was whether printed properly. If the letters were incorrect, they could eat those peppermints.

These two girls went on eating every peppermint that rolled along the conveyer belt. When asked, “The logo reads W&W.” The owner said, “Get out of here, may be for a swim.” When they jumped in  the pool, there was a Tsunami, I believe.

The pool owner said, “Next time you come for a swim let me know in advance. I will fill the pool just about one third.”! It’s a good thing the twins were together. They could tie each one’s shoe laces!!

I was never late to National High School, Barkur, because the rickshaw did not show up!
Being a ‘village idiot’, I could not come up with anything intellectual. It was not easy for me to make a round bottom budkulo float mouth up while balpu fishing! It took years of study, trial and error, you know. Don’t mis-under-estimate my contribution.

Some label makers spread the stories: “Envelopes from Birthday functions, Communion Functions, Wedding functions, and even from Sunday collection” are missing. They even followed with hidden recording devices. God blessed them with maldisaavn for blasphemy. If you are upright and honest why you have to worry about label makers?

James Fernandes, USA, 28/01/09

This is to wish all the best to the forthcoming Children literary convention, (is today or tomorrow?) to be held at Barkur. I am very happy to read about Fr. Jpseph D’Souza, a great priest, a holy man in its true sense. Mr James keep the messages section lively with your inputs regularly..................

All the best,

MM Alvares 26/01/09

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEWLY WEDDED COUPLE
Darryl & Sabrina Madhura  01/07/2009

It's a love that'll Stay
It is a Bond that forever
Congratulation
to you on your wedding
and warm wishes
For a lifetime together!