By Shekar Ajekar
Moodbidri, Sep 14: “The nation, faced with rampant corruption and inefficiency will have no better future”, said Fr Austin Peres, parish priest,Corpus Christi Church, Moodbidri Town, and deanery vicar vara.
Fr Peres was speaking after inaugurating the Moodbidri deanery unit of International Federation of Karnataka Christian Association (IFKCA), on Sunday September 12.
He called upon the gathering to extend support to the members of IFKCA in addressing the grievances of common folks.
IFKCA president and NRI entrepreneur Ronald Colaco presided over the programme. Pastor Thomas Bhagyan of CSI church, Alangar, was the chief guest on the occasion.
“We are fortunate to be born in India. I feel like a second class citizen when I live abroad. However, that is not the case in my home,’ said country”, said Colaco.
He further said that the need for a united Christian front was necessary due to a few communal outfits in the country which are targeting the Christian community.
Colaco stressed that although Christians account for a fraction of the total population of India, the community has contributed significantly to nation building over many centuries. “If the Christians were to be involved in conversion, their number would have been greater”, he stressed.
“Terrorism from other nations can be effectively curbed but it’s difficult to curb the internal turmoil caused by communal forces”, emphasized Colaco.
Speaking on the occasion, Pastor Thomas said that Christianity in India is as old as the Apostles of Jesus Christ. “It is St Thomas, the Apostle who brought the good news of Christianity to India in the first century AD”, he said.
Pastor Thomas further said that it’s erroneous to interpret the statement ‘We will conquer India’ as conversion. “Its true meaning lies in earning the love of countrymen with Christian values and brotherhood”, he said.
IFKCA secretary Michael Baptist, convener Denis D’Silva, Felix D’Souza Taccode, Ronald Serrao, and Moodbidri unit president Wilfred Mendonca were present on the dais.
Wilfred Mendonca welcomed the gathering while secretary Rexon Miranda proposed the vote of thanks. Norbert Pereira and Andrew D’Souza compered the programme.
FOR MORE PHOTOS: CLICK PHOTOGALLERY
