Media Release

Mangaluru, Nov 5: St Sebastian Church, Bendur, celebrated Catechism Teachers' Day in honour of their patron, St Charles Borromeo on November 3. The event began with a Thanksgiving Mass celebrated by Fr Vivek Pinto, the catechism assistant director, who delivered an inspiring homily highlighting the invaluable role of catechism teachers in nurturing faith and guiding the young on their spiritual journey.

Following the Mass, a felicitation programme was held in the Community Hall. The ceremony saw the esteemed presence of Fr Walter D'Souza, the parish vicar, Fr Vivek Pinto, Catechism assistant director, Fr Lawrence Cutinha, assistant parish priest, Vinod D'Souza, vice president of the Parish Pastoral Council and Marcine Pereira, Catechism coordinator, seated on the dais.

The programme opened with a warm welcome address by Joswin Pinto, the president of the Catholic Action League (CAL). The children’s choir delighted the teachers with a special song composed by Fr Walter D’Souza to honour the teachers. Representing the parents, Sybil Lewis delivered a heartfelt speech, expressing gratitude to the catechism teachers for their dedication. Philomena Moras, a catechism teacher, shared her own reflections, expressing appreciation for the celebration and the camaraderie among the catechism team.

Fr Vivek Pinto, the Catechism coordinator, addressed the gathering with an encouraging message, emphasizing the significance of catechism and the lasting impact teachers have on the faith journey of their students. As a token of gratitude, Fr Walter D’Souza, the vicar, presented each teacher with a gift, acknowledging their selfless service to the parish community. In his message, Fr Walter praised the teachers commitment and thanked them for their contribution, underscoring the importance of fostering strong faith foundations in the youth.

The celebration also included fun games for the teachers, with prizes awarded to the winners, adding an element of joy and fellowship to the occasion. The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Vinod D’Souza, PPC vice president, who acknowledged the efforts of all involved in making the celebration a memorable one.

Sr Shubha, superior of the Mother House, skilfully anchored the programme as the master of ceremonies. Breakfast was served to all attendees, marking a joyful and fulfilling celebration of Catechism Teachers' Day.