Ronald Colaco inaugurates Mangalore office of IFKCA
Pics: Stanley Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore
Mangalore, Apr 22: The Mangalore office of International Federation of Karnataka Christian Associations (IKKCA) was inaugurated on Sunday April 21 by NRI entrepreneur and philanthrophist Ronald Colaco who is also the founder President of IFKCA. The office located at Link Campus in Bajal, was formally blessed by Rev Fr Cyril Pinto, Parish Priest of Holy Spirit Church, Bajal.
In his inaugural address Ronald Colaco explained the aims and objectives of IFKCA and the reasons that prompted the need to start such an organization. Colaco said that though Christians who form only 2.5 percent of the population have contributed immensely to the society and the country in varied fields they have not been given due recognition to our contributions to the society.
“Christians have become victims of the efforts of political propaganda by vested interests and therefore they kept on accusing us of forcible conversion. By telling lies repeatedly there were efforts to make people believe that there was truth in that. They saw our weakness because we lacked unity. IFKCA’s objective is to foster unity among the various denominations Christians and show the strength of the community so that we can defend ourselves if and when the need arises. If there is unity among us, people would think twice before taking us for granted,” Colaco pointed out.
Stating that 98 percent of Hindus are secular and it is only the 1 ½ per cent that creates the dividing line among communities Colaco said “our strength lies in our unity and we have to exhibit this strength so that politically we are strong and political parties cannot afford to ignore us.”
Ronaldo Colaco also pointed out that more and more Christians should be involved in politics and in bureaucracy because the real power is in the administration. He also suggested that our representation in the judiciary should also be increased. Colaco stressed the need by Christians to register as voters and also to exercise their right to vote so that political parties do not ignore them.
Fr Walter Mabin stressed on the urgent need by Christians to think about today than worry about the past and the future. “To make IKFA a powerful and portent organization we need doers and not mere talkers. This organization should work for the betterment of the community by correcting its drawbacks and plugging loopholes. A day will come when the government and political parties would come asking for IFKCA,” he declared.
Felix D'Souza Taccode also spoke on the importance of making IFKCA a portent body to safeguard the welfare of the community people.
Earlier, President of Mangalore unit of IFKCA Roy Castelino welcomed the guests. Ronald Colaco greeted the office bearers of the Mangalore chapter of IFKCA with flowers. Denis D'Silva, State Convenor proposed the vote of thanks.
Office bearers of Mangalore unit of IFKCA Roy Castelino, Austin Peres and Florine Roche were also present on the dais.