Report and Pics by Arun Raj Rodrigues
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Oct 3: Under the leadership of Catholic Sabha, Valencia parishioners actively participated in the 'Clean- Valencia drive' on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti.

The drive was inaugurated by the parish priest of Valencia Fr Bonaventure Nazareth, by gloving the bands of Dolphy Saldanha. Fr Maxim Rosario conducted the prayer service. Joan Goveas, president of Catholic Sabha, welcomed the gathering. Gerald Lobo, senior manager of State Bank of Mysore(SBM), Edwin Rodrigues, SBM Kankanady branch manager, the three corporators from Valencia, Jacintha Alfred, Jacintha Boromeo and Appi, vice president of Valencia parish Arun Raj Rodrigues and secretary Flavia Sequeira were present. 

Parishioners from all the 12 wards, under the guidance of ward gurkars and with the help of the health department of Mangalore City Corporation, collected loads of plastic and other garbage from the streets of Valencia. At the concluding ceremony, vice president Arun Raj thanked all the parishioners for their support and participation in cleaning up Valencia region. He requested the citizens of the region to maintain clean and healthy environment in their neighbourhoods through out the year.  Raymond D’Cunha, editor of 'Pingara,' a Kannada news paper, conducted the programme.