Media release
Dubai, Feb 24: It all began in the year 2001 and a glorious time followed as St Mary’s Konkan Community (SMKC) Dubai reached the milestone of 18 years with different feathers in its cap.
Keeping the motto in mind, ‘Leadership through Service’, the association organized successful events one after other that brought Konkan community together in Dubai and back home in Mangaluru and Udupi.
In a span of 18years, SMKC Dubai has contributed I.Rs. 2.25 crore towards the community welfare projects. SMKC Dubai is largely indebted to the support of all the sponsors and well -wishers who helped to realize the dreams of the organization to reach out to the poor throughout these years. ‘SMKC Dubai Education Trust Fund’ was established at Bishop’s House in Mangaluru Diocese in 2004 for professional courses. SMKC Dubai is the first association from Middle East which has contributed for the professional courses of Engineers, Doctors, MBA, and HBM etc.
The ‘SMKC Dubai Medical Trust Fund’ established at St. Ann’s Friary, Bejai, Mangaluru, has also reached out to many sick and needy. .
Message from founder president Noel Mascarenhas
When Bishop Dr Gerald Lobo of Udupi district visited Dubai in August 2016, SMKC Dubai responded to his call to raise funds for his diocesan projects - ‘Pastoral Plan 2025’. The mega event ‘Grand Konkan Showers 2017’ – 268th’WilfyNite’ boosted further to generate funds for his projects. Once again, we are happy to host ‘Grand Konkan Showers 2019 – 53rd Wilson Olivera Nite’ on Sunday, 3 March 2019 at Christian Pre-University College Ground, opposite Lombard Memorial Hospital, Udupi to further enhance the support for Udupi diocesan projects.
Though SMKC Dubai had stormy turbulences, by grace of our Patron Mother Mary and her loving Son Jesus, we have sailed successfully then in Dubai and now in Mangalore and Udupi. I thank our members for their integrity and dedication and donors for unstinted support for all our projects.
In brief, I would like to quote – ‘A candle loses nothing if it is used to light another one’. We, together as one SMKC family, praise the Lord for allowing us to be an instrument to shower promising ray of hope and joy to others.