Mangalore: 'Unity is Strength' - CAL Bendoor Completes 75 Years
CAL Bendoor 75th Anniversary Celebrations on Nov 28, 29
Daijiworld Media Network—Mangalore (CN)
Mangalore, Nov 24: The Catholic Action League (CAL), Bendoor, is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. A two-day celebration will be held on the open grounds of the Bendoor Church to mark the occasion.
Glen Rego is the current president of the association and is spearheading preparations for the event to be held on Saturday November 28 and Sunday November 29.
Well-known dramatist, singer, and composer Claud D'Souza will be directing the Konkani play 'Gatt Dhor Sodinaka' written by Sunny A D'Souza which will be staged on Saturday.
The official ceremony will be held on Sunday evening with Bishop Aloysius Paul D'Souza presiding over the programme.
Bendoor parish priest Fr Peter Noronha, as well as Prof Alban Castelino and Leslie Rego, both former presidents of the association, will be the guests of honour.
A telephone directory of Bendoor parish will be released during the event. Former association presidents and spiritual directors will also be honoured.
Glen Rego has thanked all former members and presidents for their contribution to the success of the organization. He appealed to all the members and office-bearers to attend the event if possible as everyone could not be contacted personally.
In 1934, a group of active youth of Bendoor parish under the able leadership of Bernard Martis started the Catholic Action League (CAL) with the motto “Unity is our strength”. Since then this group has flourished and has been helpful to the parish as well as society from time to time. This association has served the parish and society through its social, spiritual, cultural, and other helpful deeds.
Several Konkani stalwarts have led the association in their time and have contributed to the betterment of youth within Bendoor parish as well as outside.
Late Louis Mascarenhas, late V J P Saldanha, Prof Alban Castelino, late Vally Vaz, Leo D'Souza (Liyab), Austin Prabhu, Claud D'Souza, Joswin Pinto, and Leslie Rego are some of the former presidents of the association.
Even since CAL began in 1934, the concept has bee adopted by many parishes and has spread to almost all parishes of Mangalore diocese.
But, in 1960, late Bishop Basil D'Souza re-organized youth activities in the church under the name ICYM because the Indian Catholic Youth Movement was started on a national-level.
However, quite a few parishes continued with CAL including Bendoor. But Bendoor's name will be remembered in history because of its strong foundation and the hundreds of youth who were shaped here. The hidden talents of the parish youth came to the fore and a stage was provided for them to exhibit their talent. Since the past 74 years, there have been annual day celebrations with various activities.
CAL members as a group meet on the first and third Sunday of every month.
Glen Rego can be contacted at 9844106814
Email : calbendur@gmail.com