M.C.C.P. Celebrates 10th Annual Day in Muscat

Honor for Gerry D`Mello

The M.C.C.P., Muscat, held its 10th Annual Day celebrations on Friday, 10th of May 2002. They commenced with a Thanksgiving Holy Mass in Konkanni, celebrated by Fr.Ferdinand Gonsalves, a guest priest from the Mangalore Diocese. The well rehearsed Konkanni choir, conducted by Shri Harry Rasquinha, consisting of M.C.C.P. members, added solemnity to the occasion.

After the Mass, at 12.30 noon, an entertainment programme was arranged at Ruwi Parish Hall to celebrate the Annual Day. Miss Priti Aranha delivered a welcome address to the full-house gathering. She extended a warm welcome to the chief guest of honour, Fr.Ferdinand and wished all the members a very happy Annual Day.

The general secretary Miss Andrea Andrade presented the Annual Report for the year ended 2002. The Report rewound the memories of the audience to the happy times they spent together both indoor and outdoor during the past one year. It also projected before them the physical and fiscal strength of the association and congratulated the members for making the past decennial year an eventful one. In the Annual Report Executive Committee thanked www.daijidubai.com  for uplifting our association to the portals of the internet by giving coverage of M.C.C.P. events from time to time.

This was followed by an Address of gratitude by the President, Shri Henry Martis, not only to the noted personalities but also to his own Executive Committee members. He also proposed a vote of thanks to all who contributed to the success of the association during the tenure of his presidency.

Hon. Chairman Shri Stanley Fernandes escorted the Chief guest of honour Fr.Ferdinand to the dais together with Rev.Sr.Olinda Sequeira who was also on visit to Oman.. Later, in his speech he expressed his satisfaction to see the association growing from strength to strength every year.

Rev.Fr.Ferdinand, the chief guest of honour, expressed his appreciation to the members for creating "a home away from home" in the form of M.C.C.P., and wished them all the best in their mission and endeavours. Later Sr.Olinda expressed her gratitude for this great privilege given by the M.C.C.P.

Next in the programme was an honouring ceremony to a senior founding and still a vibrant member of the association, Shri Gerry D'Mello. A memento, in recognition of his valuable services to the association during the past one decade, was presented to him by the chief guest of honour. Then he distributed the awards of appreciation to the judges for the various competitions and referees for the tournament that were conducted during the last year. This was followed by distribution of awards to the winners of Mathematics Olympiad Miss Alisha Mendonca and Science Olympiad Master Winston Peres, throughout the gulf.

A variety entertainment programme followed next. The programme included a hilarious skit, ribs-tickling jokes by Shri Walter Mendonca & Group, artistic dances and other exhibit of skills by the talented members.

Then came the highlight of the day, the formation of the new Executive Committee for the coming year. Shri Allan D'Costa, the experienced returning officer, conducted the formalities with aplomb and savior-faire! The members of the new Executive Committee for the year 2002 - 2003 were the following :

Shri Stanley Fernandes - Hon.Chairman
Shri Leo Quadros - President
Shri Lancy Pinto - Vice-President

Committee members :

Smt. Helen Carvalho
Smt. Gretta D'Souza
Shri Naveen Mascarenhas
Smt. Margaret Shanker
Shri Arther D'Souza
Shri Brian Martis
Shri Leslie Arouza
Shri Vincent Rebello
Shri Denis Mascarenhas





After congratulating the new committee the outgoing Executive Committee handed over the portfolios counterpart to counterpart in a smooth and professional manner and wished the new members all the best during their term of office.

The whole show was ably compered by the popular master of ceremony, Shri A.L.Monis.

The celebrations ended with a sumptuous lunch for everyone catered by the one and only Arab Udupi Restaurant managed by Shri Alwyn Saldanha and with a game of housie housie with attractive prizes, leaving the members to look forward for the next event of the association after the summer vacation!

News : Our Muscat Correspondent