Mangalore Christian Council celebrates golden jubilee

Mangalore, Nov 16, 2012 : The Mangalore Christian Council (MCC) celebrated its golden jubilee at Bishop Jatanna Auditorium of Karnataka Theological College (KTC) in Balmatta on Nov 15, Thursday.

Fr. Ronnie Prabhu, public relations office director of Karnataka Region Catholic Bishops Council, said that the MCC was founded by a group of broad-minded people fifty years back. He urged the MCC to focus on the education of people of all faiths, especially young Christians who appear to have lost enthusiasm for religion. Christians of various denominations must forget their differences and work for the truth, he added.

CSI KSD Bishop Dr. John S. Sadananda said that MCC has done its best to achieve ecumenism.

Bishop of Mangalore Diocese Fr. Aloysius Paul D’Souza said that the MCC has strengthened the relationship between two mainstream churches in the district. Stating that it was unimaginable for Protestants and Catholics to come together for a spiritual celebration, he said that it is possible today because of the efforts of the MCC. Today, the two groups have become friends collaborating in the spread of God’s kingdom, he added.

The rectors of KTC and St. Joseph’s Seminary released a book titled A Brief History of the Mangalore Christian Council on this occasion.

Among those present were Dr. Geevargheese Mar Divannasios of the Syro Malankara Church, CSI Bishop Emeritus Dr. C. L. Furtado, Yakob Mar Elias of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, MCC Pioneer Olinda Pereira, Rector Dr. Joseph Martis, KTC Principal Dr. Hannibal Cabral, MCC Secretary Dr. John Baptist Saldanha, and MCC Secretary Sandeep Theophil.