Udupi: Merceline Shera Pinto elected as President of Catholic Sabha Milagres Cathedral Unit for the year 2025 and Nelson D’Souza elected as General Secretary during the annual election held at Milagres Cathedral Tri-centenary Hall, Kallianpur on Sunday, February 2, 2025.
Prior to the election, usual invocation prayer was held which the unit Spiritual Director Mngr. Ferdinand Gonsalves, Rector and Vicar General of Udupi diocese, Reginald Lewis, President, Marina Lewis Secretary, and other office bearers conducted the prayers.
The outgoing president Reginald Lewis which still in office up to March 31 extended a warm welcome to the Spiritual Director, outgoing office bearers, members, and specially Election officer, Gerald Rodrigues, former president of Catholic Sabha Shirva unit and Hon. Treasurer of Catholic Sabha Udupi Pradesh and Lawrence D’Souza, former President of Catholic Sabha Mudarangadi unit and Shirva Deanery former office bearer present to observe the election process.
In his address, Reginald Lewis expressed gratitude to the all members and concerned for his dedicated team for their unwavering support and contributions during his presidential tenure which Milagres Cathedral Catholic Sabha won several awards in Deanery level as well as in diocesan central committee unit which includes highest collection of lucky dip coupons in the diocese as well as in other categories.
Milagres Cathedral Catholic Sabha known for being one of the most vibrant and very active units in the Kallianpur Deanery, Udupi diocese as well as undivided Mangalore diocese. Dr. Gerald Pinto and Walter Pinto was the Presidents’ of the undivided Mangalore Diocese. Dr. Gerald Pinto served as chief editor of ‘Amcho Sabdesh’ monthly of undivided Mangalore diocese and also was responsible to establish Catholic Sabha’s one of the most vibrant and most popular running projects of Manasa Rehabilitation Center, Pamboor. Presently, Dr. Gerald Pinto has been serving as a Director of Laity Commission for Udupi Diocese executing socially significant projects and hosting numerous units, deanery and diocesan level programmes as well. Walter Pinto being a President served to strengthen in all the way other for the Catholic Sabha Mangalore Pradesh and struggled for the cause of Community against the government at Mangalore as well as in Udupi. Catholic Sabha Milagres unit boasts over 1.100 members which have a proud legacy of producing dynamic leaders for the diocese as well as in the political field also.
During the annual election process, the Election Officer, Gerald Rodrigues, outlined the election guidelines and responsibilities of the president and executive committee office bearers. After a transparent and efficient election process monitored by Lawrence D’Souza, Mudarangadi, the following Executive Office Bearers were elected unanimously for the term April 2025 to March 2026:
Hon. President: Marceline Shera Pinto, Immediate Past President: Reginald Lewis, President-Designate: Stephen D’Almeida, Vice President: Felciana Lewis, Hon. General Secretary: Nelson, D’Souza, Joint Secretary: Mabel D’Souza, Hon. Treasurer: Alphonse D’Silva, Joint Treasurer: Myna Lewis, Amcho Sandesh Representative: Irene Menezes, Political Awareness Convener: Prema Lewis, Internal Auditor: Raymond Crasto, Govt. Facilities Convener: Marina Lewis, Justice & Peace Commission Convener: Precilla Lewis, Interreligious Dialogue Commission Convener: Godfrey Lewis, Labour Commission Convener: Joseph D’Souza, Volunteers: Melwyn Sequiera, Catherine Rodrigues and Nancy Martis (Amcho Sandesh).