Teachers’ Day and Health Workers’ Day Celebration at Cordel Church: The celebration of Teachers’ Day and Health Workers’ Day was held at Cordel Church on 7th September at FradnSaib Hall from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. The program was graced by the presence of Rev. Fr. Clifford Fernandes, Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Denzil Lobo, Assistant Parish Priest, Mrs. Ruth Castelino, Vice President of the Parish Council, and Mr. Anil D’Sa, Secretary of the Parish Council, who were seated on the dais.
The program began by invoking God’s blessings through a prayer song led by Mrs. Pushpa Rodrigues and her team. This was followed by the formal welcome of the Resource Person of the Day, Rev. Dr. Fr. Praveen Leo Lasrado, Secretary of the Catholic Board of Education (CBE) and Professor at Jeppu Seminary.
In his message of welcome, Rev. Fr. Clifford Fernandes inspired the gathering by emphasizing that the role of a teacher is not just to impart knowledge, but to shape lives and guide students on the right path. On this occasion, Mrs. Shanthi Leena Pais Incharge H M of G L Pry School Devashyapaduru Bantwal Taluk and Parishioner was specially honoured for her outstanding contribution in the field of education, as she was awarded the Best Teacher Award at the District Level.
The highlight of the program was the keynote address by Rev. Dr. Fr. Praveen Leo Lasrado on the theme “O Teacher, Teach Thyself.” His powerful talk included moral stories that contrasted the qualities of an ordinary teacher with those of a dedicated one. He beautifully illustrated how teachers are like sculptors whose influence lives on in the memories of their students.
Adding further richness to the program, Mrs. Maria and Mrs. Pratibha shared their personal reflections on the topic, offering heartfelt insights.
The program concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Mr. Henry D’Souza, Education Commission Coordinator, who expressed gratitude to everyone who contributed to making the day meaningful. The event was ably compered by Mr. Dolphy D’Souza, Coordinator of the 21 Parish Commissions.
A total of 90 participants attended the celebration. The event concluded with a group photograph taken with the resource person, marking a joyful end to the gathering. The program was indeed a success and left smiles on the faces of all present.
