Pompei Youngsters Club (ICYM Gurpur) Celebrates 52nd Annual Day with Joy!

Report : Shaun Fernandes & Preema Menezes

Gurpur - Kaikamba, Feb 19 : Pompei Youngsters Club (PYC), affiliated to ICYM Mangalore Diocese, celebrated its 52nd Annual Day in a grand way on February 9, 2025, at Our Lady of Pompei Church, Gurpur Kaikamba. The celebrations began with a Holy Mass at 7:30 AM, celebrated by V. Rev. Fr. Rudolph Ravi D’Sa, the Parish Priest and Director of ICYM – PYC Gurpur. Deacon Vikas Pereira shared inspiring thoughts in his sermon, making the service even more meaningful. Fr. Rudolph praised the youth for their active participation in the liturgy, appreciating their dedication and enthusiasm throughout the year.

The 52nd Annual Day celebrations continued in the evening at 6 PM in the church grounds with a grand stage program. The event began with a prayer song led by ICYM – PYC members, seeking God's blessings. The program was presided over by V. Rev. Fr. Rudolf Ravi D’Sa, Director of ICYM – PYC. The Chief Guest was Deacon Vikas Pereira. Other dignitaries on the stage included:
• Mr. Arthur Menezes – Honorary PYC Member
• Mr. Romans Lobo – Vice President, Parish Pastoral Council
• Mr. Johnson Lobo – Secretary, Parish Pastoral Council
• Mrs. Hilda Menezes – Coordinator, Parish 21 Commissions
• Mr. Winston Sequeira – President, ICYM Mangalore Diocese Central Council
• Ms. Riana D’Cunha – Lady Vice President, ICYM Mangalore Diocese Central Council & ICYM Pezar Deanery Representative
• Ms. Reena Crasta – Treasurer, ICYM Mangalore Diocese Central Council
• Ms. Josvita D’Souza – President, ICYM Pezar Deanery
• Mr. Godwin Tauro – ICYM-PYC Animator
• Mr. Lester Menezes – ICYM-PYC President
• Ms. Preema Menezes – ICYM-PYC Secretary

ICYM-PYC President Lester Menezes warmly welcomed the gathering. The Chief Guest, Deacon Vikas Pereira, inaugurated the event uniquely—by lighting up a screen that displayed "52nd PYC Annual Day." This act symbolized the importance of youth showcasing their talents, using them for the parish and society, and striving for success in life.

ICYM-PYC Secretary Preema Menezes carefully reviewed the events for 2024-2025, giving a brief overview of each one. Following this, Media Representative Shaun Fernandes and Sports Secretary Augustine Menezes presented a PowerPoint report on the club’s activities over the past year. In his speech, Chief Guest Deacon Vikas Pereira congratulated all the young members of PYC and honoured the past members who contributed to the club’s growth. He shared an inspiring message, explaining the meaning of PYC:
• P stands for Positive, Productive, Powerful, Prayerful, Patient, Progressive, and Protective
• Y stands for Young in thoughts and actions, Youthful
• C stands for Committed, Compassionate, and Courageous

He emphasized that if these values are inculcated, PYC will continue to thrive for generations. He then wished success to the drama “ಬಿಂಡಿ ಸೊಲಾಂ” (Bindi Solan) and concluded his speech with his best wishes.

All the dignitaries on stage honoured Mr. Arthur Menezes with a memento, fruits, a shawl, and an acknowledgement letter as a token of appreciation. The acknowledgement letter was read by Venisha Saldanha. In his speech, Mr. Arthur Menezes shared his experiences as a former member of this esteemed club. He praised the hard work and dedication of past honorary members, which has kept the club thriving. He also commended the current members for their active participation and efforts in keeping the club strong. On this special occasion, he encouraged all the youngsters to continue their great work. Following this, “ಬಿಂಡಿ ಸೊಲಾಂ” (Bindi Solan) Drama Director Ms. Venisha Saldanha, Kalakul was honoured with a memento and a bouquet of flowers for her contributions. Additionally, Mr. Grashan D’Souza was also recognized and presented with a bouquet of flowers for being elected as the Vice President of the National Youth Congress – Mangalore North Assembly.

ICYM-PYC Director and Parish Priest, V. Rev. Fr. Rudolph Ravi D’Sa, praised the efforts and dedication of all ICYM-PYC members in organizing high-quality events throughout the year. He stated that every event was well-planned and executed, and the 52nd Annual Day celebration was a perfect example—with its grand setup and impressive presentation. He congratulated the members for their hard work and meticulous planning in making this event a success. He also encouraged all the youth to actively participate in ward meetings and community activities. Following this, ICYM-PYC Animator, Mr. Godwin Tauro, presented Tokens of Gratitude to the honorary guests as a gesture of appreciation. The event concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Deepak D’Souza, Joint Secretary of ICYM-PYC. The honorary guests then vacated the stage, making way for the cultural program. The writer of the drama “ಬಿಂಡಿ ಸೊಲಾಂ,” Tyson D’Cunha (Madanthyar), and the musician Royston D’Cunha were honored with a bouquet of flowers as a token of appreciation for their contributions.

The evening was filled with energetic dances, lively Baila songs, and the much-awaited drama “ಬಿಂಡಿ ಸೊಲಾಂ” (Bindi Solan) (Written by Mr. Tyson D’Cunha, Madanthyar, Directed by Venisha Saldanha, with Music by Royston D’Cunha), all performed by the talented ICYM-PYC members. As part of the celebration, Rev. Fr. Ashwin Cardoza, Director of ICYM Mangalore Diocese, distributed prizes to the winners of the games held during the cultural events. Leaders from ICYM Central Council Mangalore and ICYM Pezar Deanery also graced the occasion with their presence. The event concluded with the singing of the ICYM Anthem, marking the end of a memorable celebration. Various members took on key responsibilities to make the event a success:
• Viola Moras managed the cultural program
• Nigel Peris&Jia Menezes led the singing
• Jyothsna Nazareth, Preema Menezes &HensitaD’Costa coordinated the dances

The event was gracefully hosted by Rishal Noronha & Venisha Saldanha, whose professionalism and charm added to the evening’s elegance. The Honor Letter was beautifully written by Mrs. Anitha Fernandes & Mrs. Hilda Menezes. With an impressive attendance of around 550 parishioners, the event was a huge success. Refreshments were served to all, adding to the joy of the celebration. This grand occasion was made possible with the dedicated support of the ICYM-PYC Director, Animator, President, Secretary, Core Committee, and all its members.

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