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People
Places and Things
Toronto
Goan Pioneer, Neves Menezes, 45th Wedding Anniversary Celebration.
by
Uvy Lopes
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Twice
president of the Goan Overseas Association (GOA) and
twice chairperson of its Board of Trustees, Neves Menezes
and wife Mabel, were toasted to a grand 45th wedding
anniversary at the Lions Club Mississauga, by family
and friends on June 8th, 2003.
Formerly of Nairobi, Menezes is one of the founders
of the GOA - 1970. Since the birth of the association,
Menezes has been playing an active part in its affairs.
His latest involvement was as chair of the board and
President of Goan Charitable Organization for two terms,
from 1998 to 2002. He also served as first chair of
the building committee and then helped in securing the
property owned by the GOA.
In his toast, his cousin and best man at his wedding,
Dr. Horace Vaz, took a nostalgic trip to the day of
the wedding and life in East Africa. Following him was
Dr. Lorna D’Silva, Mabel’s niece, who said
very special things about her aunt and how the Menezes
family helped Lorna’s family and others when they
first migrated to this new country.
Chair of the board, Roque Barreto, outlined how he and
Menezes, along with other friends, worked hard to get
the GOA off the ground. Barreto punctuated his toast
with wisecracks against Menezes.
Barreto remarked that “GOA, also known as Gift
Of Almighty, remains carved on Neves’s heart”
as Menezes holds the record of attending 32 of the 33
annual general meetings of the GOA.
It was a surprise party given by their son Norbert and
his wife Valerie and daughter Jacqueline. More than
200 people joined to cheer the happy couple and dance
to the music of Henry & the Moonrakers.
The event was videoed by Shooting Stars & Images.
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RECONSTRUCTION OF SHRI MAHALASA TEMPLE IN VERNA |
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Verna's Shri
Mahalasa figured among most important, largest, richest
and most exquisitely embellished Hindu temples in
Goa. The temple noted especially noted for providing
shelter to the Hindu widows escaping the dreaded Sati
custom, was destroyed by the Portuguese in 1567. After
Liberation, the number of devotees visiting the sacred
site went on increasing, leading to a strong desire
to reconstruct the once magnificent temple. The Temple-Reconstruction
Committee was formed. Though the foundation stone
was laid by Shri Shakaracharya of Shringeri Mutt on
18th December 1975, the reconstruction work came to
a halt for inexplicable reasons. However, the reformed
Temple Reconstruction Committee has
earnestly undertaken the work again. A Master Plan
has been prepared by Architect Abhijit Sadhale. Though
the raising of the Rs.3 crore needed for the project
appears to be a Himalayan task, the Committee appeals
to everyone to come forward and help reconstruct the
magnificent Mahalasa temple.
For more
information go to the web site at http://www.shrimahalasa.com/facts.htm
(Thanks to Jerome Mendes for providing this link)
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Goan
Voice designed and compiled by Goacom Insys Pvt. Ltd.,
Goa
Campal Trade Centre, Next to Military Hospital, Campal,
Panjim, Goa-403001
Tel: +91 832 2225207, 2424578 Email: jjds@primus.ca
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