Report by: Dale D’Souza
Photos by: Shanald Furtado
Parish Day at Milagres Cathedral, Kallianpur, turned into a lively and joy-filled celebration as the Indian Catholic Youth Movement (ICYM) hosted Parish Olympix 2025. This special event, held soon after the 8:00 AM Holy Mass, brought the entire parish community together for a day that blended faith, fun, and fellowship.
The morning began with a short but meaningful stage program that set the tone for the day’s festivities. The gathering was blessed with the presence of several dignitaries — Msgr Ferdinand Gonsalves, our Parish Priest; Fr Pradeep Cardoza, Assistant Parish Priest; Fr Dr Jencil Alva, Resident Priest; Mr Melwin Sequeira, Vice President of the Parish Pastoral Council; Mrs Eugine Rebello, Secretary of PPC; Mrs Prema Lewis, Coordinator of the 20 Pastoral Commissions; Mrs Ann Monis, ICYM Animator; and Mrs Sheela Menezes, Coordinator of Sunday Catechism.
The program was compered with charm and enthusiasm by Ms Janice Dsouza. Fr Pradeep Cardoza led the congregation in a heartfelt prayer, invoking God’s blessings on the day’s activities. Ms Aaniya Menezes, President of ICYM, welcomed everyone with warmth, thanking them for their support and encouraging active participation. Msgr Ferdinand Gonsalves shared his kind words and wished the event great success, appreciating the efforts of ICYM in bringing the community together. As a token of appreciation, mementos were presented to the throwball referees, Mr Bhuvan and Mr Shreyas. The formal part of the morning concluded with a sincere vote of thanks delivered by Ms Dale Dsouza, Secretary of ICYM, who expressed gratitude to all those who worked behind the scenes to make the day possible.
With spirits high and hearts light, the sports events kicked off with great excitement. The children’s spot games were a delight to watch, full of laughter and energy. For the little ones up to 3rd standard, Passing the Balloon was a crowd favorite — Malek Rego walked away with the top prize. Students from 4th to 6th standard gave the Tongue Twister challenge their best shot, with Elisha claiming first place, followed by Ashlin and Laren. The 7th and 8th standard students showed impressive focus and coordination in Transferring Chocolates Using Chopsticks, where Ronnen secured first place, Ranen came second, and Priyon finished third. For the 9th and 10th standard students, the Popping the Balloon game brought out some fun competitive spirit, with Priyal winning first place, Liston second, and Swen third.
The highlight of the day was the inter-ward throwball tournament, which saw enthusiastic participation from seven teams. With loud cheers and nail-biting moments, the matches kept everyone engaged. Kakkunje Ward emerged as the champions of the tournament, with Kallianpur B Ward and Milagres A Ward runners and second runners respectively.
Parish Olympix 2025 was more than just a sports event — it was a beautiful reminder of the strength of our parish community. It reflected the joy of being together, the excitement of healthy competition, and the dedication of our youth in creating meaningful moments for everyone. ICYM extends heartfelt thanks to all the participants, volunteers, organizers, and well-wishers who made the day truly special.
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