(ANS – Mawpdang) – A new agricultural institute, dedicated to the Servant of God Fr Constantine Vendrame, SDB, was inaugurated and blessed on 15 February last in Mawpdang, a village near Silchar.

by Daniel DM Cajee, SDB

The programme began at 10:00 am with the Holy Eucharist presided over by Archbishop Dominic Jala and concelebrated by fifteen concelebrants. At the very outset of the liturgical celebration Fr. George Maliekal, the Provincial of INS, blessed the new infrastructure accompanied by the Archbishop, the eleven friends from San Martino (Italy) and other dignitaries. In his homily the Archbishop explicitly elaborated on the corporal works of mercy and highlighted the need to practise them well, especially in this year of mercy. After the Mass, Shri A.L Hek, Minister of Health and IT, inaugurated the Computer centre and Shri. David Nongrum, the local MLA, launched the VIRTA website.

At around 1:00 pm there was a Cultural programme. The programme began with a song by the youth of Mawpdang exulting Father Vendrame. Father Provincial stated that the dream of Father Vendrame to cater to the needs of the young people has finally materialized through VIRTA.

A representative of the Italian Government expressed his joy at the grandeur of the function and said that VIRTA connects the Italian people and the Khasi people. To mark the event he also handed a souvenir to Father Barnes, the director of VIRTA.

Published 01/03/2016