A diamond is truly forever - Joseph Gonsalves:
Manggalore: Baptized at Milagres Church, Confirmed at Milagres Church, Communion at Milagres Church, Celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary at Milagres Church and today, January 6, 2010, at 6:00 pm Joe and Irene Gonsalves once again exchanged their vows while celebrating their 60 years of life together at their Diamond Wedding Anniversary at Milagres Church!
It was a grand celebration with the sanctuary filled with family and friends. The Mangalore Diocesan Bishop Rev Dr Aloysius Paul D'Souza was the chief celebrant along with Bishop Derek Fernandes from Karwar, Archbishop Ignatius Pinto, Shimoga Bishop Gerald Lobo, two bishops from C.S.I. were present along with Bishop Stephen Joseph Sadanand and Bishop Christopher Furtado. Provincial Fr. Frankie Serrao, Fr. Jossy Rodrigues - Rector St. Aloysius, Fr. Victor Machado Rector St. Joseph's Seminary, Vicar General Denis Moras Prabhu and Director of Father Muller's Father Patrick Rodrigues and about 60 other priests were present amongst friends.
In his homely Fr. Ozzy Mascarenhas (USA), said that Joe and Irene are very special couple since they have completed their 60 years of marriage. You could be the romantic couple of the century. He said to keep three things in mind; they are emotional love, love of fraternity and agape - God's unconditional love. Further continuing he said, "You have reached the special day that is seen only by a few in this world. Now, it is a diamond celebration for both of you and the treasure that you value, not jewel, silver or gold but the love you both have for each other has never grown old." While concluding he said to live in solidarity, harmony and love.
Bishop Joseph S.Sadananda read out the blessings of the Pope and handed over the papal blessing to Mr. Joe and Mrs. Irene. Bishop Christopher Furtado blessed the jubilant. Bishop Furtado prposed the toast and Joe graciously replied.
Bishop Joseph S.Sadananda read out the blessings of the Pope and handed over the papal blessing to Mr. Joe and Mrs. Irene. Bishop Christopher Furtado blessed the jubilant. Bishop Furtado prposed the toast and Joe graciously replied.
Dr. Lorna Gonsalves gave solo and sang Ave Maria which indeed resounded the Milagris Church. Earlier their grand-daughter Tara Gonsalves gave a solo too and it was well appreciated.
The church ceremony was followed by dinner for the clergy numbering over 50 at the Parish Hall and for the public at The Mangalore Club. The reception at the Mangalore club was a great success. Dr. B.M. Hegde and their son Franco Gonsalves from U.S.A. spoke. There was plenty of dancing including bailas.
Mr. Achutha Rao along with the family was especially flown from Bangalore. Achutha Rao is the former commissioner of Police from Bangalore and now the additional Director General of Police. The IGP, S.P., Mr. Kamal Pant (IGP) from Bangalore, Mr. Ashit Prasad (IGP) from Mysore, and most of the local Police Officers were present.
How many married couples can we say, are as lucky as Joe and Irene Gonsalves? One out of only thousand people in the world today gets to celebrate their Diamond (60th) wedding anniversary. Joe and Irene have been together for longer than many people who have been or will be alive.
Joe and Irene had their school and college education in Mangalore; Irene at St. Agnes and Joe at St. Aloysius. Irene was a brilliant student and was good in sports. She taught for a while in Delhi and Calcutta to keep herself busy while Joe went to London for further training.
Joe and Irene together have four lovely, talented children - Cherry, Lorna, Franco and twenty years after their first child came Michele. The first three children had their education in cities other than Mangalore except Michelle who did her schooling in Mangalore.
Their first child Cherry married Harry Saldanha of Highland Coffee works, Lorna is married to Dr. Peter Pinto, Franco is married to Margaret, a Mangalorean from Bangalore and Michelle is married to Michael Mathias.
Joe and Irene have eleven lovely grandchildren out of whom Glen the only son of an only son died four years ago in Cleveland. Samir, Nihal and Vivek are from the Saldanha clan. Vivek has married Karon - a Mangaloren who resided in Melbourne. Nihal is still a bachelor.
Lorna's son Sanjay is doing his double PH.D. in Harvard and daughter Maya has just completed her studies in London School of Economics in London.
Franco’s first daughter is doing her post graduation and is presently teaching. Their second daughter Tara had a Fullbright scholarship and spent a year in Indonesia. She is in the process of continuing her studies. Michelle's son is thirteen years old and is a promising sportsman apart from being a brilliant student. The second daughter Rhea is doing well in her studies standing first most of the time. Their second daughter received her first communion at Milagres Church today, on the day of Joe and Irene’s Diamond Anniversary Celebration.
Joe talks greatly about Irene all the time; the loving, caring, supportive and understanding woman behind a successful man! She has been the vibrant person throughout their 60 years of life. She is greatly responsible for bringing up the children well and inculcating true values in them. That is why Joe says that all the children are doing well - most of them in U.S.A.
Joe and Irene had their school and college education in Mangalore; Irene at St. Agnes and Joe at St. Aloysius. Irene was a brilliant student and was good in sports. She taught for a while in Delhi and Calcutta to keep herself busy while Joe went to London for further training.
Joe and Irene together have four lovely, talented children - Cherry, Lorna, Franco and twenty years after their first child came Michele. The first three children had their education in cities other than Mangalore except Michelle who did her schooling in Mangalore.
Their first child Cherry married Harry Saldanha of Highland Coffee works, Lorna is married to Dr. Peter Pinto, Franco is married to Margaret, a Mangalorean from Bangalore and Michelle is married to Michael Mathias.
Joe and Irene have eleven lovely grandchildren out of whom Glen the only son of an only son died four years ago in Cleveland. Samir, Nihal and Vivek are from the Saldanha clan. Vivek has married Karon - a Mangaloren who resided in Melbourne. Nihal is still a bachelor.
Lorna's son Sanjay is doing his double PH.D. in Harvard and daughter Maya has just completed her studies in London School of Economics in London.
Franco’s first daughter is doing her post graduation and is presently teaching. Their second daughter Tara had a Fullbright scholarship and spent a year in Indonesia. She is in the process of continuing her studies. Michelle's son is thirteen years old and is a promising sportsman apart from being a brilliant student. The second daughter Rhea is doing well in her studies standing first most of the time. Their second daughter received her first communion at Milagres Church today, on the day of Joe and Irene’s Diamond Anniversary Celebration.
Joe talks greatly about Irene all the time; the loving, caring, supportive and understanding woman behind a successful man! She has been the vibrant person throughout their 60 years of life. She is greatly responsible for bringing up the children well and inculcating true values in them. That is why Joe says that all the children are doing well - most of them in U.S.A.
From big events, holidays, 59 wedding anniversaries to simple daily pleasures they have spent them all together. They both agree that they have had some tearful times along life’s way, but there’s also been joyful moments that simply can’t be measured. They have spent together approximately 22,000 nights! That translates to roughly 528,000 hours, or 31,680,000 minutes that they have been married! That's roughly 2 BILLION seconds Joe and Irene have been married! Needless to say that is quite an accomplishment!
Finally, Joe and Irene’s advice to all the married couples: “To exercise a lot of patience and not to expect too much from each other. Try and give without wanting anything in return and let Love transcend all virtues”.
Who could have guessed
When you began married life
How entwined you'd become
As husband and wife.
After 60 years
You still say "I Love You"
in many different ways.
May Diamond remind you,
You share a special happiness
Life gives to very few.
Mangalorean.com salutes this very special couple and wishes A Very Happy Diamond Anniversary to them. May the Lord shower upon you both his choicest blessings!
Who could have guessed
When you began married life
How entwined you'd become
As husband and wife.
After 60 years
You still say "I Love You"
in many different ways.
May Diamond remind you,
You share a special happiness
Life gives to very few.
Mangalorean.com salutes this very special couple and wishes A Very Happy Diamond Anniversary to them. May the Lord shower upon you both his choicest blessings!
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