Navelim born
and Bahrain based Mr. G.R. Crasto (Gabriel Crasto), a prominent Goan in the
Middle-East will be celebrating his Silver Anniversary of his Marriage to wife
Catherine on 18th April 2013 at the Sacred Heart Church, Bahrain.
Mr.
Gabriel has been one of the prominent members of Young Goans Club in
Bahrain for the last many years and has been elected for different posts at the
club.
Mr.
Gabriel writes fluently both in English and in Roman script Konkani. He
has been writing right from his school days. Apart from writing exclusively for
Gulab and Goan Review Magazines, Gabriel has written a series of articles
for different publications. His works have appeared in Uzvadd - Weekly
Magazine, Goencho Mog, Novem Goem and the English Daily West Coast Times.
He
has regularly written poems, short stories, one-act plays and dramas. His
one-act play 'Kalina' won the Konkani Bhasha Mandal Award, while his drama
'Harijan' was well-recognized for it's subject.
Mr.
Gabriel Crasto also received the Man of the Year 2006 Award from the Goan
Review Art Foundation, and is also a recipient of Goan NRI Leadership Award
from the Government of Goa.
In
Bahrain, Mr. Gabriel won many prizes for his plays at one-act play competitions
organized by Young Goans Club, Riffa Goans, etc.
Mr.
Gabriel has been living in Bahrain since the last 30 years and is
currently working for Bahrain’s famous Jalal Travel Agency as a Manager.
He is an active member of both Young Goans Club and Konkan Singers and
served in different capacities in their managing committees.
Some
years back, Mr. Gabriel headed a football team called United Goans which ran
for over 5 years in Bahrain. Along with his friend Mr. Francis Correia, Mr.
Gabriel formed the Goan Dramatic Troupe. Under this group they organized many
dramas and Musical shows.
Mr.
Gabriel is currently Bahrain Goans Football League Chairman.
In
recent years he contributes most of his thoughts through ‘Bahrain-Goans
Xit-Koddi’, a web-portal published every month.
Coming
back to the Silver Jubilee, Bab Crasto you are residing in Bahrain and I am in
Kuwait and still you remembered me to send your invitation card to attend
your great occasion. I regret my inability to attend because of the
geographical barrier but I pray to God to bless you both husband and wife.
You
and me we both are two separate identities but having the same ideology towards
Goa and Goans. I am proud of the activities you have been doing for the cause
of Goa and Goans. Please continue in doing what you are doing. I am sure your
beloved wife must have been assisting you in the same. I hope she too will
continue in assisting you towards your activities for the greater cause of Goa
and Goans. I am also sure your both the children are imbibing you and gradually
they will take over from you when everyone will say "Like Father - Like
Children".
To
live together as husband and wife for Twenty Five long years so successfully is
not a joke especially now when the temptations are so many. Many couples
separate from each other just within 25 hours of their marriage but you
have lived together for 25 long years, it is very much admirable. You both
husband and wife are blessed couple to live like this and I hope and pray to
God to keep you together as you are now to celebrate not only Golden Jubilee
but Platinum Jubilee also.
As
a Silverian myself, I know how difficult it is to remain embedded to each other
but with real love and faithfulness to each other one can easily overcome all
the obstacles that comes on one’s path.
Though
you both completed 25 long years together yet looking from the recent photo
above, both together in a jovial mood, it looks to me that you are just a newly
married couple wedded just 25 days before and not 25 years before. Your
youthfulness is an added freshness to your success. Keep maintaining the same
youthfulness even though age may try to meddle in between. For genuine love age
should not be a hindrance.
Finally
I wish you Gabriel and your wife Catherine all the best.
A
happy 25th Wedding Anniversary. May God Bless You Both.
A.
Veronica Fernandes.
Kuwait. 
