Rev. Fr. Mark Walder, M.A., Dip. in Journalism
Our present parish priest, Fr. Mark Walder was born on 22 October 1936 at Badaga Yekkar Village, Mangalore Taluk.
He completed His High School studies at St. Joseph High School, Bajpe and joined St. Joseph Inter Diocesan Seminary Jeppu, Mangalore to be trained a priest of Mangalore Diocese in 1957. He was ordained a Priest by, then Bishop Rt. Rev. Basil S. D’souza on 2nd February 1966.
He started his priestly ministry at St. Peter’s church Barkur. He completed his graduate studies in psychology as an external student of Karnataka University, Dharwad. He joined Mysore University for his M.A. Degree in Kannada Literature and completed in the year 1971. He served one year each at Cassia Mangalore and Shirva Mai de Deus Parishes as assistant Parish Priest.
In 1972 he was appointed assistant editor of Konkani weekly Raknno. While doing this job, he completed his Journalism Diploma course of Mysore University and a certificate course at St. Xavier’s Institute of Communication Mumbai in 1973. He was appointed Editor of Raknno in 1973 and he continued in this job up to 1985.
After 1985, he served at St. Thomas Church Ammembal, Kurnad; Corpus Christi Church, Moodbidri and St Patrick’s Church at Siddakatte as Parish Priest, for 7 years each.
Fr. Mark Walder wrote and published ‘Bhagvan Yesu Christa’-A Biography of Jesus Christ in 1964. ‘Prema Matthu Jeevana’ Moral Science booklet for teenagers in 1968. Edited a Book ‘Amar Konkani’ by name which contains essays on Konkani folklore, Mangalore and Goan history of Konkani literature, short stories etc. He also edited ‘Bori Bhalaiki’ (Good Health) collection of essays on health topics, ‘Suvartha Prasar’ collection of historical essays on Christian Missions of Mangalore Diocese. He also edited and published several Konkani Novels by famous Konkani Novelists such as Sri.V.J.P.Saldanha, Sri.A.T.Lobo, Sri.J.S.Alvares, Sri.Edwin J.F.D’souza, Sri.Jerry Kulshekar etc.
- Fr. Mark Walder was invited to be an programme adviser committee of AIR Mangalore and Central Sahitya Academy advisory committee for Konkani.
- He had worked as jury Member of T.M.A.Pai Konkani Foundation Awards Committee and Konkani Sahitya Academy Karnataka.
- He has worked as member of Konkani Bhas Ani Samskruti Prathistan Awards Committee, Mangalore. and Sandesha awards selection committee, Mangalore.
- He was also invited to be a member of Konkani Syllabus Committee of Union Public Service Commission New Delhi.