THE CHRISTI SEVAK SAMMAN (CSS) AWARD's
JOSEPH DIAS, lovingly called Bro. Joe, especially in Christian circles has been involved in various community and social causes for almost 40 years. He was elected and has been General Secretary of the Bombay Archdiocesan Pastoral Council (APC) – the apex community agency. In 2001 the then Archbishop was made Cardinal Ivan Dias by Pope John Paul II and Joe Dias was there to receive him on his return from Rome at the airport! Please find pictures of him with other leaders in India and abroad.
- 1. Late Cardinal Ivan Dias, Papal Diplomat & Prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
- 2. H.E. Pratibha Patil, President of India & ex-Justice Michael Saldanha of Bombay & Karnataka High Courts
- 3. Cardinal Oswal Gracias, among the Pope’s top 8 advisers & President, Asian Bishops Conferences
- 4. Don Moen, world famous worship leader & international gospel singer & song writer
- 5. Late Sunil Dutt, veteran Bollywood actor & ex-Union Minister, father of Sanjay & Priya Dutt
- 6. Dr. Manmohan Singh, ex-Prime Minister of India, Justice Saldanha & Vincent Concessao, Archbishop of Delhi
- 7. H.E. Barlen Vyapoory, ex-President of Mauritius at Trinity’s India International Expo & Conference
- 8. Baroness Caroline Cox of the British House of Lords & Dr. Joseph D’souza, chief of Operation Mobilization
- 9. Dilip Kumar, Thespian Bollywood super star with a career of 50 years was also a former Parliamentarian
- 10. Internationally acclaimed Stations of the Cross Live for over 32 years along the streets of Mumbai
- 11. Has been a member of the Lions Club, Chambers of Commerce and other business associations
- 12. Swami Agnivesh, social activist and late Archbishop Raphael Cheenath of Odisha during the anti-Christian attacks
The driving force behind this Global Christian Singing Competition & Talent Search Initiative is bro. Joe Dias, who pioneered the Stations of The Cross – Live Musical Enactment organized over 30 years reaching out to lakhs of non-Christians too on the streets of Mumbai, especially those in Santacruz, Khar, Vakola, Kalina, etc. This devotion started by him is now conducted by many churches in India. He has also been a journalist for the last 25 years writing for reputed media like the Times of India publications and has been interviewed by most television channels and many nation/international news agencies.
As founder of the Catholic-Christian Secular Forum (CSF) and the CROSS, he has successfully in the last over 25 years taken up Christian public issues including advocacy in Kandhamal, Karnataka, Jammu & Kashmir, etc. The ICAN (Indian Christian Activists Network) eNew Bulletin which he edited highlights persecution and human rights violations of Christians and minorities – bringing relief to many.
This mega event is supported actively by a passionate team of audio-video and internet professionals who are assisting bro. Joe Dias to produce slick material worthy of international viewing. He is also a life-member of the All India Catholic Union and a number of business organizations. His work has been appreciated and awarded by the All India Christian Council, Evangelical Fellowship of India, The Friendship Club, Truth Seekers International, Indo-International Christian Chamber of Commerce, etc.
JOSEPH DIAS has been active in public affairs for over the last 35 years. He is seen above on a hunger strike in the 1980s with late Mr. Ramesh Prabhu, ex-Mayor of Bombay. A single source of strength and moral fortitude has been His Eminence Oswald Cardinal Gracias, Archdiocese of Bombay, who is member of the Council of 8 Cardinals advising the Pope & of Federation of Asian Bishops Conferences. He is seen in the pictures above launching the internet initiatives – Indian Christian Activist Network (ICAN) eNews on different devices. Joseph Dias is also seen with (L-R) Mr. SH Daya, Sheriff of Bombay and Smt. Chandrika Kenia, Member of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly in another flashback from the mid 1980s.
– THE ORGANIZER & TEAM
The driving force behind this initiative pioneered the Stations of The Cross – The Good Friday Live Musical Enactment organized over last 33 years reaching out to lakhs of non-Christians too. This is on the streets of Mumbai, especially those in Santacruz, Khar, Vakola, Kalina, etc. This devotion started by JOSEPH DIAS is now conducted by many churches in India. He has also been a journalist for the last 25 years writing for reputed media like the Times of India publications and has been interviewed by most television channels and many nation/international news agencies.
As founder of the Catholic-Christian Secular Forum (CSF) and the CROSS, he has successfully in the last over 25 years taken up Christian public issues including advocacy in Kandhamal, Karnataka, Jammu & Kashmir, etc. The ICAN (Indian Christian Activists Network) eNews Bulletin which he edited highlights persecution and human rights violations of Christians and minorities – bringing relief to many.
This mega event is supported actively by a passionate team of audio-video and internet professionals (see credits) who are assisting him to produce slick material worthy of international viewing. He is also a life-member of the All India Catholic Union and a number of business organizations. His work has been appreciated and awarded by the All India Christian Council, Evangelical Fellowship of India, The Friendship Club, Truth Seekers International, Indo-International Christian Chamber of Commerce, etc.
For more info on the parish that JOSEPH DIAS, check out a website made by him: www.stanthonysvakola.in