Goa Priest Fr Myron Barreto Elected President of Dalgado Konknni Akademi

Goa, February 23, 2026: Fr Myron Jeson Barreto, a priest of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, has been elected President of the Dalgado Konknni Akademi (DKA), an institution dedicated to the promotion and development of Konkani in the Roman script. The election took place on February 22.

Fr Barreto succeeds a legacy shaped by the Akademi’s founding President, the late Fr Freddy J. Da Costa, also a priest of the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman, whose pioneering leadership laid a durable foundation for the organisation’s cultural and literary mission.

Alongside Fr Barreto, six members were elected to the Executive Committee, including Fr Lui Gomes, Assistant Professor at St Xavier’s College, who also belongs to the Archdiocese.

Thirty-eight-year-old Fr Barreto hails from Sadolxem in Canacona, Goa. He holds a Master’s degree in Mass Communication and Journalism and currently serves as Chaplain of St Lawrence Chapel in Arossim, Cansaulim, while also managing New Age Printers in Verna.

A prolific contributor to Konkani literature, Fr Barreto has authored twelve literary works in Konkani and twenty-five religious books. He serves as Editor of Konknni Daiz, the Konkani page of O Heraldo, and Co-Editor of the Goa diocesan tri-monthly magazine VOMP’PI. He is also Co-Editor of Gõycho Pormoll, the official publication of the Dalgado Konknni Akademi.

In addition to his literary work, Fr Barreto serves as Secretary to the Diocesan Centre for Biblical Apostolate and regularly contributes articles and poetry to various publications. He also presents programmes on Mhadei Channel Goa (MW 1287 kHz) under All India Radio.

His contributions to Konkani literature have earned him several honours, including the Maria Afonso Konknni Puroskar (2023), the Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar (2022), the Goa State Yuva Srujan Puraskar for Literature (2021), the Konkani Bhasha Mandal’s Late Narsinha Damodar Naik Award (2021), the Goa Konknni Akademy’s Yuva Chaitanya Award (2020), and the Dalgado Youth Award (2018).

Fr Barreto’s election is seen as a significant development for the Konkani literary movement in Goa, particularly in strengthening the Roman script tradition. His pastoral experience, academic formation, and extensive literary engagement are expected to further advance the Akademi’s mission of preserving and promoting Konkani language and culture.

By Br. Malvino Alfonso OCD