These pioneer Mangalorean Catholics found employment readily in the ordinance factories in Kirkee and the other defence establishments and Depots in Kirkee and Dehu Road, contributing immensely to the War effort, and forming a close knit community.

Over the years, the influx of Mangaloreans to Pune and it's suburbs increased and finally on 10 February 1996, (exactly 10 years, to the day, after the Papal Visit to Pune on 10 February 1986) the MCC (Mangalorean Catholic Club) was formed.

Holy Eucharist was celebrated by three priests in Konkani at the Sacred Heart Church, Yerawada. The prime intention of the Club was to bring together, the many Mangalorean Catholics scattered all over Pune. The first get-together of the Mangalorean Catholics of Pune, was held on 2 March, 1996 at the Don Bosco High School Hall. The MCC organised a ``Konkani Mini Nite'' on 20 July 1996 at the Sacred Heart Church, Parish Hall, Yerwada. For the first time in Pune, the MCC celebrated the ``Ekvat Fest'' (Unity Festival) in the traditional Mangalorean way on 8 September, 1996, the Birthday of Mother Mary, at St. Patrick's Cathedral.

Since them, every year, the Club organises a family Picnic at the Empress Gardens, Pune, coinciding with the Annual General Body Meeting (AGM) during the summer vocations. The first anniversary of the MCC was celebrated on 16 February 1997 at the St. Francis Xavier Church, Camp, Pune with a Thanksgiving Mass. A grand cultural programme followed thereafter, at the Parish Hall. Aloysius Saldanha, the General Secretary, announced about the decision taken by the Managing Committee to change the name of the organisation from Mangalore Catholic Club (MCC) to Mangalore Catholic Association (MCA).

The cultural programme was a roaring success with the enactment of comedy mini-skits, Bhuddu Chacor (Foolish Servant) and Ishtachs Mog (Friend's Love). Fathers, Lancy and Vincy D'souza, entertained the audience with Konkani songs and Baila. The first Christmas week celebrations by the MCA was held on 28 December 1997 at the St. Francis Xavier Church, Chinchwad.

As of now, approximately 150 Mangalorean Catholic Families are members of the MCA. A newsletter, Mangalore-in-touch is published once in two months, by the MCA, apprising the members of the latest news from Mangalore, as well as day to day activities of the association. The third AGM was held on 13 June 1999, following a sumptuous lunch at the Annual Summer Picnic, in the lush green atmosphere of the Empress Gardens. A cricket match was also organised at this picturesque spot. The man of the match was Glone Lobo.

The Managing Committee for the new year comprises of Benjamin Mathias as President, Aloysius Saldanha as General Secretary, Irene Kuri as Treasurer, Archie Segueira as Editor, Mangalore-in-touch, Emmarul Braggs and Prakash Prabhu as Cultural Secretaries, Anil Dias as Fund Raising Secretary, Richard Lobo for community service, William Mathias as Sports Secretary. The MCA, is a non-profit making organisation, whose main objective is to unite the Mangaloreans scattered all over Pune and give a boost to the latent talent hidden in the community to uplift the Mangalorean Konkani Culture.

The grand function of the year was celebrated by a number of parishes at their churches all over the Pure diocess on 8 September 1999, for the birthday of our Lady. The MCA celebrated the birthday in the traditional Mangalorean way on September 12, 1999 at the Sacred Heart Church, Don Bosco Marg, Yerwada at 9.30 a.m by showering flowers on Mother Mary, blessing the `Nove' (blessed paddy) especially brought from Mangalore for the occasion, followed by Holy Mass in Konkani, cultural programme in Konkani and Hovem Jevann (New Harvest Feast) at the Don Bosco High School Hall.

The emblem of the MCA, two huts, a palm three and the sea in the background, with the word `Pune' displayed in front, amplifies the spirit of the association - ``unity in diversity'' - a little Mangalore in Pune.