Mangaluru, Oct 18: The provincial Ursuline Franciscan Sisters had their VIII Province Chapter in Shanthi Dham Provincialate, Derlakatte from October 17 to 21 on the theme 'Ursuline Franciscan Sisters: Commissioned to Launch into the Deep'.
Sr Susheela Sequeira, the superior general was the president of the chapter. On the first day Bishop Emeritus Aloysius Paul D’Souza celebrated the holy eucharist and gave a befitting message to the Chapter Delegates.
After the mass, there was a short felicitation programme where Sr Rita Vas, provincial superior reminisced the days of their beginning. "Ursuline Franciscan Congregation took its birth in the vicinity of Rosario Cathedral and their founder Fr Urban Stein SJ was the first parish priest of the Cathedral. The ‘Company of St Ursula’ which he started in the year 1887 to assist him in the pastoral/apostolic mission of the parish became a congregation of religious in 1934; therefore it has a unique history of 131 years. The motto of the congregation is ‘Pro Amore Dei – For the Love of God’. The tiny mustard seed has grown today and it has spread its branches within and outside India."
Mangaluru province has 32 communities, out of which 25 are in Mangaluru diocese itself, especially in the remote places like Narampady, Kayyar, Vijayadka and so on, involved very actively in the pastoral, educational, socio-medico apostolate and are known for their simplicity and hard life. In her words of thanks and appreciation Sr Rita Vas thanked the bishop profusely for his undaunted service of 22 years in the diocese and his able and dynamic leadership through which the diocese has grown in the areas of spiritual, educational and social life.
She also expressed her gratitude to the bishop particularly mentioning a few noteworthy occasions and events where he guided and helped the congregation and the province. She thanked him in the name of all the past superior generals, provincial superiors, superiors and all the members of Ursuline Franciscan family spread across the country and abroad.
She expressed her wish and prayer that Bishop Aloysius may be blessed with well merited years of grace and blessings from on High, spiritually rewarding days ahead, good health and vigour too. She also wished that his presence among them will continue to be a blessing to all, especially to their sisters. The choir sang a greeting song and then the superior general, provincial superior and the team felicitated him with a shawl, garland and memento. In turn, the bishop too, wished God’s blessings on all the sisters present there and commended them for their dedicated service in the diocese and outside.
After a photo session all joined the bishop for a festal breakfast.