Msgr Raymond F C Mascarenhas Remembered on 50th Death Anniversary
 
Media Release
Pics: Savitha B R
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (PS)

Mangalore, Dec 16: The 50th death anniversary of the first Mangalorean Servant of God Raymond F C Mascarenhas was celebrated at St Sebastian Church, Bendur on Thursday December 16 at 4 pm.

Servant of God Msgr RFC Mascarenhas has been a towering personality of Mangalore and recognizing the holiness of his life as a priest and his commendable service to the society at large; he was declared as the Servant of God on June 3, 2008.

The celebration included a mass at St Sebastian Church, Bendur at 4 pm which was officiated by Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, bishop of Mangalore Diocese. In his homily he said that Servant of God RFC Mascarenhas was a visionary who looked ahead of his time into the needs of the people and forged into action, with determination.

He visualized a country where every child would receive education and the right of the girl child would be upheld. He gave momentum to a great revolution of establishing institutions in rural areas to facilitate the education of the girl child. Bethany Educational Society which he founded, in fidelity to this vision of its founder has preferential option to the rural masses, particularly to the education of girls, even before India’s political independence, he added.

This was followed by the programme at St Sebastian Church Jubilee Memorial Hall at 5.30 pm with Dr Bernard Moras, Archbishop of Bangalore as the chief guest and Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, bishop of Shimoga, Dr Robert Miranda, bishop of Gulbarga, Dr Varghese Chakkalakal, bishop of Kannur and Dr Lawrence Mukkuzhy, bishop of Belthangady, as the guests of honour.

To make the 50th Death Anniversary celebration meaningful and memorable, humanitarian projects were launched at this programme in six Provinces of Bethany Congregation. Project of Western Province namely Dr Ohm’s Indo German hospital extension with lab, X-Ray and pharmacy at Chittapur, in the Diocese of Gulbarga was opened by Dr Bernard Moras, Archbishop of Bangalore Archdiocese.

Project of North East Province namely 'Human Resource Development Centre' for tribals at Umsning in Meghalaya was opened by Dr Gerald Lobo, bishop of Shimoga Diocese.

Project of Northern Province namely ‘A Home for the Destitute Women’ in Karnal in the Diocese of Shimla-Chandigarh was opened by Dr Robert Miranda, bishop of Gulbarga Diocese.

Project of Southern Province namely ‘Home for the Destitutes’ at Karakundu, in Kannur Diocese was opened by Dr Varghese Chakkalakal, bishop of Kannur Diocese.

Project of Bangalore Province namely, ‘Karuna Matha Holistic Health Cum Palliative Care Unit’ at Gadenahally in the Diocese of Chikmagalur was opened by Dr Lawrence Mukkuzhy, bishop of Belthangady Diocese.

Project of Mangalore Province namely ‘Alternative Systems of Health Care’ at Shubhada, in the Diocese of Mangalore was opened by Dr Aloysius Paul D’ Souza, bishop of Mangalore Diocese.

The new project in the Delegation abroad comprising of Europe and Africa is already initiated by opening a centre with medical and social apostolate in Senegal, North West Africa.

On this occasion Sr M Wilberta B S the Superior General of the Congregation, released the book titled ‘To You my Daughters’ which contains the inspiring letters of Servant of God RFC Mascarenhas compiled by Sr. Lillis the Postulator and Sr. Miriam the Vice-Postulator.

Fr Peter Noronha, the Parish priest of St Sebastian’s Church, Bendur, released the book containing the German translation of the English literature on Monsignor Raymond by Jochum, Aachen, Germany. Sr Jyoti the former Superior General honoured the authors.

As Founder of Bethany Congregation: To bring the compassionate love of God to the poor and lowly of our world, Servant of God RFC Mascarenhas founded Bethany Congregation, joined in by 4 lady teachers on July 16, 1921 at Bendur. Today it has spread far and wide with more than 250 educational institutions, apart from social and health care centres. About 1500 sisters who have made life-time commitment for the service of the lowly through the vow of chastity, poverty and obedience and leading community life, take the light lit by the Founder all over the Indian land and beyond the Konkan coast, to the continents of Europe and Africa.

As visionary and social reformer: Economic self sufficiency of the rural masses, especially of the women was god’s servant’s dream and St. Martha’s Industrial School which he started at Bendur in 1942 provided for tailoring and embroidery learning. Weaving looms for self employment were installed at many institutions and when the Swadeshi movement of Mahatma Gandhiji was gathering momentum in the country, he brought Rosa Mystica Teacher Training Institution that he established at Kinnikambla under the pattern of Basic Education, to facilitate the self employment skills in the trainees.

The translation of the New Testament of the Bible into Konkani was the pioneering venture of the Servant of God RFC Mascarenhas. The translation of the popular hymns and other writings manifested the literary talent in him coupled with zeal for God and his people.

He wielded great influence as the director of Mangalore R C Pioneer Fund (1914-1931), as the member of District Educational Council of South Kanara (1921-1927), as Municipal Councillor (1923-1929) and as the Vicar General of the Diocese of Mangalore (1931-1941) and through the posts that he held he aimed at realizing his vision to bring about transformation in the society, in the educational, economic, social and literary domains.

Having run the race of life to the full, this spiritual giant and social reformer left for his eternal abode on Jan 23, 1960 at the age of 85. But his vision for our world lives on in the Congregation that he founded and through all his magnanimous initiatives for the poor and helpless of our world.

Sr M Wilberta B S, Superior General of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Little Flower of Bethany, Bendur, Sr Lillis B S, the Postulator for the Cause of Founder’s beatification and canonization, as well as the programme convener among others were present.

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