Media Release
Mangaluru, Aug 1: The feast of St Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, was celebrated with deep devotion and joyful enthusiasm at St Aloysius College Higher Primary School on July 31. The event was marked by spiritual reflection, cultural expression, and a renewed commitment to the values embodied by the saint.
The celebration commenced with a solemn Holy Eucharistic Mass offered by Fr Sujay Daniel SJ, sub minister at Asha Kiran, Mangaluru, and co-celebrated by Fr John D’Souza SJ, director of St Aloysius ITI. The Mass, offered for the Catholic students, set a reverent and spiritual tone for the day.
A vibrant cultural programme, organized by the students of class 4, followed the Mass. The programme began with a soulful prayer song, after which Elroy Nethan Noronha, a student of class 4, extended a warm welcome to the chief guest, Sweethin Hartman an alumnus of the St Aloysius Institutions (School to PU), well-known musician, actor, and former Estimation and design engineer.
The significance of the day and the virtues of St Ignatius of Loyola were eloquently presented by Aiden John Fernandes, Jordan Calvert Feston, Alrick Levin D’Souza, and Afsana Mulla, who inspired the audience through their meaningful reflections.
In his address, Sweethin Hartman fondly reminisced about his school days and expressed heartfelt gratitude to his parents and teachers for instilling in him the values that shaped his journey. He spoke about the enduring influence of St Ignatius during his formative years and encouraged students to emulate the saint’s virtues of compassion, humility, and service. He concluded his message with an inspiring quote:
“Respect your parents—they are your first God. Do whatever you want, but do it with sincerity. Enjoy life. Never let the child in you die.”
As part of the celebration, certificates were distributed to the winners of various competitions held in honour of the feast. The programme also featured a value-based skit, a melodious wishing song, and a vibrant group dance, which added colour and enthusiasm to the event. A special highlight was a live saxophone performance by Sweethin Hartman, which mesmerized the audience and inspired many students to take an interest in learning musical instruments.
The vote of thanks was proposed by Devamshi Vipul Jani who sincerely thanked all those who contributed to the success of the celebration. The event concluded with the Institutional anthem, followed by a special lunch served to all students.
The feast day served as a beautiful reminder of the timeless values of faith, kindness, and purpose exemplified by St Ignatius of Loyola, leaving every student inspired to walk in his footsteps.