Media Release
Mangaluru, Aug 24: The Feast of St Mary of Jesus Crucified (St. Mariam Baouardy), the Patroness of Ryshivana, Ranipura, was celebrated on Sunday, August 23 at Ryshivana Chapel. Bishop Aloysius Paul Dsouza, the Bishop Emeritus of Mangalore Diocese, was the main celebrant.
Around 30 priests including Fr Andrew Leo Dsouza, vicar fornae, Fr Rajesh Melwyn Rosario, St. Joseph’s Seminary rector, Fr Joe Tauro, episcopal vicar of Udupi Diocese and many diocesan, religious and Carmelite priests were present. Along with them more than 50 religious sisters and around 200 neighbouring lay friends and well-wishers participated.
A soul searching homily was preached by Fr Wilfred Rodrigues, ocd, the Superior of Fatima Retreat Centre at Xellim, Goa. In his homily he explained the life, Spirituality and Message of St. Mary of Jesus Crucified who is also called as St. Mariam Baouardy (1946-1978). She is known as “The little Arab”. She was a Palestinian Discalced Carmelite nun, mystic and stigmatist born in Galilee. She was orphaned young, experienced profound spiritual phenomena, helped found monasteries at Kankanady, Mangalore and Bethlehem, and was Canonised in 2015. She is known for her deep humility. She also experienced mystical graces like ecstasies, levitation, prophecies and stigmata. She died at the age of 32 on August 26, 1878.
The holy Eucharist was followed by a short felicitation and thanksgiving program. Fr Dominic Vas, the director of Ryshivana and Fr Archibald Gonsalves, asst. director, thanked everyone who had participated in the celebration and introduced Ryshivana, the Spirituality centre to the audience.
The meaning of “Ryshi” means R = Religion; Y= Yoga; S = Spirituality; H = Health; I = Integration. So Ryshivana is a garden or centre which integrates Religion with yoga, spirituality and holistic Health. It is situated at Ranipura on a hill overlooking the deep green valley full of trees ever flowing Netravathi river and the stable Arabian Sea.
Ryshivana can accommodate around 120 people residentially having 80 bath attached rooms. It has 2 large halls, 2 spacious chapels and a refectory which can accommodate around 150 people. Here we conduct retreats, Seminars, courses for priests, religious and lay people both in English and Konkani. The facilities are provided even for those who like to spend a few days in relaxation. Picnic or excursion tour groups can be accommodated providing both lodging and boarding for which office can be contacted on Ph: 9449083880 or director at 90086033889.
Finally the whole celebration concluded with the dinner. All appreciated the fraternity experienced during the celebration.