Saintly cause of first Mangalurean handed over to Vatican’s envoy

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, July 27, 2019: Closing of the diocesan phase of the Inquiry of the cause of Beatification of Servant of God Raymond F C Mascarenhas, was a milestone in the history of Mangalore diocese. 

In a ceremonial process, under the seal of the Mangalore diocese, a delegation of  leading nuns of  Bethany of which Msgr Raymond was the founder in 1921, handed over documentation to the Vatican’s envoy at New Delhi.   The documents,  in 16 suitcases which will be delivered to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints at the Vatican for the next Roman phase. His Excellency Rev Giambattista Diquattro, the Vatical Nuncio (ambassador) met the delegation earlier this week.

The Roman Catholic Church, lays down strict processes in accordance with cannon laws, for declaring a person a ’saint’. The cause can take number of years - in recent times, a stream lining of the prescribed canonization process is seen and more saints of India are now recognised.  There is hope for saints from our own Konkani Catholic Community of Mangaluru origin too, among whom very holy heroic people are known. In past times there were saints mostly from Europe due to the influence in Rome, in recent decades many are there and from India Kerala specially. 

The official party y were accorded a warm welcome by Msgr Mitjaleskovar, First Counsellor of the Apostolic Nuncio. Sr Lillis the official Carrier handed over the documents the Monsignor. He was very appreciative of the presentation and the work done and took custody of the documents for further process.  

Sr Jyoti the first petitioner of the Cause and former Superior General, Sr Lillis was official carrier of the documents,  was joined by Sr Erasma, Sr Helima, Sr Helen and Sr Gracy D’Souza from Northern Province, Sr Margaritha and Sr Leena D’ Costa from Mangalore. Sr Dona who would be the Roman Postulator was wished many blessings for the future of the cause.