Bethany nuns launch 6 projects across India

Bethany nuns launch 6 projects across India

Mangalore Today News Network

Report by  -I J Saldanha- Shet

Mangalore, Dec 17: The Bethany Sisters of Mangalore headed by Rev.Sr.Wilberta BS and Rev.Sr.Lillis BS (Convener) in conjunction with the Bishop of Mangalore Rt.Rev.Aloysius P D’Souza and Diocesan members, on the evening of 16 of December 2010,honoured Msgr.Raymond F C Mascarenhas, a saintly Priest of the Diocese, the first Mangalore Konkani Catholic to enter the portals of potential ’Sainthood’ in the Roman Catholic Church.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Marking the death of  Msgr.Raymond at Bendur on 23 December 1960,  this saintly priest is the ’FOUNDER’ of the ’Bethany Sisters’ whose headquarters is at Bendur and are the only indigenous order of nuns in  Kanara now spread all over India and to some parts of Europe. Msgr.R F C Mascarenhas, was the first Parish Priest of Bendur who is reputed to have raised it from scratch in 17 years from 1914 to 1931.
 

An unprecedented presence of Bishops was in attendance for the observance. The Archbishop of Bangalore, Our own Bishop of Mangalore along with the Bishops of Shimoga,Gulbarga,Kannur, Belgaum,Belthangady,and Bellary, also apart from the public there were  many priests, nuns religious and a number of relatives of  Msgr Mascarenhas.

The  very solemn celebrations  commenced with a Concelebrated Eucharistic Mass,  this was followed by an exclusive programme to mark the singular occasion, at the Bendur Jubilee Hall overflowing with  a magnificent gathering  of  citizens, devotees, relatives, nuns, priests dignitaries key nuns of the Bethany order and  six Bishops; Presided over by the Bishop of Mangalore.


To make the celebration more meaningful and memorable, humanitarian projects were launched at this programme in six Provinces of Bethany Congregation throughout India. 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.Sr.Jyoti former Superior General honoured the authors and those associated.


An over view of  the life and personality of this great and magnificent Priest  -Msgr.RAYMOND who held sway over the civil and religious affairs of undivided South Canara and whose compassion and concern in the welfare of the marginalized and women in particular to gain education and circumferential development is today a great mass movement in public and religious domains.


The facet of his leadership in the Media is of prime importance he has penned several books in Konkani,Kannada and English. But his translations from Latin and English into Konkani of Prayer Books and major parts of the Bible are of particular importance to the local people.


He is also a widely travelled person of his time, having made trips to  Rome,Europe,US and the Holy land and so on. He widely travelled in India too.   

The thinking of this personality which has proved to be much before his time is today emulated by many a leader at most levels and needs to be in a wider manner in time to come as well. Let us take a brief overview of the life and mile stones of this ’Saint to be’ Msgr.Raymond, as he is fondly known in familiar terms.


In contemporary terms -the holy ‘Servant of God’  not only faced head on but seemed to provide an understanding and solution to the ills that  people are today facing in great tragic measure in the twenty first century world – he was a prophet before his time and as time moves ahead aware humans are able to see the design in his plans and exhortations like a ‘revelation’ unfolding before us. There are many challenges humanity all over the world is facing today, the primary  of these being; Fundamentalism, globalization, Gender discrimination, Rape of  Nature and Environment, Corruption and Materialism. The sense of sin which is today numbed, constantly concerned Msgr.Mascarenhas. His talks and sermons were often picturing the seriousness of sin and the path to overcome them, through the scriptural and divine closeness and fear.

It is the fervent hope of  all as expressed by the various speakers of the day; that  the end of this celebration will take this ‘Servant of God’ of  Kanara  to the next step in the process of ‘sainthood’ and he will be declared ‘Venerable’. The third step is ‘Blessed’ before being Canonized a Saint of the Church.