Media Release
Pics: Stanley Bantwal
Mangaluru, Sep 19: The culminating ceremony of the Bethany Educational Society's platinum jubilee, orchestrated with grandeur, unfurled its splendour at Bethany Educational Society Mangalore on Monday September 18.
The thanksgiving Mass at St Sebastian Church Bendur, , was presided by Dr Peter Machado, the archbishop of Bangalore, and concelebrated by Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, Bishop of Mangalore diocese, Dr Gerald Issac Lobo, bishop of Udupi diocese, Dr Ignatius D’Souza, bishop of Bareilly diocese, and Dr Ignatius Mascarenhas, bishop of Simla-Chandigarh diocese. Many priests of the diocese, religious priests, alumni priests, religious, parents, staff, students and well-wishers of BES participated in the Eucharist.
In his eloquent homily, Bishop Peter Paul Saldanha, illuminated the laudable accomplishments of the Bethany Educational Society in the noble pursuit of educating underprivileged children, especially the girl child. He expounded upon the profound role of an educator, guiding and transforming students into responsible and conscientious citizens. He also applauded the Bethany congregation for their collaborative spirit in the parishes of the diocese of Mangalore for being agents of value-based education, social transformation through their teaching of catechism, pastoral services and social action.
Thereafter, floral tributes were paid to the Servant of God Raymond Francis Camillus Mascarenhas at his tomb by the bishops, Sr Rose Celine the superior general and the president of BES and the representatives among the staff and students.
An august formal stage programme unfolded within the hallowed St Sebastian Platinum Jubilee Hall, Bendur in the evening. Sr Rose Celine BS the president of Bethany Educational Society presided over the function. Her presidential address reverberated with admiration for the monumental strides taken by the visionary founder RFC Mascarenhas of Bethany, and the 4 founding members in their unwavering dedication to provide quality education, even in the remotest rural corners. She emphasized on the contributions of BES which has left its indelible mark on the diverse landscape of India spreading from the northern regions of Punjab and Haryana to the shores of Kanyakumari in the south, spanning from the north-eastern corners to the expansive west, transforming thousands of young hearts and minds through education. BES with its clear vision and a goal – ‘Transformative Education for Fullness of Life for all, especially the poor and girl children’, as in Gospel of John 10:10. Focusing on the three BES conventions, she said, “It has paved the way for a unique methodology, infusing the vision and core values into the very fabric of their educational pedagogy to promote multiple intelligences. The introduction of human rights and teaching of the Preamble of Indian Constitutions in all the BES schools has prepared a generation for peace, harmony and communal solidarity.”
A litany of gratitude was expressed to all the past and present council of management for their yeoman services for BES.
The chief guest of the function, Dr Peter Machado, archbishop of Bangalore, inaugurated the Platinum Jubilee Education Project. One of the special features of the platinum jubilee was to support 75 young poor rural girls from different provinces all over India, Bethany Educational Society, with the support and contribution of their staff, benefactors, and well-wishers, has collected a fund from where each one of these deserving girls will be gifted with Rs 1,00,000 to train themselves in vocational skills. He congratulated the Bethany congregation and the BES for their collaborative ministries and specially implanting the love of the Gospel among the children in their educational ministries
Alka Bhutani, a proud alumna of St Theresa’s Higher Secondary School Karnal - a unit of Bethany Educational Society, represented all the alumni of BES on the stage. With the sentiments of gratitude, she said BES has transformed her life. The moral science classes became the marrow of her being, these classes have guided her moral and emotional GPS to face the challenges of life and separate the weeds from the wheat. She highly appreciated the humanism that is inculcated in her to respect and cherish each other in the way each one is made celebrating one’s uniqueness and potentialities.
The Platinum Jubilee Souvenir was released by the U T Khader – speaker of Karnataka Legislative Assembly. Addressing the gathering he said “The Christian community has contributed a lot to the unity, fraternity and integral growth of the nation and the society.” He also said that the education and noble values received in Catholic educational institutions have become a source of strength and instilled confidence in him. Proper education sets people up to grow personally, professionally, and socially. It can awaken joy, curiosity and a deep desire to solve problems and help others. Teaching a student can inspire them to pursue leadership roles and positively impact those around them, he said. He congratulated Sr Rose Celine and the BES for their enormous contribution in the field of education.
Speaking on the role of educators, Vedavyas Kamath – member of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly from Mangaluru city, south constituency said, “Deep down, every good teacher knows the impact and importance of education. It is not just about learning reading, writing and arithmetic at school. Instead, it is about gaining the knowledge and the skills needed to become a better person and create a better society to live in.”
The guests of honour on the stage included Fr Vincent Monteiro – parish priest of Bendur, Dr Ignatius Mascarenhas – bishop of Shimla-Chandigarh diocese, Dr Ignatius D’Souza –bishop of Bareilly diocese, Sr Linette AC - representing assistant superior general Apostolic Carmel, Fr Melwyn Pinto SJ rector St Aloysius College.
The priorities of BES platinum jubilee were depicted through a colourful programme by the students of BES schools. The four priorities of the platinum jubilee year viz ‘upholding justice, liberty, equality and fraternity, promotion of peace and harmony, caring for mother earth and education for excellence & self-reliance were showcased by the students. Certainly, it was feast for the eyes and left a long-lasting impression on the gathering.
Sr Sandhya BS the secretary of BES welcomed the gathering and acknowledged their association with Bethany and BES. Sr Philomen Saldanha BS the member of the council of management proposed vote of thanks. Jasmine Moreira St Theresa School Bendur and Reena Saldanha St Joseph School Kankanady compered the programme. With a fellowship meal, the programme came to an end. Virtual livestreaming of the event enabled thousands of students, alumni and BES associates to participate in the platinum jubilee.