Media Release
Mangaluru, Sep 29: September 29 became a memorable day in the history of Missionary Society of Infant Jesus (MSIJ) as the fathers and brothers were privileged to celebrate for the first time the Founder's Day just after two years of his death.
Before commencing the celebration of the solemn thanksgiving Holy Mass in honour of the Founder's Day, Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, bishop of Mangalore diocese, blessed the renovated Missionary Society of Infant Jesus and Mother House. The invited priests and sisters faithful took part in the blessing of the renovated Mother House.
Before the Holy Mass began, Fr Melwin Basil Pinto, MSIJ, wholeheartedly welcomed bishop Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, all priest, nuns, siblings of the founder, benefactors, faithful gathered for the day's Eucharistic celebration.
Thereafter the Holy Mass began which was presided over by Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, Fr Victor George D'Souza, chancellor of the diocese of Mangalore, Fr James D'Souza, vicar forane of city deanery, Fr Andrew Leo D'Souza, parish priest, Bondel parish, Fr Bathula Ravi Kumar, MSIJ, superior general, Fr Ashok Kumar Nalla,MSIJ and all other priests concelebrated in the solemn thanksgiving Holy Mass.
The bishop, in his homily on the auspicious occasion of Founder's Day made all know that it is God who calls all and wills for them to become blessings in the lives of others in turn and similarly the founder too was called by God and by his way of life he inspired many. "He is not venerable, a servant of God, beatified, or declared as a saint yet we celebrate the founder for what good God did in his life. He has shared it with so many people, and they have experienced blessings from him in their life," the bishop said.
Before the final hymn of Holy Mass, Fr Bathula Ravi Kumar, MSIJ, the superior general proposed a vote of thanks. Revelation choir group led by Suraj Noronha sang melodiously for the Holy Mass. The gathered people expressed words of appreciation for the function organized in a very systematic way.
The Founder's Day function ended with a fellowship meal.