Media Release
Mangaluru, Dec 10: The congregation of the sisters of the Little Flower of Bethany, held a three-day Marian convention on the theme 'Mary’s Fiat: A Call to Holiness'. The event took place from December 7–9, at the Rosa Mystica Convent in Kinnikambla. A total of 290 sisters from the congregation, including representatives from eight provinces and three delegations, along with tertians, novices, and candidates, participated in the convention. The event proved to be a deeply spiritual experience for all participants, Rosa Mystica.
The Marian convention was inaugurated by Sr Rose Celine the superior of the congregation by unfurling the Marian flag and illuminated the statue of Mother Mary. In her opening message Sr Rose Celine paid tribute to the founder the Servant of God Raymond Francis Camillus Mascarenhas and expounded with great joy and delight that founder’s confidence in the Blessed Mother.
Sr Rose Celine invited the sisters to cultivate a deep love for Mary, encouraging them to spend time praying the rosary and to express their devotion through acts of love toward the Blessed Mother. Reflecting on the founder’s great devotion to Our Lady, she shared that during his free time and while traveling, he would always pray the rosary and inspire the sisters to do the same. The founder not only gave each sister the name of Mary but also named the convents in her honour. He urged the sisters to embody the virtues of Mother Mary in their daily lives.
Marian convention had a series of talks by the eminent personalities and scholars. Many of them spoke from the depth of their personal experience of Mother Mary.
Fr Vincent Sequeira, the secretary for commission for Bible of the Diocese of Mangalore, spoke on the role of Mary in the scriptures. He emphasized that Mary's life was shaped by the divine Word, and through his reflection, we were reminded that we too are called to enter into the mystery of faith, where Christ comes to dwell in our lives (Verbum Domini, 28).
Sr Lillis BS, the former postulator of the cause for the beatification of the founder, spoke from the depths of her heart during her address. She shared, "Bethany is the garden of Mary’s loving choice. Mary is the gardener, and we are the flowers." She further explained that the founder had placed Rosa Mystica under the patronage of the parish church of our “Lady of Pompei’. Sr Lillis recalled the saying of the founder, "When you are weary of life’s problems, take up your rosary and pray meditatively."
Sr Dr Mariette BS, the general councillor and convenor of the Marian Convention, speaking on the topic "Mother Mary and Bethany, she added founder, Mother Mary and Bethany are Inseparable and Interconnected," she emphasized that Mary has been with Bethany from its humble beginnings as a sapling to its growth into a fruitful branch. She explained that today, this branch has blossomed into a journey of fiat.
The second day of the Marian Convention focused on the theme of Mary’s message to the world. Fr Peter Mascarenhas SMM delivered a talk during the event. He stated that ‘Mary, as a sign of sure hope and solace, offers comfort to the pilgrim people of God (LG 68). Quoting Karl Rahner, it was pointed out that "Christianity is the only religion that needs a mother—to humanize God’s Word to the world."
We were invited to embark on a sacred journey with Mother Mary said Sr Juliet Shanthi while sharing her inputs on the visit of Mother Mary to Rosa Mystica. Her input session was deeply spiritual, left the sisters with heart-touching experience, inviting everyone to pray the rosary and grow in filial trust.
Sr Juliet Shanthi shared how Mother Mary draws everyone closer to her heart, urging us to pray and practice her virtues. She emphasized the importance of keeping ourselves pure, like the white flower, as a reflection of Mary's purity.
The afternoon session commenced with the sharing of testimonies by Sr Rosa Ann BS, Vishwas Rebimbus, Anita Shobha Maria Lobo, and Jia. All four speakers shared personal experiences of the love, care, and protection they had received from Mamma Mary. Their heartfelt testimonies were deeply moving as they recalled the feeling, the touch, and the warmth of the Blessed Mother in their life journeys, particularly during times of struggle. In the midst of their sufferings, they spoke of how Mary strengthened them and made them resilient through her grace and abiding presence.
The afternoon session commenced with Fr Ivan Madtha and Doris, presented a magnificent exhibition of rosaries. Fr Ivan delivered a paper on Applied Mariology, focusing on the role of Mother Mary in our lives and the lives of all believers. His presentation highlighted the virtues, devotion, and mission of Mary. He compared the twelve virtues of Mary to the twelve stars in her heavenly crown.
The third day of the Marian Convention focused on Imitation of Mary. Fr Leo Lasrado, secretary of CBE, Diocese of Mangalore, spoke on the significance of embodying the virtues Mary displayed throughout her life. Imitating Mary calls us to live with humility, recognizing ourselves as servants of God, as Mary humbly accepted God's will. It also teaches us to trust in God fully, even when His plans are unclear, just as Mary trusted His purpose for her life. Her unwavering faith encourages us to rely on God's promises, even in challenging times.
The last speaker of the Marian Convention was Fr Clifford Fernandes, the parish priest of Holy Cross Church, Kulshekar. He spoke on the theme 'Mary, the Model of Consecrated Life'.
Mary, the mother of Jesus, is often regarded as the ultimate model of consecrated life, embodying devotion, purity, and service to God. Mary perfectly exemplifies these virtues, making her an ideal model for those seeking to live a life fully surrendered to God’s will.
Fr Clifford highlighted Mary's total dedication to God, beginning with her "yes" at the Annunciation, reflecting the essence of consecrated life. He also spoke about her obedience, noting how she responded with humility and trust, saying, "I am the Lord's servant" (Luke 1:38).
Among the special highlights of the convention were the candlelight procession, the enactment of the mysteries of the Rosary, and the vivid exhibition of key moments from the life of Jesus, portrayed by the different provinces. Additionally, there was an exhibition showcasing various statues of Mother Mary. It highlighted the life, apparitions, and mission of Mother Mary. It was done by Shanthi and Swetha from Bendur Parish. A remarkable rosary exhibition was presented by Fr Ivan Madtha.
These beautiful images brought all participants closer to the heart of Mother Mary, inspiring everyone to deepen their love for her. By simply reciting prayers such as the Hail Mary and Holy Mary, each person was moved to express their devotion to our Blessed Mother, growing in love and reverence for her.
Praise and worship were conducted by Bro Don and team from Bangalore. The concluding message was delivered by Sr Rose Celine the Superior General and invited every participant to grow in the love of Mary and to live a virtuous life. The Marian convention came to end by lowering the Marian flag. Sr Shanthi Priya the assistant superior general proposed vote of thanks to everyone. Indeed, it was a unique experience to savour the love of our Blessed Mother at Rosa Mystica. In the words of St Padre Pio, 'The Rosary is the most powerful weapon to touch the Heart of Jesus, Our Mother, and to bring peace to the world.'