Media Release
Bangalore, Nov 2: A new book on the servant of God Fr Mascarenhas, written by James D`Souza was released at a simple yet meaningful ceremony at Bethany provincial house, Kachakanahalli, Bangalore Friday November 1, the feast day of All Saints.
The book titled “If Only I Knew…” was released by S Jayanathan, vicar general of the Archdiocese of Bangalore in the presence of Sister Lillis BS, assistant superior general, the author James D`Souza and his family, religious sisters, members of Bethany Lay Association and a good number of well wishers.
Speaking on the occasion S Jayanathan explained what it means to be a saint. Taking the word saint as an acronym, he said that to be a saint one has to be sanctified, accept God`s will, intercede (pray), negate oneself and trust in God.
“True witnessing means to proclaim what one has seen, heard and touched; and that`s just what James has done,” he summarized.
Sr Lillis BS introduced James D`Souza as a great thinker, a friend to bishops, priests and religious, a true son of the Church.
Raised in a house close to the Bethany Motherhouse in Bendur, Mangalore, James had known the Servant of God closely from his boyhood and while working in a bank at Mangalore for over a decade.
A sworn admirer of Fr Mascarenhas, his book is a compendium of several articles he wrote on various occasions, based on his personal experience or from what he has heard from his grandfather, the late Domingo Rosario D`Souza, a contemporary of the Servant of God.
Honoring the author with a shawl and a basket of fruits, Sr Lillis appreciated his love for Servant of God Fr Mascarenhas, founder of Bethany and for his single minded commitment to make him known and loved.
She also thanked his family for their wholehearted support. She pointed out that it was fitting that a book on the Servant of God be released on the Feast of All Saints.
It was an emotional but satisfied James who kept the gathering spell bound with his narration of what he had seen, heard and experienced about Fr Mascarenhas from the age of five till today.
He made no bones about his love and admiration for the person of Fr Mascarenhas, and expressed regret that during the more than half a century he had known and met the Servant of God, he never gave it a thought that he was in the company of a future saint.
“This book is my instrument to immortalize him,” he emphasized.
Alison, a granddaughter of James paid rich compliments to her famous grand dad on behalf of the entire family.
Sr Wilberta BS, superior general of Bethany, and Sr Lilitta BS, provincial superior of Bethany`s Bangalore Province could not make it to the historic occasion as their train was held up. However, they reached in time to meet and congratulate the author James D`Souza.