Mangalore: St Aloysius to Become University Soon - Principal

Media Release

Mangalore, Jan 13: If things go as per plan, St Aloysius College (Autonomous) is set to become University on its own in a couple of years. This was revealed by Fr Swebert D’Silva, principal of the College and director of St Aloysius College Alumni/ae Association (SACAA), in his message at the college annual reunion organized on SACAA platform at the college campus on Saturday January 12.

Fr Joseph Rodrigues, rector of St Aloysius College Institutions and patron of SACAA, presided. Dr Dayananda Pai, noted educationist and builder, an ex-Aloysian, was the chief guest.

In his message at the reunion, Fr D’Silva said that the college imparts some special values – of competence, conscience, compassion and commitment. "When you are able to live up to these values, you become brand ambassadors of this college. When the college becomes a University, it will need the help of its alumni in terms of expertise and various other contributions." He acknowledged their love and support extended to the college in its endeavors and sought their collaboration to take the institution to even greater heights.
 
Speaking on the occasion, Fr Rodrigues said that what started for providing education for Catholics in Mangalore 132 years ago has today grown into an educational conglomerate with about 14,000 students at the main campus alone. "There are 23 institutions under the Mangalore Jesuit Educational Society, including two major campuses at Beeri, near Mangalore, and Harihar. Many of these were established to mark the centenary and post-centenary golden jubilee of the college," he said.

Fr Rodrigues said that there are less Jesuits than the number of institutions and noted that they could be managed because of the help and support of lay people, both Catholics and non-Catholics. He urged ex-Aloysians to continue to support the Jesuit institutions in imparting wholesome education to the youth.

The focus of the reunion this year was the ambitious Swimming Pool Project, to be built to international standards, providing for 8 lanes of 50 metres each. It involves a cost of over Rs 4 crore and the University Grants Commission has sanctioned Rs one crore for it.

The chief guest, Dr Pai, so far the largest individual donor for the project, promised to do even more for it. More than the offer of enhanced donation, Dr Pai moved the audience with his spirited extempore speech wherein he exhorted the parents to encourage their children to be job-creators rather than job-seekers. The audience repeatedly clapped moved by his inspirational exhortations to give back to society what they drew from it, especially educational institutions – adding that he would continue to feel indebted despite whatever philanthropy he could do.
 
Fr Francis Almeida, who spearheads the fund-raising for the swimming pool project, conducted the “pot-luck” programme at the reunion venue by moving among the audience with an earthen pot from which well-wishers of the project drew chits bearing a number from 600 to 5999, which is the amount to be settled later through cheque.
 
SACAA president Michael D’Souza welcomed while vice-president, Dr Richard Gonsalves proposed the vote of thanks. Arthur D’Souza, convenor, along with Sumit Rao and Janice Goveas compered the event that comprised housie, music, fun and interactive games, ending with buffet dinner.