Mangalore: St Aloysius University on the anvil - Fr Denzil Lobo

By John B Monteiro

Mangalore, Jun 25: “If things move as planned, St Aloysius College will become St Aloysius University in the next couple of years,” said Fr Denzil Lobo, the recently appointed rector of St Aloysius College Institutions. He was speaking at the Mass in the College Chapel to mark the Benefactors Day and Feast of St Aloysius Gonzaga, patron saint of the college, on Sunday June 23.

The rector recalled the founding of the college 133 years ago with forty students and traced its growth to the present when the two campuses of the college, the second one at Beeri, host 14,000 students – from primary to post-graduate – covering many academic streams. He said that at the core of the growth of St Aloysius Institutions were a large band of past and present benefactors who donated generously over the past 133 years for the expansion of the institution’s infrastructure and services.

At the end of the Mass, names of 200 benefactors were called out by Fr Francis Almeida, vice-principal of the college, and the rector presented them mementos as a token of thanks.

Fr Pradeep Sequeira, administrator, AIMIT, delivering the homily in the Chapel, noted how Aloysius Gonzaga turned his back on his inheritance of vast family wealth and opted for service in the Jesuit Order. His example, he said, has been, and being, emulated by thousands of Jesuits since his time, including Pope Francis who is the first Jesuit to be elected to the Papacy.

Following the Mass, a fellowship was held in High School Hall where the rector made a power point presentation about the growth of the college, specially highlighting the extensive infrastructure on the two campuses.

The function in the Hall was briskly progressed by Fr Elvis Lewis, principal, St Aloysius Pre University college. Fr Swebert D'Silva, principal, St Aloysius College was present. It concluded with a buffet dinner.