Media Release

Mangaluru, Dec 22: 58th death anniversary of the Servant of God, Mgr RFC Mascarenhas and founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Little Flower of Bethany was commemorated at St Sebastian Church, Bendore on December 22 with a Eucharistic celebration.

Bishop of the diocese Dr Peter Paul Saldanha along with 15 priests concelebrated the eucharist. A large number of people- lay faithful, relatives of the Servant of God, Bethany Sisters, Bethany Lay Associates, staff and students participated in the Eucharist.

Sr Dona BS at the introduction welcomed the gathered congregation and briefed everyone on the importance of the day.

Fr Gregory D’Souza, OCD preached a meaningful and inspiring homily based on the day’s Word of God. Quoting examples of Anna in the OT and B V Mary in the NT he advised the gathering to live gratefully and humbly. He recalled the memory of seeing a servant of God and focused on how that servant discerned the will of God in his life and like Moses consecrated himself to free the poor, illiterate, ignorant people especially girls of his time and became ‘Father of the poor’.

He lived for the poor, for the church and for the Word of God; now he continues his mission through the Congregation of the Bethany Sisters. Fr Gregory emphasised that to be a Christian is to live gratefully and humbly and that is to live for the church as the servant of God did.

Sr Mariette BS proposed the vote of thanks to Bishop Peter Paul Saldanha, the individual priests, especially Fr Gregory D’Souza, OCD for his inspiring homily, relatives of the Servant of God, religious and the faithful for their participation and prayer in honour of the Servant of God. She appreciated the melodious choir that made the celebration eventful and acknowledged the services of the parochial priests, sacristan and others.

At the conclusion of the mass, Bishop Peter Paul Saldanha, Sr Rose Celine, superior general of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Little Flower of Bethany and Fr Vincent Monteiro the parish priest of Bendore laid wreaths on the tomb of the Servant of God. Prayer was offered to God to raise the servant of God to the honours of the altar and the choir sang a Konkani song composed by Fr Nelson D’Almeida in honour of the servant of God.

It was followed by release of three books: 1. ‘A Treasury of Pearls’ sayings of the servant of God compiled by Sr Miriam BS which was released by his Bishop Peter Paul Saldanha 2. The Konkani translation of the same book by Gilbert Miranda was released by Sr Rose Celine BS 3. The book ‘Unless the Seed Die’ authored by late Sr Violette BS, now translated into French by Sr Ignatia BS was released by Dr Lourdes Prabhu grand niece of the servant of God.

At the end all the assembled faithful were served cold drink and snacks.