Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SB)
Mangaluru, Mar 13: The Father Muller Charitable Institutions celebrated the 179th birth anniversary of its founder Fr Augustus Muller on Friday, March 13 with all grandeur. The Father Muller Charitable Institutions also celebrated its 140 years of existence. The journey from being a hospital tending to leprosy patients to a multi-super specialty hospital was reminisced.
A thanksgiving mass was held at St Joseph’s Chapel at 4.30 pm with Fr Mathew Vas, parish priest of Immaculate Conception Church, Kinnigoli and dean, Mangaluru North Deanery as the main celebrants. The director of FMCI Fr Richard A Coelho; admin FMMCH Fr Rudolph Ravi D’Sa; admin FMMC, Fr Ajith B Menezes; admin FMHMCH, Fr Roshan Crasta; admin FMHT Fr Sylvester Lobo; assistant admin Fr Dheeraj Nelson Pais; chaplain and counsellor Fr Felix Monterio; chaplain Fr George D’Souza; chaplain Derelakatte Fr Felix Noronha and resident priest Derelakatte Fr Peter Noronha concelebrated the Holy Eucharistic celebration. The message of sermon delivered by Fr Mathew was to serve the people and country at all times in need and at every hour. The Eucharistic celebration also implored the help of the Most Holy Mother in interceding for the humankind in this time of distress due to the outbreak of the coronavirus.
The solemn mass was then followed by a cultural extravaganza by the FMCI faculty and staff, showcasing their talents. Staff and faculty from the various sister institutions of FMCI become actors, dancers, singers, musicians exhibiting folk art, western and eastern music and the Indian culture.
This year’s events were keenly scrutinized by Fr Ajith B Menezes with various themes to depict the unity and diversity of India and the bishop of Mangaluru’s initiative to plant trees, save life and be pro-life.
The welcome dance was gracefully performed by the Father Muller Hospital Thumbay and the prayer song beautifully rendered by the Father Muller College of Speech and Hearing. The beauty of Namma Kudla was brought fore by the Yakshaghana art form by Arun Kumar (FMMC).
India and its unity in diversity was objectified with a dance ensemble, with Father Muller College and School of Nursing showcasing the dance forms of the Southern Peninsula and the Father Muller Homeopathic College and Hospital showcasing the North Indian heritage and culture. The Catholic theme of the year declared by Peter Paul Saldanha, bishop of the Mangaluru diocese 'Pro Life, Preserve Life' was enacted by the Father Muller Medical College and Hospital, dramatizing with song and dance preserving of life from conception to birth, promoting the Catholic ethos.
Vibrancy of the yesteryear's Hindi film era was enacted by the jubilant Father Muller Medical College.
The director FMCI in his welcome address thanked the faculty and staff who put in their selfless service and dedication to uplift the institutions and thus bring about healing and comfort of the sick. “The enthusiasm to teach in the healthcare sector, to bring in knowledge equipped health personnel is the need of the hour and all the faculty and staff are deserving of credit for doing so. He stressed that the progress of the organization depends on its faculty and staff, urging everyone to put in their best, no matter if someone is watching or not. A culture of 'belonging' needs to be inculcated from within and regulations need to be part of routine in work setup. Discipline needs to be followed to run a well-oiled army,” he said.
The chief guest Fr Mathew Vas spoke on the virtues a teacher, employee and employer. There is a need to collaborate to lead the institutions to greater heights, he said.
David Sequeira, who had served FMMC for many years, was felicitated by the chief guest, director and administrators.