Daijiworld News Network - Mangalore
Report and pics Praveen Tauro
Mangalore, Oct 19: Sr Maria Goretti, superior general-designate of the SRA congregation, who will be taking up the charge soon in Austria, was felicitated by Bishop Aloysius Paul D'Souza at Vamanjoor on Wednesday October 18 evening.
Sr Lavina welcomed the gathering while Sr Snehal proposed the vote of thanks. Sr Hildegard read the letter of felicitation.
Msgr Edwin Pinto, Fr Walter Albuquerque, Msgr Fred Pereira, Fr Alphonsus D'Lima, Fr A J Saldanha and Monica, the elder sister of Sr Maria Goretti were also present on the dais.
Sr Maria Goretti - Another Name for Selfless Service and Dedication
by Gladson D'Almeida
No one is born great. It is one's commitment, efforts and unparallelled enthusiasm that raises him/her to heights where not many have scaled.
If talents alone were the licence to secure greatness, then everyone on the globe should have reached the pinnacle of success. But that is not so. There have been so many instances of exceptionally talented persons having faded away after making impressive beginning. Lucrative offers, glamorous environment and primarily lack of commitment and dedication often result in non-performance.
But there is a separate category of persons who never lose track of the aim despite distractions. Nothing can alter their mission and goal. They achieve what they dream. They not only dream but work day in and day out, sometimes even burning the midnight oil, to realize their dreams. This is a rare category and only a few fit into this.
Sr Maria Goretti, SRA, the champion of social causes, is an exclusive member of this category. Perhaps there are only a few who do not know about Sr Maria Goretti and her mission. No one might have ever better understood than Sr Maria Goretti that it is better to teach a hungry person how to fish than give him a fish to eat. This is what she has done ever since she professed her final vows in the congregation of Missionary Sisters of the Queen of Apostles (SRA). The record of her long association with the poor and needy of the Karwar diocese may never be obliterated.
Sr Maria Goretti was born to devout parents in the Little Flower Church of Kemmannu near Udupi. Traces of her simplicity and love for the poor were evident even during her childhood days. So her embracing a religious way of life was never a surprise. But she never wanted to be just a religious who would distinguish herself from the common people by way of her garb. She believed and still believes that words spoken without deeds are like a mere bubble over flowing water. She began her service under the able and privileged guidance of Msgr Edwin Pinto.
Her entry into Karwar diocese should be termed a boon to the diocese. She always had the blessings of Bishop William D'Mello in her mission. Once she began her work, she neither looked back nor did she pause for rest. She went on doing good to all, helping all those needy without any discrimination, and served the poor and the downtrodden relentlessly. Nothing, not even her illness, stopped her from carrying out the mission which she often terms as "God-given."
The Pratibhodaya Technical Institute at Honavar, Sharavati Kala Mandir, sponsorship programme from Bala Pragati Kendra, Sparsha Counselling Centre at Kajubagh, Navchetan Hospital at Haliyal started with the aim of providing medical services to the rural masses, a notebook manufacturing unit which provides training and employment to several people and computer training centres etc are the brainchild of Sr Maria Goretti. She is a visionary who always read the signs of times far ahead of her contemporaries. Thousands of individuals working as doctors, nurses, social work animators or teachers in these institutes are ever grateful to this "Mother Teresa of Karwar diocese". Most of the institutions founded by her are today run ably by the diocesan management while "Sadhana" child labour school has become a ray of hope to several children under the able leadership of laity.
Missionary Sisters of Queen of the Apostles congregation was founded by Fr Antonius Maria Bodwig, SJ in 1923. The generalate of the congregation is in Austria and the congregation has spread its wings in Europe, Asia and other countries. The SRA (Sororarum Regina Apostolorum) sisters came to India in 1963 and established their first base at Varanasi. Thereafter several of their houses were opened in northern as well as southern states.
Sr Maria Goretti was selected as the first provincial superior of Mangalore-Goa province in 2002. This higher responsibility never proved to be a burden for her but enthused her further. 'Prem Dham' a spiritual centre at Honavar, St Ignatius Nursing School, St Ignatius Social Work Centre, Maria Vianney Children's Home, De-addiction centre, Amar Jyoti English Medium School at Sorab, Deepalaya, a technical training institute for the physically challenged children in Bidar, Premanjali Kannada Medium School, Cynthia Memorial Palliative Care Centre at Kallianpur, Asha Kiran Hostel for the working women in Bangalore etc are nothing but the direct results of her visionary leadership.
As mentioned earlier, ill health was never an impediment in her mission. Despite undergoing two cardiac surgeries, she is still surging ahead with enthusiasm and zeal. Her commitment has been the hallmark of her achievements. She has always proved that she is an able leader who can not only lead from the front, but can also walk side by side with the commoners. Today she has been chosen to be the superior general of her congregation. She is only the second Indian after Sr Calista from Kerala, in the congregation to have been elevated to such a responsible position. It is not only an honour to her but to Mangaloreans as well because she represents Mangaloreans at the highest level of the congregation. It is an honour to her dedication, determination and unflinching spirit. With this same spirit she tells that her immediate mission is to venture into Africa.
In 2004, Sr Maria Goretti was conferred the Czech Republic award of 'Gracias Agit'. Blessed Teresa of Kolkata and supercop Kiran Bedi are the only other two Indians who have been honoured with this award so far.