Media Release
Mangaluru, Aug 7: The inaugural function of the golden jubilee of St Agnes Special School was held on August 6 at the school hall.
Sr Maria Shamita AC, provincial superior of AC Karnataka Province inaugurated the year by lighting a lamp and unveiling the ‘Golden Jubilee Logo’ along with the founder principal Sr Maria Jyothi AC, joint secretary Sr Maria Anita, principal Sr Maria Shruthi, PTA president, Irine Pinto and school pupil leader Vaibhav.
The whole campus was filled with a festive mood as the special children gave the guard of honor to the guests and the 50 former students carried lights in procession.
The programme began with a welcome dance by the special children. The principal welcomed the gathering and gave the significance of the day.
Jubilees are occasions to celebrate special and significant milestones of a person’s life or that of an institution. Fifty years is a golden milestone. Fifty years ago the Apostolic Carmel congregation celebrated 100 years of its presence in India in the service of God and His people. St Agnes Special School was the centenary memorial of the Apostolic Carmel and was started on August 4, 1970 in a cottage called 'Rest' on the premises of St Agnes College by the then Superior General Mother Theodosia AC as a project of the department of Psychology, with Sr Maria Jyothi as founder principal and five students on roll. A jubilee is a time to look back on the past and recount the blessings of success and growth the institution has attained. The vision and foresightedness of Mother Theodosia enabled Sr Maria Jyothi and her crew to launch and continue the service of special education to the mentally challenged children whose number increased year by year. St Agnes Convent and College strengthened and supported its efforts in the initial years. The principal also thanked all who contributed to the growth of the institution.
The special children gave a colourful performance and entertained all gathered. The hall was filled to capacity with parents, children and well wishers of St Agnes Special School.
Sr Maria Jyothi AC was felicitated for her dedicated service among persons with special needs. In her speech, she said, “The tiny seed sown on August 4, 1970 in a small house at St Agnes campus, as a service project of St Agnes College has grown now into a mighty tree. With a grateful heart, I say ‘My soul magnifies the Lord and my heart rejoices in God my Saviour’. I rejoice with all the past and present staff both teaching and support staff, PTA members, students and all who helped from day one to date. As St Agnes Special School ushers in the golden year, I pray that the management, principal and staff continue the humanitarian work and have the joy of seeing the golden year turn into diamond."
Philomena read out the fifty activities planned to celebrate the event, some of the major activities being sports meet, cultural competitions, camp, PTA meet, old students’ reunion and the fund raising programme – A comedy drama 'Pushpakkana Imana' by Tulu actor/director Devadas Kapikad and invited the parents and well wishers
to render their help in executing the planned activities.
Sr Shamita AC in her address congratulated the principal, staff and students for carrying on the noble work of imparting God’s love and light to the differently abled children. Quoting Robin Sharma, she said, “Make your life matter. Be of use. Serve as many people as possible. This is how each of us can shift from the ordinary into the extraordinary and walk amongst the best who ever lived.”- And that is exactly what the sisters and teachers did, by working hard with determination, commitment and sacrifice for the success of this school and they all need to be praised and complimented on this day. She prayed God’s blessings on the school and wished success in the golden jubilee activities.
The programe was compered by Marcelline Noronha and vote of thanks was delivered by vice principal Sr Maria Laveena.
The golden jubilee celebrations will culminate with its finale in the year 2020.