Media Release
Mangaluru, Dec 19: Bethany Social Service Trust® (BSST) celebrated silver jubilee of its existence on Saturday December 19.
The celebrations were held on beginning with a thanksgiving Eucharist officiated by Fr Felix SJ and thereafter a short felicitation programme at Sahodaya hall, Bendore. Sr Rose Celine, the president of the Trust, presided over the programme, Sr ShanthiPriya, secretary and director of Sahodaya, accorded a cordial welcome to all, Sr Leena D’Costa, the programme coordinator of Sahodaya presented the brief report of BSST and felicitated the past and present office bearers of the Trust. The directors/heads of various NGOs of Mangaluru participated in the celebration.
The Nazareth Manifesto of Jesus and the missionary zeal of the founder servant of God RFC Mascarenhas became the guiding motivation for evangelization for the Bethany Sisters through their various ministries, very specially the Social and Medical Apostolates.
BSST thus was registered in 1995 to give a comprehensive framework to the pro-poor activities of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Little Flower of Bethany, Mangaluru. Late Sr Agnella, the then superior general was the founding president, Sr Jyoti the secretary, Sr Medella the treasurer, Sr Lillis, Sr Clerina and Sr Ann Teresa, were the founding trustees. Sahodaya being its visible face, became a hub of multifarious activities in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi Districts working towards the emancipation and empowerment of women, girl children and the marginalised.
Since 2016, Sr Rose Celine, as its president, Sr Shanthi Priya as the secretary, Sr Christine the treasurer and Sr Lillis, Sr Mariette and Sr Lilitta the member trustees, hold the baton of fervour and move forward to make the dreams of BSST come true towards building a humane, just and fraternal world.
Ever since its inception, BSST has taken up very challenging issues that beset the contemporary society and relegates the most vulnerable ones pushing them further onto the margins of the society without any hopes for their dreamof a peaceful living.
To mark this jubilee year BSST has launched a website- www.bsstmangalore.org published a special news bulletin - ‘Sahodaya’ and has released a book – “Bethany in Frontier Mission”, edited by Sr Shanthi Priya, the general councilor and the Secretary of BSST. These channels will provide more information aboutthe works of BSST.