At the outset of the Eucharistic Celebration the Bishop of Mangalore said “I Rt Rev Aloysius Paul D’Souza declare Mgr Raymond Francis Camillus Mascarenhas, the founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Little Flower of Bethany and former Vicar General of the Diocese of Mangalore as the “Servant of God”. At this declaration around 30 priests, more than 500 Bethany Sisters, priests and nuns belonging to other religious orders and the parishioners of St Sebastian’s Church, Bendur expressed their joy with thunderous claps. Bendur is just a few kms away from the Port city of Mangalore, in Karnataka. The celebration was held on June 16, 2008.
Bishop Aloysius Paul D’Souza briefing the life sketch of Mgr Raymond FC Mascarenhas explained three specific objectives for founding the Congregation of the Sisters of the Little Flower of Bethany on July 16, 1921. Mgr Raymond FC Mascarenhas, the first Parish Priest(1914) of St Sebastian’s Church, Bendur sensed the need for the poor who could not get admission in other religious congregations due to lack of higher education and a fat dowry.
Secondly the diocese of Mangalore was in need of teachers to cater to the Christian education.
Thirdly to educate the rural poor, specially the girl child.
Bishop also added that “Mgr Raymond Mascarenhas’s ardent devotion to the Eucharist, love for the proclamation of the Gospel, devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and his compassionate love for the poor have merited him the honour ‘the Servant of God’.
Today Bethany has 162 convents with 1300 sisters. In Karnataka alone Bethany has 65 convents out of which 60 of them in the rural areas. Bethany sisters also serve in India, Italy, Germany, France, Austria and West Africa – in the field of faith formation, care of the elderly, education, social and medical work.
The Servant of God Raymond Mascarenhas, a native of Mangalore was born on January 23, 1875 at Shimoga in Karnataka. He had his studies at Milagres Primary School and St Aloysius College, both at Mangalore. He was ordained on March 4, 1900 for the Diocese of Mangalore after his priestly studies at St Joseph’s Seminary, Mangalore. He served in the five remote parishes of Mangalore diocese and was known as the ‘father of the poor’. In 1955 Pope Pius XII had conferred on him the title “Domestic Prelate” for his zeal for preaching the goodnews especially to the rural poor.
The Servant of God Raymond Mascarenhas was the first one to translate the New Testament into Konkani and thus to bring the message of Christ to the people in their own language. He is the first Servant of God in the Diocese of Mangalore.
It was in August 2007, Sr Jyoti the Superior General petitioned the bishop of Mangalore to initiate the cause of Mgr Raymond Mascarenhas. Sr Kattakayam Lillis is the Postulator and Sr Miriam Miranda, the vice postulator for the cause.
Rev Sr Joyti, BS the Superior General expressed her gratitude to the Bishop with a bouquet of flowers for his unceasing guidance and help.
Sr Joy, BS one of the Councillors to the Superior General thanked Mgr Dennis Prabhu, the Vicar General and Rev Fr Henry Sequeira, Chancellor, Diocese of Mangalore for their ready help and encouragement given to the Congregation regarding the cause of beatification and canonization of the Servant of God Mgr Raymond FC Mascarenhas.
-Sr Celine Vas, BS
