With immense gratitude we, the Sisters of the Little Flower of Bethany celebrated the 124th Ordination Anniversary of the Servant of God at the Mother House Chapel. This day is very significant to us as we have entered into his post centenary Silver Jubilee year. Fr Louis D’Souza SJ officiated the Eucharist at 6.20 am. Sr Molly Anna BS gave the following introduction:
“It was the most wonderful day of my life.” Reminiscing about his Ordination Day, the Servant of God RFC Mascarenhas, our beloved Founder uttered these grateful words.
Dear Father and my dear Sisters, indeed it is a wonderful day! With a sense of overwhelming gratitude, we, the Sisters of the Little Flower of Bethany celebrate the memory of his 124th Ordination anniversary.
He valued priesthood so much, even from his early life in the seminary and chose St John Mary Vianney as his role model. He even quoted and printed his words on his Ordination and First Mass Souvenir: The priesthood can be understood in heaven; if we could understand it on earth, we should die not of fear but of love.
Raymond entered St. Joseph's seminary Mangalore on 23rd February 1891 at the age of 16. As a seminarian, he was pious, faithful and diligent in the practice of virtues and was obedient to the rules and regulations of the seminary life. He was ordained a priest for the diocese of Mangalore on 4th March 1900.
He captured the vision and mission of Jesus by interiorizing the Sermon on the Mount and Nazareth Manifesto. Moved by compassionate love of Jesus, he preached the Good News by immersing himself in the lives of the suffering people and engaging in creative ministries which brought them liberation from various oppressive shackles especially illiteracy and poverty. The pastoral, media, educational, social and medical ministries that he initiated, brought new life in them. He carried on all his priestly ministries with great sacrifice, intense prayer, rigorous penance and relying on Divine Providence. The good example set by his own priestly life, the vigilant eye he kept and the timely advice he gave to many young men, have brought many vocations to the priesthood from the parishes he was working.
He proved to be a great preacher and an able administrator even from the early days of his ministry. His reflections and wisdom won him the admiration of all those who came in contact with him. It is worthwhile to recall the memorable congratulatory words of late Bishop L Raymond of the Diocese of Allahabad on his golden jubilee of ordination in 1950: "Not your diocese alone, but the whole Church of India and particularly the Indian Bishops and priests are proud of what you have done and regard you as one of the outstanding priests of the generation."
As we partake in this Holy Eucharist let us pray that we may imbibe his virtues, his zeal for the mission and his immense love for the Eucharist. Let us also implore that the odour of sanctity of the Servant of God RFC Mascarenhas may spread and that he may soon be raised to the honours of the altar.
