RFCM - Compassion Paster - Dec 2010
RFCM - Compassion Paster - Dec 2010
RFCM - Compassion Paster - Dec 2010
Sr M Wilberta, BS
Chief Editor
Sr M Lillis, BS
Members
Rev Fr Joseph Martis
Mr Ivan Saldanha
Sr Miriam, BS
Sr M Theresine, BS
Sr M Rose Margaret, BS
Sr M Jessy Rita, BS
Sr M Virginia, BS
CONTENTS
EDITORIAL
BOARD
1. Foreword - Sr M Wilberta, BS
2. Message - His Eminence Cardinal T P Toppo
3. Message - Most Rev Aloysius P D Souza
4. Message - Rev Fr Joseph Martis
5. Message - Rev Fr Cedric Prakash, SJ
6. Editorial - Sr M Lillis, BS
7. 50
th
Death Anniversary Celebration of the Servant of God
Raymond F C Mascarenhas at St Sebastians, Bendur
8. Homily of Most Rev Bernard Moras, Archbishop of Bangalore
9. Memorial Programme at St Sebastians, Bendur
10. Presidential Address
Most Rev Aloysius P D Souza, Bishop of Mangalore
11. Religious Fervour and Renewed Commitment
mark Celebration for SD Raymond Mascarenhas
- Fr Cedric Prakash, SJ
12. Memorial Symposium on the Servant of God
13. Relevance of Servant of God Raymond F C
Mascarenhas Charism in Todays Context
- Dr Sr Mariette, BS
14. Msgr Raymond Mascarenhas - A Good Shepherd
- Rev Fr Nelson Dalmeida
15. The Late Very Rev Msgr Raymond F C Mascarenhas
- Editor, Raknno Jan 4,1961
16. The Late Rt Rev Msgr R F C Mascarenhas
Mangalore January 1961
17. Impressions and Memories - Msgr Alexander F DSouza
18. Msgr R F C Mascarenhas as I Know Him
- Rev Fr Frank Mathias SJ
19. Msgr R F C Mascarenhas- A Preacher - Rev Fr Fred Monis
20 My Close Encounter - Joseph Albuquerque
21. Fifty Years Ago.... - G L D Souza & R D Souza
22. Favours Received
23. Eucharistic Celebration in Parishes
24. Homily at Milagres, Mangalore - by Rev Fr J B Saldanha
25. Memorial Programme at Milagres Jubilee Hall, Mangalore
26. 50
th
Death Anniversary Celebration in the Provinces
27. Inauguration of the 50
th
Death Anniversary
28. Cause of Beatification in Progress
THE COMPASSIONATE PASTOR
DECEMBER 2010
Bethany Generalate
Kankanady Post
Mangalore - 575 002
8 December 2010
FOREWORD
Sr M Wilberta, BS
Superior General
Let anyone say anything, human beings may have shortcomings, but
Monsignor Mascarenhas was a great priest, who toiled for the greater glory of
God through his achievements. May the Lord grant him eternal happiness.
These were the words of the late Most Rev Raymond D Mello, the then Bishop
of Mangalore as he received the news of the death of Monsignor Raymond FC
Mascarenhas. Fifty years have rolled by. Most of those who knew him at close
quarters are no more. But, over these 50 years, the fragrance of his holiness
which emanated from his passion for Christ and compassion for humanity has
crossed even across the seas.
In his faith vision, the Servant of God resembled the Patriarch Abraham.
When the Divine call urged him to start an indigenous Congregation, he waited
no longer. Sharing his idea with the late Bishop Perini he said, I speak as if in
foolishness
The Lord gave him a longer life span to realize that his foolishness
was the wisdom of God. He saw the flowering of the little sapling Bethany that
he had planted in the year 1921. His love for Bethany was an expression of his
commitment to Holy Mother the Church to whom he lovingly offered the
Congregation that he had founded as a powerful apostolic arm.
The articles in various issues of The Compassionate Pastor explicitly testify
that people from different walks of life are inspired by this great man of God to
live an enhanced Gospel life with genuine love and compassion towards ones
neighbour.
I sincerely thank all the members of the Editorial Board for their labour of
love in finding interested people to write articles and also for spending time for
this noble cause. The Servant of God was an apostle of the Catholic Print Media
and wanted to share the ardour of sanctity flooding his all embracing heart
through the printed word.
May he pray for each of the readers so that the vision of this compassionate
pastor becomes our vision.
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December 1, 2010
Ranchi, Jarkhand
Telesphore P. Cardinal Toppo
Archbishop of Ranchi
Archbishops House
P. Box 5, Dr. Camil Bulcke Path
Ranchi - 834 001
Jharkhand, India
Heart-warming accounts of sanctity of the Servant of God, Msgr Raymond
F C Mascarenhas, have been shared by some of his contemporaries and numerous
beneficiaries. Evidently, the significant fruits of the Charism bestowed upon Msgr
Mascarenhas, are being zealously treasured and shared by the Sisters of the
Little Flower of Bethany, whom the Servant of God was inspired to found. Well-
noted for his deep spirtiual integrity and preferential service of the poor, Msgr
Mascarenhas prophetically read the signs of his time. He courageously founded
a religious Congregation for women that would effectively waive the then
regulatory constraints of patrimony. He thus enabled numerous women of humble
economic background to lead a life of Evangelical Virtues and to generously
dedicate themselves to the service of the poor. His intiative was indeed timely,
for within a decade of his death the Bethany Institute increased threefold, reaching
across India and abroad.
Imparting Catholic values through education, particularly to girls, received
significant impetus through the initiative of Msgr Mascarenhas. It helped form
young women not only for responsible motherhood, but also provided them with
a viable option for dedicating themselves through religious life. Additionally,
education helped to cultivate efficient and dedicated teachers who would impart
Christian doctrine in schools and parishes in the remote rural areas. Similar tasks
are being carried forward by the Bethany Sisters, as they are popularly known,
to this day. So focused was Msgr Mascarenhas on the service of Faith and spread
of the Word that he translated the New Testament into local language. He
continued with translation of the Old Testament through his twilight years until
physical infirmity constrained him.
On the 50th Death Anniversary of Msgr Raymond F C Mascarenhas, I felicitate
the Bethany Sisters and pray that they may zealously carry forward the indomitable
zeal and fervour of their Founder. My personal regards to Rev Sr M Wilberta,
Superior General, and all the Sisters. Through the intercession of Our Lady,
whose ardent devotee and beloved beneficiary Msgr Mascarenhas had always
been, may the Lord hasten him to the dignity of the altar.
+ Telesphore P. Cardinal Toppo
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Dear Rev Sister,
Celebrating 50th Death Anniversary of the Servant of God Msgr Raymond
F C Mascarenhas is an occasion to thank God for this great visionary and appreciate
the good he achieved as a compassionate pastor and Founder of the Congregation
of the Sisters of the Little Flower of Bethany. Though five decades have gone by
since his death, the fond memory of his compassion, care and concern for all,
still lingers on especially in those who had closely associated with him. It is but
fitting that his Death Anniversary is celebrated to pray for him and to keep his
memory alive.
Msgr Raymond is remembered for what he was and what he accomplished
in life as a committed priest of this Diocese. As a pastor in Udayavar, Agrar and
Bendur he nurtured the faith of the people in the Eucharist and brought them to
Jesus, the Pastor Bonus. He cared for them in their physical as well as spiritual
needs. He went out of his way to alleviate the sufferings of poor people. While
doing so he drew inspiration and strength from Jesus, the Divine Master. He
encouraged vocations to priestly and religious life.
He desired that all children, especially girls from economically poor
background, be educated. It was a time when education could be afforded only
by the rich in society. He founded schools for this purpose and inspired committed
teachers for the job. He founded the Bethany Congregation and education became
one of its apostolates.
We look up to Msgr Raymond Mascarenhas with admiration and draw
inspiration from his life. May he rest in peace and if it is Gods will, may he be
raised to Sainthood!
BISHOP'S HOUSE, KODIALBAIL
MANGALORE - 575 003
DAKSHINA KANNADA, INDIA
21 November 2010
Tel : 2440524 ( 4 Lines)
Fax : 91-0824 - 2444035
E-mail : [email protected]
Most Rev Aloysius Paul D Souza
Bishop of Mangalore
DIOCESE OF MANGALORE
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V. Rev Fr Joseph Martis
Rector
We are all at Christmas season. It is a season which speaks of giving and of
sharing. The highest form of giving is seen at the manger. Here we perceive
that God so loved the world that He gave his only Son. Gods superb gift to
the humanity is His only Son; the most precious wealth God possessed was His
Son and that He gives to humanity. This giving continues in the person of
Jesus. His whole life was giving, giving of everything, including his entire life.
Thus giving constitutes the very identity of a Christian and much more that of
a disciple.
Msgr Raymond Mascarenhas understood this message of the Gospel so
well that he interpreted his life as nothing but a life for others. He began to give
everything God had bestowed on him. He was a man with gifts and talents.
Right from the time of his Seminary training at St Josephs, he shared all that
he had. Selfishness was never found in his life dictionary. He trained himself in
such a way that the Seminary formation was a serious moment of configuration
unto the image of Christ. Everything in the Seminary formation: prayer, work,
games, studies, recreations, etc were moments to fathom the love of God and
to enrich oneself and fashion unto the image of Christ. Every activity in the
Seminary, even the simplest, was valued by him as precious.
As priest, Msgr Raymond was a figure of generosity and love. His priestly
ministry shows that he gave himself. Wherever there was something to be
done to the Lord, he never hesitated for a moment. He never sought anything
for himself. He never counted the cost.
His life was simple. He loved the ordinary folk. He was ready to serve the
common and simple people. When sent to the villages, he was the happiest
man; for there he found the blessed, the poor and the meek. It seems in Africa
someone had learned the beatitudes by heart. A missionary asked him how he
could do that. The answer was simple, he said: Father, I tried to live every
beatitude and thus made it my own. Msgr Raymonds life and ministry was a
radiance of the beatitudes. He lived them. He went about proclaiming them in
his words but much more in his deeds. Today we raise our hearts and minds to
God for the gift of this holy person to the Universal Church and to the Church
in Mangalore in particular. Our humble prayer today is that he may join the list
of the scores of saints who have borne witness to the beatitudes.
St Josephs Seminary
P.B. No. 503
Mangalore - 575 002, INDIA
Ph : 0824- 2437056, 2436489
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It is with a sense of profound gratitude and intense spiritual renewal that
we celebrate the memory of the SERVANT OF GOD Msgr Raymond Francis
Camillus Mascarenhas, on his 50
th
death anniversary.
The legacy which he has left behind can never be measured in human
terms. It encompasses the totality of discipleship with its many dimensions. It
includes a spiritual rootedness, a vision which would necessitate change, a
challenge to run the race with courage and without counting the cost, and
above all a freedom to ensure that the Kingdom of God is established in the
here and now!
Being a true disciple of Jesus is fraught with risks and hardships. Msgr
Raymond took all this in his stride and he never lost sight of the fact that
primarily he had to be A COMPASSIONATE PASTOR listening and responding to
the cries of his people. Jesus, he was convinced, would not have done otherwise.
He never ever flinched from doing all he could to uphold truth and justice, in
the interest of the poor and marginalized.
He was truly a PROPHET-who could read, interpret and respond to the
signs of the times. He feared no one, because of his deep faith in God.
A fitting tribute to this great Disciple of Jesus will be to try to imbibe some
of the stellar qualities he possessed, to make them our own and to communicate
these, by word and deed, to others. Msgr Raymond is also definitely an icon to
be emulated by every priest today.
The Congregation of the Sisters of the Little Flower of Bethany continues
his rich legacy in a variety of ways today...In this Jubilee Year there is the
added dimension to do much more. Congratulations to all and very especially
those involved in his CAUSE, for communicating his saintliness to all.
Our prayer is that the Compassionate Pastor be raised to the altars very
soon!
Fr Cedric Prakash sj
Fr Cedric Prakash SJ
PRASHANT (A Centre for Human Rights, Justice and Peace)
Hill Nagar, Near Kamdhenu Hall,
Drive-in Road, Ahmedabad - 380052,
Tel :079-27455913/Fax:079-27489018
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Sr M Lillis BS
Editor
Expounding the theme of Incarnation Servant of God
Raymond Mascarenhas says, It is a pity that we, who are
the objects of that compassionate love, do not understand
its intensity or nature. The saints understood this and made
some return at least. Continuing with the same theme he
refers to St Mary Magdalene of Pazzi in whose heart Jesus
had imprinted the words, And the Word was made flesh.
The life and mission of the Servant of God explicate
that he too had a deeper understanding of the mystery of
the Incarnation. I have often heard from our novice mistress, Sr Esperie that
Msgr Raymond would burst into tears when he spoke of God becoming a human
being.
His deeper understanding of the Incarnation urged him to involve in far-
sighted activities that brought about tremendous changes in the society and in
the life of the individuals. While I was visiting our communities in Dakshina Kannada
last month, I had an opportunity of conversing with various lay people and elderly
sisters who would narrate the social developments and spiritual growth that
have been brought about through the instrumentality of the Servant of God
especially through his educational and pastoral activities among the poor.
I marvel at his pastoral zeal that urged him to cover such difficult terrain
while he was a parish priest at Agrar. Contemplating to have more parish
churches in the neighbouring areas and thus to incarnate Jesus in the hearts of
people, he had acquired property in places, such as, Siddakatte, Nirkan and
Allipade, weathering all the financial problems that beset him.
He gathered all
the means and used all his talents and ingenuity so that the Word takes Flesh
in the hearts of the people. It was this vision that urged him to reach out to the
poor and the needy irrespective of their culture, religion, caste and creed. He
could not resist the power of the Word Incarnate who took flesh in his heart.
He had to be like his Master who emptied himself even unto death.
All the services of the Servant of God were born out of love. The articles in
the bulletin substantiate the same. On a priority basis we have included in this
special issue, the translated obituary that appeared in Raknno, the Konkani
weekly of the diocese of Mangalore, on the occasion of his passing away in
1960, and two of the condolence messages that Bethany received. In addition
to that, the memories of three priests and a lay person of the diocese who
knew him well demonstrate how they were inspired by the example and
the dedicated life of service of the Servant of God. They portray him as a Pastoral
priest Bona Pastor! The homilies, articles and photographs connected with
the 50th death anniversary celebration of the Servant of God unraval to the
readers the spiritual depth of this good shepherd.
Indeed, he was a compassionate pastor who incarnated love and taught
us the lesson of love. May the commemoration of the 50
th
Death Anniversary of
the Servant of God be a celebration of giving, a celebration of loving.
The Incarnation - A Lesson of Love The Incarnation - A Lesson of Love The Incarnation - A Lesson of Love The Incarnation - A Lesson of Love The Incarnation - A Lesson of Love
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Homily of Most Rev Bernard Moras
Archbishop of Bangalore
on 16
th
December 2010
The focal point of the celebrations was the solemn concelebrated
Mass presided over by the Archbishop of Bangalore, Most Rev Bernard
Moras together with five Bishops and many priests. It highlighted the
50th death anniversary celebrated on 16
th
December 2010 (in anticipation
of 23 December 2010) at the St Sebastians Parish Church, Bendur,
Mangalore. The Bendur church is a hallowed site, where the service and
memory of the Servant of God, Msgr Raymond F C Mascarenhas, the first
one for Mangalore, are enshrined. The homily delivered by Archbishop
Moras which is reproduced below, will go down in the annals of the Cause
of Beatification of Msgr Raymond F C Mascarenhas which God willing is
progressing.
His Grace Archbishop Bernard Moras of Bangalore is a part of the
rock that the clergy of Mangalore Diocese constitutes and of which Msgr
Raymond too is an integral part. He is a learned intellectual who as a
seminarian was familiar with Msgr Raymond at St Josephs Seminary.
Archbishop Moras is a son of the soil who has held several responsible
positions and left his indelible stamp wherever he has been. Prior to
becoming the Archbishop he was the Bishop of Belgaum.
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
We have gathered this evening in this church to thank God for the gift of
Msgr Raymond Mascarenhas, a priest of the diocese of Mangalore and Founder
of Bethany Congregation whose 50
th
death anniversary we are celebrating.
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We thank God for all that he has been to the Church of Mangalore and to the
universal Church. We raise our hearts and minds to God in gratitude and thanks.
In the Bible, the mountain is frequently a privileged place for revelations
of or from God. The fact that Jesus first extensive block of teaching is set on a
mountainside gives it special importance.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew shows us, Jesus instructing his
disciples in the message which was his, and which they were to take to men. In
Luke the Sermon on the Mount follows immediately after what we might call
the official choosing of the Twelve.
For that reason one great scholar called the Sermon on the Mount The
Ordination Address to the Twelve. Just as a young minister has his task set out
before him, when he is called to his first charge, so the Twelve received from
Jesus their ordination address before they went out to their task. It is for that
reason that other scholars have given other titles to the Sermon on the Mount.
It has been called The Compendium of Christs Doctrine, The Magna Charta of
the Kingdom, The Manifesto of the King. All have agreed that in the Sermon
on the Mount, we have the essence of the teaching of Jesus, to the inner circle
of his chosen men.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, Blessed are those who mourn, Blessed are
the meek, Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, Blessed
are the merciful, Blessed are the pure in heart, Blessed are the peacemakers,
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, Blessed are you
when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you
falsely, on my account, yours is the kingdom of heaven.
The beatitudes are not pious hopes of what shall be; the blessedness
which belongs to the Christian is not a blessedness which is postponed to some
future world of glory; it is a blessedness which exists here and now. It is not
something into which the Christian will enter; it is something into which he has
already entered.
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True, it will find its fullness and its consummation in the presence of God.
In the 2
nd
reading, Paul takes the armour of the Roman soldier and translates
it into Christian terms :
Belt of truth
Breastplate of righteousness
Sandals, sign of one equipped and ready to move. The sign of the Christian,
eager to be on the way to share the gospel with others who have not heard it.
With Paul, faith is always complete trust in Christ. When we walk close
with Christ, we are safe.
Helmet, Salvation in Christ, gives us forgiveness.
The sword, the word of God, our weapon of defence against sin.
Finally, Paul comes to the greatest weapon of all - and that is prayer. It
must be constant. It must be intense. It must be unselfish. We do well, to
remember that every Christian leader and every Christian preacher needs his
people, to raise his hands in prayer.
All the beatitudes could be aptly applied to the life and works of Msgr
Raymond Mascarenhas. His heart went out for others. He spent himself for
others to establish Gods kingdom of peace and love, while He strengthened
himself with Gods protection as narrated by St Paul in the 2
nd
reading.
The late Fr John G Pinto, my Parish Priest was a contemporary of the
Servant of God, Msgr Raymond. As a close confidant of the Servant of God, he
stood by him in various trials and difficulties in connection with his pastoral
works. He wrote his obituary in the seminary magazine UNITAS. He writes:
In the college and in the seminary Raymond was known for his brilliant
talents, and he preferred to carry out in himself the high ideals of the diocesan
clergy and chose the humble life of a secular priest. Even then the light could
not be hidden under a bushel and his brilliant talents brought him to the forefront
wherever he was, as an orator, dialectician and writer. He headed many a
commission, and negotiating mission and made his mark all over India and
there were few among the Catholic clergy and laity who did not know Msgr
Mascarenhas.
Msgr Mascarenhas carried on all these works at great personal sacrifice
and relying on Providence.
He was made a Domestic Prelate in 1955. That honour must have come to
the grand old octogenarian as a relief and recognition for the strenuous work
done by him for God and for the Church. At last the cloud is lifted, said
Cardinal Newman when misunderstood by his own and maligned by those of
the Anglican Communion, Leo XIII gave him the Red Hat. So did the good
Monsignor feel about the rare honour done to him in similar circumstances.
Msgr Marian Castelino, my Director at St Anthonys knew Msgr Raymond
in close quarters.
He was in attendance at Msgrs deathbed and gave him the last holy
anointing. Due to the inspiration of Msgr Raymond, he joined the seminary. He
grew up as his dear child. He was very dear to him and he knew him intimately.
In every event of Msgr Raymonds life, Msgr Marian was inseparable.
In his speech at the birth centenary of Msgr Raymond, Msgr Castelino had
the following to say:
He was a studious and talented boy, and his teachers and classmates alike
admired his intellectual abilities.
He made up his mind to join the seminary for the Diocese of Mangalore.
In his aspiration to become a priest, St John Marie Vianney was his role model.
He chose a quotation from this Saint to be printed on the Souvenir of his
Ordination and the First Mass.
The Priesthood can only be understood in Heaven. If we could understand
it upon earth, we should die, not of fear, but of love.
The quote selected is indicative of his deep admiration for the priesthood
and the patron of priests, St John Marie Vianney, the Cure of Ars.
He could be likened to the Cure of Ars, walking through the streets, the
paddy fields, and the river banks, serving his parishioners. Having spent a lot of
time before the Blessed Sacrament, he had realized that Jesus was the only
strength and consolation to him. This early pastoral practice stood in good
stead, when he had to pass through the way of the cross in later days.
He was a true pastor to the flock. He became member of every family and
they loved him. Fr Raymond was the first one to reach out to them not only to
console but to give them the best spiritual help that was possible.
The concern of Msgr Raymond has personally been experienced by me
when I was Bishop of Belgaum. At a time when nobody cared for the poor
village people, Msgr Mascarenhas sent sisters to various villages in Belgaum to
look after the spiritual, medical and educational needs. Large number of people
were touched and brought to Jesus by the sisters, who brought hope in the
lives of poor people.
The Church has graciously recognized Msgr Raymond Francis Camillus
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Mascarenhas as the Servant of God. It is but fitting and proper that we rejoice
on this occasion and thank the Lord for the gift of his person to the Church and
the society.
Born on 23 January 1875, at Shimoga, baptized on 27
th
, his parents Lazarus
and Joanna were known for their piety and fidelity to the Christian faith.
Raymond had his early education in Milagres Church School, Mangalore
and received his first communion in Milagres Church in 1885. He passed his
matriculation brilliantly with a first class from St Aloysius College, Mangalore.
Raymond entered St Josephs Seminary, Mangalore on 23 February 1891
at the age of 16.
As a seminarian, he was pious and faithful and diligent in the practice of
virtues and in the observance of the rules and regulations of the seminary life.
He was ordained a priest for the diocese of Mangalore on 4 March 1900.
Msgr Raymond was known to be a zealous and holy priest of God, deeply
rooted in faith, hope and charity. Prayer was the breath of his life. A life of
reflection, silence, simplicity, asceticism, and great zeal for souls were special
traits of his personality. He was a holy priest! A great priest who has done
great things for God.
The poor had a special place in his life and he gave generously to the poor,
sacrificing his own needs.
Msgr Raymonds personalized love for Lord Jesus was manifested in his
devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the fervour and zeal at the Eucharistic
celebration as well as devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and devotion to our
Blessed Mother Mary.
Msgr Mascarenhas was an exemplary pastor. People remember him being
punctual to his spiritual duties, especially the liturgy of hours, celebration of
the Eucharist and the praying of the Rosary. He was eloquent, gifted with sharp
mind and a dynamic preacher and was always available to people especially the
poor.
He devoted himself to visiting people, preaching, retreats and recollections
and strengthening the faith of believers and proclaiming the Good News to
others.
Much before the Vatican II, the Konkani translation of the New Testament
done by him enabled local people to meaningfully participate in worship and
increased their desire to pray. That was an expression of his great zeal to make
Jesus known to the people. The Holy See lauded his great achievement of the
translation.
The Servant of God, Raymond Camillus Mascarenhas was an embodiment
of the compassionate love of Jesus. Propelled by compassion, 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, educational, social and
medical ministries that the Servant of God initiated brought new life to the
people.
Msgr Mascarenhas was an educationist of his time and visualized education
as the only means to give life and transform the ignorant, especially the poor
and the girls. Primarily for this he started the new Congregation of Bethany
Sisters on 16 July 1921, on the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, in order to
prepare a team of women who would prepare the ground for the transformation
of the society. He was ready to spend his life for the poor and the neglected, so
dear to the heart of our Lord.
His pastoral and humanitarian service has brought joy and comfort to
many. He laboured selflessly. He was a true shepherd to his flock.
Pope Pius XII presented a public token of his benevolence towards Msgr
Raymond in June 1955, for his outstanding service to the Church by conferring
on him the honour of Domestic Prelate.
Msgr Raymond left for His eternal home peacefully on 23 December 1960
and was buried before the high altar at St Sebastian Church, Bendur, Mangalore.
Last 50 years, love and devotion to late Msgr Raymond Mascarenhas has
increased, because of miracles worked and favoures received due to his
intercession. It was but fitting that the Church recognizes the life of this great
man and grants him the honours of the altar. Hence his Cause for beatification
and canonization was taken up and having obtained permission from Rome, he
was declared, Servant of God on 3
rd
June 2008, the 1
st
stage in the process of
canonization.
Msgr Raymond Francis Camillus Mascarenhas, the first one to be a Servant
of God from among the priests of Mangalore diocese and from the soil of the
state of Karnataka. As we honour him on the occasion of his 50
th
death
anniversary, we pray that God grants him, the honours of the altar soon. Amen.
I wish and pray God to bless the Bethany Congregation and all the sisters
that they live by the spirit and charism of their Founder Msgr Raymond.
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Presidential Address
Most Rev Aloysius P D Souza Most Rev Aloysius P D Souza Most Rev Aloysius P D Souza Most Rev Aloysius P D Souza Most Rev Aloysius P D Souza
Bishop of Mangalore
Bishop Aloysius Paul D Souza was born on June 21, 1941 at Agrar,
Mangalore and ordained on December 3, 1966. He was appointed
Auxiliary Bishop of Mangalore Diocese on January 11, 1996 and later
Bishop of Mangalore. His Episcopal Ordination was on December 27,
1996. He was the first Rector of St Josephs Seminary, Jeppu, Mangalore
when it was handed over to the diocese by the Jesuits, after which he
was appointed the bishop. He brought out the first Konkani Bible, and
nurtured vocations through faith formation programmes in parishes. He
had done his doctoral thesis in Canon Law and had served as the Advocate
of Rota in Rome.
He has taken a great step in leading the Cause of Beatification of Servant
of God, Raymond Mascarenhas and has supported the efforts of the
Bethany Congregation and Mangalorean Catholics. In his speech at the
concluding function of the 50th Death Anniversary the best of the life of
Msgr Raymond and his band of indigenous sisters is brought to light in a
special manner by His Lordship.
31
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32
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33
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34
37
Religious Fervour and Renewed Commitment
mark Celebrations for Servant of
God Raymond Mascarenhas
From the pen of a well known Jesuit of the
Mangalorean community, lover of the nation and soceity,
comes a fitting thumbnail sketch of the 50th death
anniversary of Msgr Raymond on which the Catholic Press
world over based its report. The fact that Rev Fr Cedric
Prakash Lobo, is the son of Conrad Lobo and Cyntia nee
Pereira a grand niece of Msgr Raymond, laminates the
force behind the zeal of the writer in this Cause. He is a
respected speaker, writer and scholar.
Born in 1951, Fr Cedric Prakash, a human rights and peace activist, is
the founder director of PRASHANT, a Centre for Human Rights, Justice and
Peace in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. He is a champion in demanding the rights of
the poor, marginalized and minorities - the vulnarable sections of the society,
irrespective of caste or creed.
This valued Jesuit priest is a firm believer and practitioner of Ahimsa
(non-violence) and Satyagraha (the force of truth). He is a regular visiting
faculty of Colleges, Universities and Seminaries, internationally famous. With
several awards to his credit, a few of which are:
The Kabir Puraskar by the President of India 1995, The Rafi Ahmed
Kidvai Award by Indian Muslim Council USA, Chevalier de la Legion dHonneur
(Knight of the Legion of Honour) by the President of the French Republic in
July 2006, The Minority Rights Award from the National Minority Commission,
Government of India in December 2006, And TANEBAUM - The well known
US-based Centre for Inter-Religious Understanding, named him as one of the
Worlds TOP TEN Peacemakers in Action.
The Compasionate Pastor is previleged to include this valued report for
its readers.
Rev Fr Cedric
Prakash SJ
Hundreds of people from all walks of life honoured Mangalores first
SERVANT OF GOD, Rev Msgr Raymond Francis Camillus Mascarenhas on the
occasion of his 50
th
Death Anniversary. The programmes were held at
St Sebastians Church Bendur-which was built by Msgr Mascarenhas himself.
38
The programme began with a Eucharistic Celebration, concelebrated by
several Bishops and priests, was officiated by Most Rev Dr Bernard
Moras, Archbishop of Bangalore. During his homily he highlighted the life of
Msgr Mascarenhas as an exemplary priest, a compassionate human with his
unconditional service to all
This was followed by a public programme at St Sebastian Church Jubilee
Memorial Hall, Presided over by Most Rev Dr Aloysius Paul DSouza Bishop of
Mangalore along with Most Rev Dr Bernard Moras, Archbishop of Bangalore as
the Chief Guest and Most Rev Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo- Bishop of Shimoga, Most
Rev Dr Robert Miranda - Bishop of Gulbarga, Most Rev Dr Varghese Chakkalakal
- Bishop of Kannur and Most Rev Dr Lawrence Mukkuzhy - Bishop of Belthangady,
as the guests of honour.
To make the 50th Death Anniversary celebration meaningful and
memorable, humanitarian projects were launched at this programme in six
Provinces of Bethany Congregation as follows:
Project of Western Province namely Dr Ohms Indo German hospital
extension with Lab, X-Ray and Pharmacy at Chittapur, in the Diocese
of Gulbarga
Project of North East Province namely, Human Resource Development
Centre for tribals at Umsning in Meghalaya
Project Project of Northern Province namely, A Home for the Destitute
Women in Karnal in the Diocese of Shimla-Chandigarh
Project of Southern Province namely, Home for the Destitutes at
Karakundu, in Kannur Diocese
Project of Bangalore Province namely, Karuna Matha Holistic Health
Cum Palliative Care Unit at Gadenahally in the Diocese of Chikmagalur
Project of Mangalore Province namely, Alternative Systems of Health
Care at Shubhada, in the Diocese of Mangalore
In totality these projects summed up the life and commitment of Msgr
Mascarenhas, which was highlighted during the programme
His principles in the uplift of the poor and neglected, without discrimination,
setting up schools, skill training institutes for women, civic facilities and liaising
with the then British Educational Department Madras, in the capacity of Municipal
Councillor, were some of his achievements which brought him deserved
39
recognition far and wide. The Bendur Church came to a recognizable form in
1931, after which he was appointed the Vicar General of the Diocese, with the
title Monsignor. He however, in the role of the Founder later returned to reside
at Bethany actively steering the task of tending the Bethany Order. In 1955
the Pope appointed him Domestic Prelate similar to that of Knighthood, as a
mark of honour. He resided near the Bethany Motherhouse till his death on
23rd December 1960.The cottage in which Msgr Mascarenhas lived and died is
named Founders Cottage in which are meticulously preserved his memorial
and many of his personal belongings, pictures and books.
The great heroic tasks singularly achieved by this sage of saintly insight, is
the proof of his spirituality. His foresight caused the education and a bright
future for the girl children of his times. As the Founder he was inspired to
organize the first Indigenous Order of Nuns at Bendur - The Congregation of
the Sisters of the Little Flower of Bethany, ordinarily known as Bethany Sisters
(BS) on 16th July 1921.
The Motherhouse of this Congregation situated at Bendur, Mangalore since
its beginning, has risen to great heights. The Founders advocacy radiates Gods
power here; the vibrant leaders within its fold through the last nine decades
have borne fruit beyond all expectations. Today, led by Sr M Wilberta BS, the
Superior General, Bethany has grown and spread to many parts of India and also
abroad. The magnitude of growth since Msgr Raymonds death in 1960 is
phenomenal, with over 1300 nuns, 158 convents in India and 12 abroad serving
many institutions of education, health care centres and homes for the aged
and with much love, commitment and dedication.
During the programme two books TO YOU, MY DAUGHTERS, the letters
of Fr Mascarenhas over the years and KALPABALLI a ballet in Kannada on
the life of Fr Mascarenhas by Rama Venkata Nayak were also released
Sr Lillis, the Postulator for the Cause of the Beatification and Canonization
of Msgr Mascarenhas and Convenor of the Programme, welcomed the dignitaries
and the large gathering. Sr Wilberta, the Superior General highlighted the
significance of the Celebrations and Sr Rose Celine, General Councillor proposed
a vote of thanks!
40
Introduction
We are the people of the new millennium. We entered the millennium
with high hopes and expectations. Our progress in the last ten years has been
incredible, especially in the field of education, science, space travel, economy,
information and communication technology etc. Surely, as Indians we are proud
of our achievements. At the same time, this is material progress which is only
one aspect of human progress. In human history, we are also known as a
community of seekers, seekers of God the Ultimate. In other words, we Indians
are a community of pilgrims; our pilgrimage towards the Ultimate has not
confined us to the code, creed and cult alone. As a pilgrim community we are
open to new experiences and new challenges. In fact, every epoch, every
millennium, every century and every moment has its challenges, and human
life consists only in facing them. We have examples of many men and women
who have faced these challenges of their times. Msgr Raymond Mascarenhas
Relevance of Servant of God Raymond F C
Mascarenhas Charism in Todays Context
A learned vision put into words by Dr (Sr)
Mari ette BS was the vortex of the memori al
symposium of Servant of God Msgr R F C Mascarenhas
at St Josephs Seminary, Mangalore on October 21,
2010, a part of the 50
th
death anniversary. The
contents of this presentation are very relevant for
the present times. The author illuminates on remedial
possibilities for the twenty-first century ills of the
modern world. It reveals that Msgr Raymonds concerns and corrections
were much before the times and his out of the box thinking was hard to
accept for the ordinary person. The refreshing and rejuvenating teachings
of Christ that Msgr Raymond prescribed are astonishing!
The author, Sr Mariette is a member of the Congregation of the Sisters
of the Little Flower of Bethany. She holds a Doctorate in Spirituality from
the Gregorian University Rome. Currently she is the Provincial Superior of
Mangalore Province. In addition to her mission of administration, she is
engaged in teaching at St Josephs Seminary, Mangalore and other institutions
as a guest professor. She renders exemplary service as a member of the
Historical Commission for the Cause of the Beatification of Servant of God
Msgr Raymond F C Mascarenhas.
Dr Sr Mariette BS
41
Servant of God is one such heroic sons of our Mother India. With single-minded
commitment he responded to the challenges of his times. How can he be a
model for our times? How can he be a model for us Christians today? To answer
these questions, we need to know the challenges that we face today; after
knowing the challenges, we need to allow them to interplay with Msgr Raymonds
charism. When the interplay takes place, I am sure it will create some sparks
within us that would enkindle our flames for a creative response.
We are confronted by many challenges today yet I would like to focus on
five that affect our life significantly.
I. Challenges we Face Today
1. Globalization: Globalization is a process that has been going on for
the past 5000 years, but got accelerated since the end of cold war, 1990.
Positively, globalization has brought the world to our door-step. It has increased
connectivity and net-working, exploded knowledge and information, facilitated
interaction and communication. Negatively, it has resulted in global
fragmentation, domination, deteriorization of moral and cultural values. The
negative impact is so strong that the poor are pushed to the periphery and the
marginalized are thrown out of the mainstream. They are no longer wanted,
much worse, displaced and discarded. Therefore, the worst affected victims of
globalization are the poor and the marginalized who are deprived of economic,
political, moral and social power.
2. Fundamentalism: Fundamentalism is an attitude, an attitude of
intolerance, incivility and narrowness. It is an attitude that says, We have the
truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, and we are going to impose it
on you and control you. It is an attitude that hangs on to the fundamentals of
a religion or a world view and interprets them in a literal way. It sees
contemporary science and theology as a threat to its perpetuity. Though
fundamentalism has been in operation in various forms throughout human
history, in recent past, in India we are wounded by religious fundamentalism.
The worst is that it has aligned with power-politics and has given birth to
communalism. It has distorted the essence of religion and religious truths
consequently created fear, anxiety, suspicion and hatred.
3. Gender Inequality: Gender inequality begins from the womb. It refers
to the disparity between individuals, constructed socially and biologically, based
on gender. One of the main causes of gender inequality is cultural stereo-types.
Man is traditionally associated with the bread-winner and his work is valued in
terms of economy whereas woman is traditionally viewed as nurturing and
42
caring and her work goes unnoticed as it is not valued in terms of money.
Because her work is limited to the domestic world, even basic education is
denied to her. According to United Nations Report, there are currently 100
million children who never go to school and most of them are girls. Gender
inequality has led to various other types of discriminations and as a result,
sexual abuse and women trafficking is tolerated without any guilt. The notion
of inequality is so ingrained that women are relegated to inferior roles in the
society.
4. Corruption: Corruption is a social, political and economic phenomenon.
It weakens democratic institutions, slows economic progress and contributes
to governmental instability. It threatens security and damages public confidence.
It is a manifestation of poor ethical standards. In a word, corruption is unethical,
immoral, and illegal. We are greatly caught up in this web. Name any sector
and we have it at all levels. The recent allegations of corruption and
mismanagement at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi and in Karnataka Politics
are fresh in us.
5. Ecological Crisis: We are at the 11
th
hour of our Planets existence;
water supply is in shortage; 80% of the forests are already destroyed; several
species of flora and fauna are getting extinct; soil is contaminated through
non-degradable plastic and pesticides, global temperature is rising high due to
the emission of green house gases causing climatic changes; natural calamities
are frequently seen in terms of floods, droughts, earthquakes, cyclones etc.
Yes, the ecological crisis hits all of us, but especially the poor in terms of their
security and survival. The cry of the earth is the cry of the poor.
The above-mentioned challenges of 21
st
century affect all of us directly or
indirectly. If it doesnt, we are out of place. The need of the hour is that we
confront these challenges both at personal and corporate levels. Facing the
challenges of the day is not easy and none of us want to face the crisis situation.
A century ago a priest of God - Msgr Raymond - has shown us the way. Alert as
he was to his context, nothing escaped his attention. He responded every
challenge that posed him. What was his context and what were the challenges
of his times?
II. Msgr Raymonds Context and its Challenges
The context in which Msgr Raymond lived, dialogued and interacted was
the diocese of Mangalore which was extensively spread in South Kanara district.
Politically, Mangalore then was under the British rule. South Kanara exhibited
different religions, languages, customs and traditions. Religious tolerance and
harmonious co-existence were its special features
1
The inhabitants of South
1
Cf. K Ramesh, A History of South Kanara, p. 231.
43
Kanara were classified into Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Jains. Each religious
group had its own problems and challenges in the socio-economic, political and
cultural domain. Among many challenges what affected Raymond the most
were the following:
1. Lack of educational facilities for the poor in general
2. Illiteracy of women in the rural set-up
3. Denial of entry to the illiterate and economically poor girls to religious
life
4. Insufficient Catholic teachers to teach Catechism in the parishes of the
diocese
In the late 19
th
and early 20
th
century, many private organizations and
Christian missionaries started educational institutions but unfortunately they
got confined to Mangalore city and urban areas. Only the elite class benefitted
from them; education was out of reach to the poor especially women.
1. Msgr Raymonds Attitude to the Context
Msgr Raymond dialogued with God about the contemporary challenges
that confronted him. He took to prayer the existential situation of his times and
looked at them through the eyes of Jesus. His faith in God led him to question
the way the society was functioning, sidelining the poor on one side and pushing
women - the one half of humanity - to the margins without paying attention to
their dreams and aspirations. He discussed with God about their plight and was
interiorly moved to communicate to this dejected group that God hears their
cry and has come to set the captives free (Lk 4: 18).
2. Msgr Raymonds Charism: Call of the Spirit
Charism is a broad reality. It cannot be limited to the ministries that a
person undertakes. Ministries are only the expressions of the charism and not
the charism itself. Charism is a gift of the Spirit given to an individual in and for
the Church in a particular context for a particular purpose. To understand the
charism of a particular person, we need to know his/her theological vision and
the corresponding spiritual experiences. Theological vision refers to the God-
concept i.e the dominant image of God which serves as an inspiration and the
particular aspect of the mystery of the life and mission of Jesus. What was the
theological vision of Msgr Raymond and what were his corresponding spiritual
experiences? Once we know this, his charism will be clear to us.
Msgr Raymond was captivated by the mystery of God with us, and God
for us. He was drawn more often to a God of compassionate love. The God he
44
encountered through Jesus Christ in the Gospels was primarily a God of
compassion.
2
He continually sought to contemplate the face of a compassionate
God; consequently he became what he contemplated. His spiritual experiences
confirmed him more and more that Jesus not only dwelt among us but preferred
to be poor, preferred to live with the poor, the left out and the marginalised.
The more he contemplated on Gods compassionate love for the poor, the more
it became clear to him that his mission was to imitate Jesus, who was
compassionate to the poor, the dejected, especially women. He experienced a
call to be a Father of compassion to the abandoned. Compassion meant for
him to suffer in solidarity with the victims and positively to do something
constructive to empower them. From what is said so far, we may summarise
Msgr Raymonds charism thus: filled with Gods compassionate love bring Good
News to the poor, especially, women.
I would like to summarise the charism of Raymond in three capsules:
1. Contemplating the God of Compassionate Love
2. Becoming Embodiments of Gods Compassion
3. Moving from Compassionate Divinity to Wounded Humanity
III. The Sparks: Elements that shaped his Life, Vision and Mission
1. Man Open to God: Msgr Raymond was a man of God. Everyday he spent
long hours before the Blessed Sacrament and confided to the Lord everything
of his life and ministries. Noticing the Godly nature and spirit of prayer in Msgr
Raymond, late Mr V J P Saldanha commented, The very appearance of
Monsignor was God-inspiringHe was a man of prayer and a source of inspiration
to others.
3
Having read and heard of his Godliness, the late Mrs Louella Prabhu
wrote, Not one, but many admirers mention how often he was to be seen,
reading his breviary on a pile of stones, near the Church, or kneeling before the
Blessed Sacrament with both arms raised aloft in prayer.
4
2. Man who lived Poverty: His personal needs were bare minimum and so
were his belongings. There was hardly anything that was extra among his
personal assets. He spent all the money that he received either for the poor or
for various types of constructions in the parish for the welfare of his parishioners.
5
One of his letters gives glimpses of his personal poverty: Personally I am a
2
M Violette, Unless the Seed Die, p115.
3
V J P Saldanha, An Interview with Mr V J P Saldanha, on the occasion of the Platinum
Jubilee of Bethany in 1996. Mr. Saldanha was a literary stalwart; he had a distinguished
career as a writer, speaker, dramatist and poet. He was a parishioner of Bendur where Msgr
Raymond was the parish priest for long 17 years.
4
L Lobo, Footprints on the Sands of Time, p 4.
5
Cf M Verena (Sr), Interview, 16.06.2005.
45
poor man and whatever my earnings during the past 52 years of my priesthood
have been entirely devoted to furthering the works of God entrusted to my
care
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3. A Compassionate Father to/of the Poor: Compassion is derived from
the Latin words cum patire, which together means to suffer with. Such was
Msgr Raymonds heart. Never did he rest until he sought an appropriate remedy
for those troubled by the anxieties of life. His compassionate heart was restless
until a troubled heart was comforted and wearied soul lifted up. While recalling
the compassionate heart of Msgr Raymond, a sister wrote: Once I met a girl
in our parlour who was found sad, disappointed and helpless. She told me that
she was denied the admission into one of the Congregations in Mangalore and
was told that only the Sisters of the Little Flower of Bethany accept the candidates
with minimum education. I took her to our Founder, who not only treated her
with kindness but also accorded a warm welcome to Bethany
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