29 Bethany Sisters Celebrated Golden Jubilee at Renovated Bethany Convent Chapel

By
Alfie Dsouza, Team Mangalorean.
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29 Bethany Sisters Celebrated Golden Jubilee at Renovated Bethany Convent Chapel

Mangaluru: The Congregation of the Sisters of the Little Flower of Bethany, popularly known as Bethany Sisters, was founded in Mangaluru on July 16, 1921 by the late Msgr Raymond Francis Camillus Mascarenhas, the then parish priest of St Sebastian Church, Bendur, Mangaluru, along with First four members, who were teachers at St Sebastian School-Bendur namely, Flora Mathias (Sr M. Clare B.S.), Marcelline Menezes (Sr M. Martha B.S.), Alice Mathias (Sr M. Lourdes B.S.) and Regina Gertrude Gonsalves (Sr M. Gertrude B.S.) to participate in the mission of the Church by responding to the prevailing needs of the times.

The Congregation was canonically erected on 28th July 1932, eleven years after its inception. The first Novitiate was opened on 15 May 1933. The first General Chapter of the Congregation was held in 1940 during which Sr M. Martha B.S, who was at the helm of the Infant Congregation from 1925, was elected canonically as the Superior General. As the number of members increased the Founder ventured to carry the branches of the Congregation outside Mangaluru and thus to Meppadi in the Diocese of Calicut in 1937 and West Hill in 1938. Later, the house at Meppadi was closed. The Apostolate at West Hill, Calicut, flourished in course of time and eventually, other houses too were opened in the Diocese. In the year 1939, two houses were opened in the Diocese of Pune (present Belgaum Diocese) at Dharwad and Guledgudd.

This indigenous Congregation founded by an Indian priest under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to cater to the needs of the Church and the society according to the signs of the time, began to spread its branches to the remotest village parishes of the Diocese of MangaluruThe Congregation was founded chiefly for the Catholic education of the rural poor, specially girls, teaching of Catechism in parish communities and schools, instruction of catechumens and neophytes, care of the children, the sick and the elderly. The Sisters are involved in pastoral, educational, social and medical apostolates according to the needs of the place. The Congregation started with Four Sisters has at present 1383 members serving in 178 Convents all over India and Europe and Africa.

Like most of the Congregations, Bethany had a very simple beginning; however, it had noble ideals rooted in Indian philosophy. Self-reliance, dignity of labour, the simplicity of life, education in the vernacular and vocationalisation of education, focus on primary education and adult education, development of villages for the progress of the country and emancipation of women were some of the ideals that our Founder and the founding members upheld.

Regarding the Charism and Spirituality of the Congregation – The Charism is a gift of God given to the Congregation Founder to meet a particular need in the Church and the society. It springs from his personal experience of Christ, of a particular aspect of His mystery, that is, the compassionate love of Christ to humanity expressed in His Incarnation. From this originates the specific character, that is, the Charism of this Congregation. To express the compassionate love of Christ to humanity enshrined in the mystery of Annunciation and Incarnation, the Congregation envisages certain ways and means, namely, Pastoral care, Education – formal and non-formal, Social, Medical and any other, according to the need of the time and of a particular place.

The integral components of the Charism and Spirituality are: God’s compassionate love for His people especially the dehumanized poor, manifested through the Kenosis of Christ in the mystery of the Incarnation; Mary’s faith filled and unconditional submission to the will of God expressed in her response “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it done unto me according to thy word,” which is the motto of the Congregation; The apostolic missionary zeal and the Little Way of Spiritual Childhood of St Therese of Lisieux; and The contemplative spirit of Martha, Mary and Lazarus of Bethany, a true home where Jesus experienced friendship and hospitality.

Speaking to Team Mangalorean, Sr Rose Celine, BS-Superior General, Bethany Generalate, Bendur-Mangaluru, “I am quite delighted that the Renovated Bethany Chapel of the Sisters of the Little Flower of Bethany, Mangaluru is blessed by Most Rev Aloysius Paul D’Souza the Bishop of Mangaluru on 8 May 2018. The Chapel acquires a special significance since it was built by the Servant of God Raymond Francis Camillus Mascarenhas the Founder of Bethany Congregation who was a priest of the Diocese of Mangaluru”.

“Having founded Bethany in 1921, the Servant of God built a small Chapel in 1927 and as per the growing need of the Sisters a bigger Chapel was built and blessed by Rt Rev Dr V R Fernandes the then local Ordinary. This Chapel exhibits special features- painting of the Bethany scene of the Gospel fame on the top at the centre, the Tabernacle door embellished with a pelican bird, and the paintings of the New Testament episodes on the walls of the chapel. It is a great spiritual legacy that he has left behind and I desire that it should be preserved for generations as a part of art and spiritual heritage. Quite many have already visited these paintings and are struck with awe and wonder. The Chapel is given a new face-lift with the images of Bethany Scene.”

“It is heartening to note that on this same campus, there is a Founder’s Memorial. Since his cause is taken up for Beatification, many devotees visit this Memorial from far and near. They spend time in prayer and intercession and their desires have been granted. I am grateful to God for the Servant of God RFC Mascarenhas, the renovated spiritual monument and Founder’s Memorial and earnestly desire that this holy place becomes a spring of spiritual energy for all those who visit it. On this special day, 29 sisters who worked as missionaries in the length and breadth of India celebrated their golden jubilee of religious profession. Kudos! Many sisters, priests and laity witnessed the blessing of the Renovated Chapel and had a deep God-experience” added Sr Rose Celine.

On the 8th of May 2018, Rt. Rev. Dr Aloysious Paul D’Souza Bishop of Mangalore inaugurated the renovated Bethany convent chapel at Bendur. This Chapel was built in 1934 by Mgr. RFC Mascarenhas, the Servant of God and thus it is a heritage of the Institute. On this occasion, 27 Sisters celebrated the golden jubilee of their religious profession. The Eucharist was celebrated by Bishop D’Souza together with six other priests joining in the concelebration. “You are like the watchman who is faithful and watchful to guard the estate of his owner so are you 29 Jubilarians. You have been faithful to your vows of chastity, obedience and poverty which you promised to your God on your first profession day 50 years” said Bishop. Fr Antony Shera parish priest of St. Sebastian church, Bendur preached an eloquent homily calling upon the jubilarians to count the blessings of God in their lives. Sister Rose Celine the Superior General greeted the jubilarians. The celebration was followed by felicitation programme and sumptuous meal.


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