In ‘Woe and Weal’ 654 Graduates of FMCI All Set to Serve with ‘Comfort and Heal’
In ‘Woe and Weal’ 654 Graduates of Father Muller Charitable Institutions (FMCI All Set to Serve with ‘Comfort and Heal’
Mangaluru: “We come to comfort and to heal, to love and serve in woe and weal; We come to comfort and to heal, to love and serve in woe and weal”- these are part of the lyrics from the Fr Muller’s Institution Anthem- and these words fit for these 654 graduates of Fr Muller Homeopathic Medical college; Fr Muller School and College of Nursing; Fr Muller Medical college and Allied Health sciences; and Fa Muller College of Speech and Hearing;-who graduated today (13 March) in a glittering and glamorous ceremony in the Open Air ground of Fr Muller Hospital Campus- and now who are ready to lead the community as responsible and dedicated Doctors/Nurses, to care for the patients who depend on them, in times of ‘Woe and Weal’ to ‘Comfort and Heal’.
To heal and to comfort the society a large group of students are now Graduates from Father Muller’s Charitable Institutions (FMCI)- an institution which celebrated the Institution’s Day and Graduation Day on 13 March. A graduation ceremony is a pageant celebrating the transition from student to graduate and marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter in their life. 654 graduates all dressed to thrill in their graduation gowns, and who were about to receive their certificate and medal were all beaming with smile and pride as they were ready to enter the hall for the big celebrations, amidst their teachers, parents and college-mates. To love and serve the society with woe and weal, the graduates marched towards the stadium with immense pride and satisfaction accompanied by the faculty who molded them.
The function commenced with the entry of graduates in a beautiful “Graduation March” by the way of traditional pattern with flowers and balloons all around followed by the dignitaries of the occasion. And now as these graduates emerge out of the campus and look forward to serving the community, they will be of great asset to the needy patients who are anticipating their dedicated and professional services. The graduation ceremony started with the traditional Poorna Kumbha and Arathi followed by invoking God’s blessing through a prayer song by students of Fr Muller College of Nursing. Institution Director of FMCI Fr Richard A Coelho welcomed the gathering and presented the annual report.
The dignitaries seated on the dais for the occasion were Chief Guest- Dr Vedprakash Mishra- Chancellor, Krishna Institute of Medical sciences-Karad(Maharashtra) the guest of Honour-Dr H Veerabhadrappa, President of Karnataka Medical Council (KMC), Bengaluru; and Rev Fr Aloysius Paul D’souza-the Bishop of Mangaluru who presided, along with Fr Richard Coelho-Director of FMCI; Fr Rudolph D’sa- Administrator, FMMCH; Fr Ajith Menezes- Administrator, FMMC; Fr Vincent Saldanha- Administrator, FMHMCH and HPD; Fr Roshan Crasta- Administrator, FMHT; Fr George J Sequeira- Administrator, FMMCH; Fr Sylvester Lobo- Asst Administrator, FHMCH & HPD; among others. Prizes and Awards were distributed to the graduates by chief guest, guest of honour and Bishop to the graduates for their outstanding performance in academics and also for the graduates who excelled in various co-curricular activities for bringing glory to the institutions.
The greatest moment of the evening was when the 654 graduates walked up to the stage to receive their medal and certificate of Merit, to the thunderous applaud of the audience. In his elaborate and well-spoken Graduation address chief guest, Dr Vedprakash Mishra said, “I would like to commend this prestigious which has earned the name and fame across the globe founded by Fr Augustus Muller 138 years ago. Today is a historic day for all you graduates, who have been shaped, articulated and chiselled to perfection. You owe your success to your institution, your teachers, your parents and well-wishers. This country not only needs doctors but also paramedics, nurses, healthcare specialists etc- and this institution has produced all of them- and among them, you are a bunch here today”
“We need to train our medical manpower to serve the patients with care and love-which has been lacking in many places. You are all now carrying your institution flag of Comfort and Heal, and ready to serve those who are in need of your service. You will all succeed in your life with the best education you received from this institution. More than your professional calibre, you need to be an ideal citizen, a committed citizen., a caring and loving citizen, a dedicated citizen and a hard working citizen. It’s the health care that makes a difference in the patients. Serve not only the rich but also the poor among the poorest, and the weakest among the weak. Success does not come accidentally- it will call for direction, pursuance, perseverance, determination etc. You need to aim for yourself, because those who aim big, will achieve big. Let the legacy of Fr Augustus Muller make you a better person to serve the society with love and care, and in comfort and heal. You Came, You Saw, and You Conquered! God bless you all my children!” added Dr Mishra.
Guest of honour, Dr Veerabhadrappa said, “An Educational Institute is the sacred place where people work together without any bias. Hard work will lead to success and money will automatically follow. Work must be done honestly, patiently, and consciously. Education is the only thing that cannot be snatched. The best gift any parent gives to their child is education. When the students are graduated the credit goes to the parents as they have done their duty with utmost sincerity. The access to higher education is low when comparing globally. When the Gross Enrollment Ratio attains 30% or more, India will transfer to a developed nation as per the dreams of Dr Kalam.”
“Public and private partnership should play an important role. The Government alone cannot contribute much to higher education when the public and private merge the dream will bear the fruits. There is a need to educate rural youth, especially girls. Educating younger generation especially the rural youth has a key role in building the nation wherein educating a girl is in a way of educating society. We need to give importance to the continuous learning process. You, graduates, should keep yourselves updated with studies as each moment the information is new. Yo graduates should know the five types of learning which are gained by inculcating habits and also being imparted by teachers. Learning to Know, Learning to Do, Learning to Be, Learning to Live Together and Learning to transform oneself and society are the forms of learning that any student should adopt” added Dr Veerabhadrappa.
In his presidential address, Bishop Rev Fr Aloysius P D’souza said, “You should be all grateful that you all belong to a respected institution. You all are just like a family belonging to the Fr Muller community. Many students of different faith and religion have passed through this institution and have become great assets to the nation and the world. Ranks don’t matter much, but your service and commitment to your duties count a lot. Now that you are moving out of the college and will be serving those patients in needs, you should be an asset to the community through your dedicated services. Utilize your talents and knowledge that you gained from this prestigious institution.. Be ready to help someone who is in need of medical assistance. Make sure you don’t forget your Alma mater, which has done so much for your career in this nursing field.”
Presentation of awards and prizes to all those who excelled in academics, sports and co-curricular activities was done on the occasion. The President Gold Medal for the Best Outgoing MD Student of the year was given to Dr Sandhya Rao Koradkar by the Bishop. Following the vote of thanks by Fr Ajith Menezes, the formal function ended with a sumptuous dinner along with entertainment by the students of FMCI. The programme was compered by Ms Neeta John and Ms Benita David- both lecturers at Fr Muller College of Nursing. A documentary on FMCI was screened on the occasion. Entertainment programme brought the curtain down of the prestigious and memorable ceremony.
I end this report with a few thought-provoking quotes which may enlighten these budding doctors when they go out in the society to serve and heal the sick:
“Grant that I may radiate Thy Light, Thy Love, Thy Healing, Thy Joy, and Thy Peace to all those around me and all those in my thoughts this day and evermore.” -Jonathan Lockwood Huie
“What lies behind us, and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“The future depends on what you do today.” -Gandhi
“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. You are the person who’ll decide where to go.” – Dr. Seuss
“We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: we have the power to imagine better.” – JK Rowling
“Do not follow where the path may lead. Go, instead, where there is no path and leave a trail.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.” – Steve Jobs