With Motto ‘Heal & Comfort’ The Mullerian Family Serving Suffering Humanity Celebrated 179th Founder’s Day in Grandeur
Mangaluru: 13 March 2020 was a day of CELEBRATION, when the happy Mullerian Family comprising of Priests, Nuns, Doctors, Nurses, Health Care and Non-Health Care staff joined together in celebrating 140 years existence of the glorious group of Father Muller Charitable Institutions, and also the 179th Birthday of their founder Father Augustus Muller- and they called the celebration as “Founder’s Day of FMCI”, where the FMCI family gathered in large numbers with love and pride.
Father Muller’s which has grown exponentially over the past century and now is formed by a multitude of institutions, like-Father Muller Medical College, Hospital & Central Laboratory; FMMC – Allied Health Sciences; FM Homeopathic Medical College, Hospital & Pharmaceutical division; FMCoSH; FM Simulation & Skills Centre; FM Research centre; FMCON & SON; St Joseph’s Leprosy Hospital; Rehabilitation Unit & Vailankanni de-addiction unit; FMH, Thumbay, and FM Salvadore Monteiro Rural Health Centre, Bajpe, has served the suffering humanity with care and love, keeping in mind “SERVICE before MONEY”. FMCI are accredited with the prestigious NAAC, NABH and NABL and this has been brought about by the persistent perseverance and diligence by each and every member of the Mullerian family. It is not a one-time achievement but an ongoing process of continual improvement in all dimensions.
FMCI is a basket of tradition where there is no discrimination and there is only one religion – the religion of humanity. As a sign of this unity, representing various traditions and to showcase it colourfully, the nearly 3000 plus audience assembled at the state-of-the-art Father Muller Convention Centre welcomed the procession led by the St Francis Xavier brass band from Udyavar and Yakshagana artistes, escorting the dignitaries of the glittering celebration. And it was time for everyone to bask in the visual and wholesome experience that awaited all, as the function was all set to kick off at 6 pm, on Thursday, 13 March 2020.
But prior to the formal celebration at the Convention Centre, a thanksgiving mass was held at St Joseph’s Chapel at 4.30 pm concelebrated by Fr Mathew Vas, parish priest of Immaculate Conception Church, Kinnigoli and dean, Mangaluru North Deanery as main celebrants, along with the director of FMCI Fr Richard A Coelho; and Administrator FMMCH Fr Rudolph Ravi D’Sa; and also joined by FMMC Administrator-Fr Ajith B Menezes; Former Director of FMCI Fr Peter Noronha; FMHMCH Administrator-Fr Roshan Crasta; Father Muller Hospital Thumbay Fr Sylvester Vincent Lobo; Assistant admin of FMMC Fr Dheeraj Nelson Pais; chaplain and counselor Fr Felix Monteiro; Chaplain Fr George D’Souza; chaplain of Derelakatte Fr Felix Noronha, among others. During the mass prayers were offered for those humankind suffering due to the outbreak of the coronavirus.
As the huge FMCI family was all glued to their seats to celebrate the 179th birthday of Rev Fr Augustus Muller and the Post-Centennial Ruby Jubilee of FMCI – that’s 140 years since it was founded, and while they cherished the visions and humble beginnings of Fr Augustus Muller in 1880, they also witnessed how they have realized his dreams as a large family of 5942 members including 340 doctors, 996 students, 532 post-graduates and interns and over 2500 nursing and other staff, and they establish loftier goals for the near and distant future in their minds and hearts. For the thousands who assembled on the FMCI campuses – whether they had come here as students to learn, as health care professionals to treat, as teachers to enlighten, as staff to usher or as priests and nuns to guide – they were all here like Fr Augustus Muller to only heal and comfort and to love and care for the suffering humanity. It is such a wonderful motto that forms the basis of their being Mullerians whatever role they play.
Fr Augustus Muller was a visionary like no other – who started his service in the simplest form for the suffering humanity – and has today become the foundation of who the FMCI family are and what they do every day, it was time to offer Floral Respect to the great visionary and founder Fr Augustus Muller as they celebrated his 179th birthday and inaugurate the 140th Founder’s Day of FMCI. Starting from the Chief Guest of the celebration-Rev Fr Mathew Vas, followed by Fr Richard Aloysius Coelho, Fr Rudolph Ravi D’sa, Fr Ajith Menezes, Fr Roshan Crasta, Fr Vincent Sylvester Lobo, Fr Nelson Dheeraj Pais, Dr B Sanjeev Rai, Chief of Research, Dr Jayaprakash Alva, Dean, FMMC, Dr Padmaja Udaykumar, Vice Dean, FMMC, Dr UdayKumar K, Med Superintendent, FMMCH, Dr Kiran Shetty, Medical Superintendent, FMH Thumbay, Sr Janet, Chief of nursing services, Sr Jacintha D’souza, Principal, College of Nursing, Fr Felix Monteiro, Rev Fr George D’souza, Rev Fr Felix Noronha – FMCI Spiritual Animators, Fr Peter S Noronha, Former Director and Resident Priest, and all the principals, Heads of Departments, Teaching & Non-teaching faculty and students- they all offered floral tributes to the portrait of Fr Augustus Muller, followed by the Institution Anthem as mark of respect to their Founder.
To invoke God’s choicest blessings on today’s ceremony, it was time to pray to him with humility and purity, as the faculty of FMCoSH led the prayer, followed by the welcome dance gracefully performed by the Father Muller Hospital Thumbay members. In his welcome address director of FMCI Fr Richard Coelho said, “Father Muller Charitable Institutions have been touching the lives of thousands of people for the last 140 long years. The institution founded by Father Augustus Muller in 1880 stands out as a hall mark of medical service and education in our country. With its motto of “Heal and Comfort”, it is committed to bring healthcare solace to the suffering humanity. Our hospitals focus on installing sophisticated precision equipment, non-invasive diagnosis and surgeries and other state-of-the-art techniques with quality and ethical service. It provides super speciality treatment with state of the art facilities with experienced doctors following world class health care practices”.
He further said, “My sincere thanks to the faculty and staff who put in their selfless service and dedication to uplift the institutions and thus bring about healing and comfort of the sick. The enthusiasm to teach in the healthcare sector, to bring in knowledge equipped health personnel is the need of the hour and all the faculty and staff are deserving of credit for doing so. The progress of the organization depends on our faculty and staff, therefore I urge all of you to put in your best efforts. A culture of ‘belonging’ needs to be inculcated from within and regulations need to be part of routine in work setup. Discipline needs to be followed to run a well-oiled army. Let us all join and work in unity and make FMCI a brand name across the world in Health Care”.
Chief guest Fr Mathew Vas addressing the audience said, “Quoting Saint Mother Teresa where she said “I see Jesus in every human being. I say to myself, this is hungry Jesus, I must feed him. This is sick Jesus. This one has leprosy or gangrene; I must wash him and tend to him. I serve because I love Jesus”. In Bible, Jesus says, “whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me”- therefore we should follow these words when we serve human kind. Saint Mother Teresa knew her mission and she did it the right way. Similarly Father Muller who sowed the seed 140 years ago, has now grown into a mighty tree with vast branches. Even though these days, health care has become a money making business, but at FMCI, they think of service to human kind first, than think of making money. Service to mankind with smile, care and with the motto “Heal and Comfort”. Right from the ward boy, security to the doctors, they are all like a family at FMCI, serving as a Healing Ministry of Jesus Christ”.
Prizes were distributed to the winners in various co-curricular and sporting events by the chief guest and others. Speaking of roles the Mullerians play – they had a great evening set up for everyone– there were roles and there were plays, followed by a sumptuous dinner and ending the celebration with live Dj music and baila session by the brass band. The beauty of Namma Kudla was brought fore by the Yakshaghana art form by Arun Kumar (FMMC) and his non-teaching staff performing a beautiful act with a meaningful theme. Yakshagana is the flavour of our land and the team presented the “Yakshanataka” from a heavenly viewpoint as God looks over the world and looks for a place to dwell. Well acted, which received loud applaud from the audience.
David Sequeira, who had served FMMC for many years, was felicitated by the chief guest, director and administrators on the occasion. Sequeira, the patient co-ordinator at FMMC was also recently and rightfully awarded the Udupi Rajyotsava Prashasthi for excellence in social service in the regions of Udupi district apart from his exceptional services to FMCI. We Indians celebrate festivals with a lot of enthusiasm and fervour. Festivals are a time for bonding; a time for cross-cultural exchange; a time to forgive and forget. Folk dances of India personify the music, lyrics, costumes and colours of the lands they come from. Faculty and students of Father Muller College of Nursing, and Father Muller School of Nursing performed a scintillating folk dance which enthralled the audience. Dance performance from Father Muller Homeopathic College was also vibrant and a colorful depiction of our North Indian culture and heritage. The Catholic theme of the year declared by Bishop of Mangaluru Diocese Rev Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, as ‘Pro Life, Preserve Life’ was enacted by the Father Muller Medical College and Hospital, dramatizing with song and dance preserving of life from conception to birth, promoting the Catholic ethos. The highlights of this act was to protect, respect and preserve life.
It was indeed a great evening. Having gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it. Indeed the whole celebration was put together by so many people who worked hard for the success of the event. And not to forget the man behind this entire extravaganza- the ONE and ONLY Fr Ajith Menezes-the Administrator of FMMC, who had keenly scrutinized the celebration events with various themes to depict the unity and diversity of India and the bishop of Mangaluru’s initiative to plant trees, save life and be pro-life. Prof Akhilesh PM, Principal of FMCoSH delivered the Vote of Thanks.
And Vote of Thanks was not the END of today’s evening. Picture abhi baaki hai, mere dost.. which was followed by performance dedicated to all MBBS students – current and past – who have worked and enjoyed their journey through the portal of FMCI. It was a medley of dances performed by the faculty of FMMC, where everyone witnessed one such journey from an unorthodox storyteller’s viewpoint – Apna Bollywood style! Kudos to Dr Jostol Pinto from the Dept of Cardiology, for his meticulous and professional compering, joined by Dr Archana Bhat from the Dept of Pathology who was the other compere. Ms Jyoti Pinto, HR Manager at FMMC read out the names of the prize winners during prize distribution ceremony.
Wow- this FOUNDER’S DAY celebration was simply a BLAST, with Staff and faculty from the various sister institutions of FMCI turned into actors, dancers, singers, musicians exhibiting folk art, western and eastern music and the Indian culture- thus unleashing their hidden talents and making the celebration ONE of the BEST in the HISTORY of FMCI.
