Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (JD)
Udupi, Dec 11: The valedictory ceremony of the golden jubilee celebrations of St Mary’s PU College, Shirva, will be held on Friday, Dec 13, at the Monsignor Hilary Gonsalves Auditorium. The event will be presided over by Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, bishop of Udupi diocese.
During the ceremony, Bishop Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo will unveil the portrait of the institution's founder. Madhu Bangarappa, minister of education, will be the chief guest, accompanied by Suresh Shetty Gurme, MLA; Ivan D'Souza, member of the legislative council; former minister Vinay Kumar Sorake; Fr Vincent Crasta, secretary of the Catholic Educational Society of Udupi diocese; Maruti, deputy director of pre-university education department; and Savita Poojary, president of Shirva gram panchayat, who will also be present.
The annual day celebrations will follow on December 14. The flag hoisting ceremony in the morning will be led by Fr Frederick D’Souza, director of St Francis English Medium School, Moodubelle. Fr Ferdinand Gonsalves, vicar general of Udupi diocese, will preside over the function, and Dr Richard Vincent D’Souza, retired IAS officer, will be the chief guest.
The golden jubilee committee, led by Fr Dr Leslie Clifford D’Souza as president, coordinator Norbert Machado, vice president of the church pastoral committee Melwyn Aranha, secretary Jacinta D’Souza, and principal Jayashankar K, has made arrangements for the celebrations.
St Mary’s PU College, Shirva: A legacy of excellence
St Mary’s High School, a remarkable gift to Shirva by Msgr Hilary Gonsalves, was established on June 1, 1947. The school celebrated its silver jubilee on January 9, 1972, under the presidency of Badri Narayana, then education minister of Karnataka. In the same year, St Mary’s transitioned into a junior college. A new building was constructed to commemorate the occasion, with its foundation laid by Aroor Ram Mohan Rao and inaugurated on February 16, 1979, by Edward Gonsalves, a retired judge and nephew of Msgr Gonsalves.
Acknowledging the need for an open-air stage for cultural activities, alumnus Lawrence D’Souza, a businessman based in Kuwait, generously donated funds for its construction. The stage included a staff room above it and featured a life-size statue of Msgr Gonsalves, honoring his contributions.
Over the years, St Mary’s PU College witnessed tremendous growth, particularly in its science stream, which required additional sections due to high demand. The institution consistently excelled in academics, securing top rankings in Udupi taluk and across the state. The college also hosted the district-level sports meet for PU colleges in 1993.
Leadership changes over the decades contributed to the college’s development. In 1996, Alban Rodrigues retired, and Felix Andrade became principal in charge. In 1997, J B Miranda was appointed principal, while Fr Lawrence Gomes assumed the role of correspondent in 1994. The high school celebrated its golden jubilee in November 1998, marking five decades of educational excellence.
Currently, St Mary’s PU College celebrates its golden jubilee with the valedictory program scheduled for December 13, 2024. Under the leadership of Fr Leslie Dsouza as correspondent and Jayashankar K as principal, the college achieved a remarkable 96.29% pass rate in the second PU examinations for 2023–24.
Apart from academics, the college emphasizes co-curricular activities, fostering holistic development for its students. With active support from management, staff, alumni, and parents, St Mary’s PU College remains a premier educational institution in the region.
Daijiworld will bring a live stream of the event.