Richard Alvares
Mangalore, Dec 22: Commemorating the 51st death anniversary of Servant of God Raymond Mascarenhas, the former vicar general of the diocese of Mangalore and founder of Bethany Congregation, memorial services were held on Thursday December 22 in 170 churches in India, Italy, Germany, Belgium, France and Mauritania and Senegal in West Africa specially wherein Bethany Sisters are serving.
St Sebastian's Church, Bendur gave a tribute to its founder parish priest by offering a thanksgiving Eucharistic Sacrifice at 9 am. Mgr Raymond (1875 -1960), brought about great transformation in the society through hiseducational, pastoral, social and literary activities. He championed the cause of education especially of girls all through his priestly life from 1900 till 1960 barring the last two years of his declining years. He being the founding visionary of Bethany Educational Society, on this occasion 720,000 students and 2400 staff members of Bethany schools took a pledge to live the core values of the Society started by Mgr Raymond specially for the uplift of the poor.
All the educational activities of Fr Raymond commenced in 1900 along with his priestly ministry, in the district of South Kanara, his native soil, in the diocese of Mangalore. The socio-economic scenario of the district filled him with compassion and stirred him to action.
Mgr Raymond Mascarerihas was a member of the District Education Council of South Canara right from its commencement in April 1921 to which he was appointed by the government on the recommendation of the then Bishop. He was supposed to represent the interests of the Catholic Elementary schools of this district.
The speech that he delivered in 1928 in a meeting on behalf of Catholic Association of South Kanara on "Educational Disabilities of Catholics" of South Kanara as experienced by him during his six years tenure as a member of the District Education Council brought about a magical effect. As a result of this meeting a deputation consisting of four members, Fr R F C Mascarenhas being one of the members, was sent to Madras, and they submitted an exhaustive Memorandum on the subject to the Minister for Education as well as the special Educational officer at Madras.
As a result of that deputation the government order in 1929 was issued, that facilitated the recognition and grant in aid to Catholic schools. This promoted the rapid increase of numerous catholic schools in south Canara.
Mgr Mascrenhas not only championed the cause of education but also engaged in numerous social work activities, such as, Roman Catholic Provident Fund for the poor. His contribution to the advancement of Konkani literature is praise worthy.
People like Advocate Clarence Pais of Mangalore who have known him personally remember Mgr Raymond as a person of determination, conviction, fearless, holy, and persevering in achieving a goal.
The process of canonization of Mgr Raymond Mascarenhas, the first Servant of God from Mangalore is in progress. The historical commission members for the cause set up by Bishop Aloysius Paul D'Souza of Mangalore had visited the Vatican Archives in September to collect the documents pertaining to the Servant of God Raymond Mascarenhas. The enquiry committee has interviewed nearly 100 people who have known Monsignor personally. He has outsoared the shadows of death.