Media Release

Udupi, Sep 16: The blessing and inaugural ceremony of St Ignatius Hospital new building was recently held here at the auditorium of St Ignatius Institute of Health Sciences. The ceremony began with  Eucharistic celebration.

Msgr Simon Tellis, vicar general of the diocese of Karwar was the main celebrant. Fr Lancy Rodrigues, parish priest, Infant Jesus Church, Prabhathnagar, Fr Alfons Kurris, Holland, Fr Patrick Lobo, Chaplain, St Ignatius Institutions, Fr Richard Rodrigues, parish priest, San Salvador Church, Honavar, Fr Natvidade Rodrigues, parish priest, Yedoga, Fr Shantappa Borkar, Belguam diocese were the concelebrants.  

After the Eucharistic celebration, Sr Leena thanked the priests and the gathering. 

The blessing ceremony began at 4 pm. The dignitaries, Dr Bernard Moras, Archbishop,  Bangalore, Dr Derek Fernandes, Bishop of Karwar, Dr Peter Machado, Bishop of Belgaum Diocese, Sr Maria Goretti SRA, superior general of Missionary Sisters of Queen of the Apostles Congregation, Dinakar Shetty, MLA, Kumta-Honavar constituency, Shivanand Naik, chairman, KSDL, Mysore, Ravindra Naik, president, town panchayat, Dr Syed Zameerulla Shari, retired principal, Anjuman Degree College, Bhatkal, Fr Alfons Kurris, Holland, Msgr Simon Tellis, Vicar General Diocese of Karwar, Fr Lancy Rodrigues, parish priest, Infant Jesus Church, Prabhathnagar, Fr Richard Rodrigues, parish priest, San Salvador Church, Fr Nirmal Kumar Miranda, parish priest, Mugwa, Fr Denis Saldanha, parish priest, Lower Kasarkod, Fr Patrick Lobo, Chaplain, St Ignatius Institutions, Dr  Usha Hasyagar, taluk medical officer, Honavar, G U Bhat, district reporter, Udayvani, Honavar, Dr Sunayana Rao, president, IMA, Honavar, Ramachandra V Kamath, entrepreneur, Honavar, Veronique Marilot and Baroness, Belgium, Johanna Van Damme and Luc Petre Belgium, Jose Schouteten and team, Holland, Dr Guilia and Dr Guiliana, Italy, representatives of Namaste Group, Verona were welcomed from the main entrance to the new hospital accompanied by the band played by the nursing students.

The new building was inaugurated by Sr Maria Goretti SRA. The inaugural stone was unveiled by Dr Bernard Moras, Dr Derek Fernandes and Dr Peter Machado. The inauguration of the different units of the hospital took place simultaneously.  Dinakar Shetty MLA, inaugurated the administrative unit, Dr Syed inaugurated the pharmacy unit, OPD block was inaugurated by Shivanand Naik, Manos Unidas block by Ravindra Naik, Peterbroeck block by Baroness and Veronique, Martha Senden block by Fr Kurris and Miep, Goretti Stitching Unit by Jose, Ton and Add Brover, Enfance Tier Monde block by Johanna and Luc Petre and Namaste block by Dr Guilia and Dr Guiliana.

Soon after the inauguration, the blessing ceremony took place. The blessing ceremony was conducted by archbishop Moras and the water was blessed by him, followed by which the other units of the hospital were blessed.  Martha Senden block and Peterbroeck block at the basement was blessed by Fr Kurris and Bishop Peter Machdo, OPD block and administrative block at the ground floor was blessed by Archbishop Moras and Bishop Derek Fernandes, Caritas Praha block and Enfance Tier Monde block at the first floor was blessed by Fr Patrick Lobo and Msgr Simon Tellis, Namaste block and Manos Unidas block at the second floor was blessed by Fr Richard and Fr Denis Saldanha, Super Deluxe block and Cynthia Fernandes Memorial block at the third floor by Fr Nirmal and Fr Lancy.  Herrick Fernandes was the comperer for the blessing and inauguration ceremony.

The formal felicitation programme was followed with cultural events which began at 5 pm. A beautiful prayer song was sung by the staff and students of St Ignatius Institutions. The dignitaries were escorted to the dais by Sr Zeena D’Souza, province animator, Karnataka-Goa province, Sr Reema Crasta, animator, St Ignatius Convent, Sr Jane Joseph, the administrator of St Ignatius Hospital and Sr Anrita D’Souza, medical officer and paediatrician of St Ignatius Hospital.

Sr Zeena welcomed and introduced the dignitaries. The traditional lamp was lit by Archbishop Bernard Moras, Sr Maria Goretti, G U Bhat, Dr Usha Hasyagar, THO, Dr Sunayana Rao, president, IMA and Ramachandra V Kamath, entrepreneur.

Dinakar Shetty, MLA addressed the gathering. In his speech he admired the development and discipline of St Ignatius campus and was overwhelmed with the crowd that gathered to witness the programme. He wished the management for their selfless services and promised his support if a medical college would begun in the future.

The donors who were present for the inaugural programme were felicitated on the occasion by Sr Maria Goretti and Sr Zeena D’Souza for their assistance and support towards the hospital. The donors in turn thanked the sisters and wished them all success. The association of Leslie Fernandes NRI, with SRA sisters and their projects was also acknowledged by Sr Goretti. 

The souvenir was released by Bishop Derek Fernandes on the occasion followed by his message. In his message he said that a hospital is not only made up of a building and instruments but it should be service oriented with compassion and dedication. 

Bishop Peter Machado praised Sr Maria Goretti for her selfless services towards the poor and needy. 

Shivanand Naik, KSDL, Mysore said that this new hospital would be a boon to the people of in and around Honavar taluka. 

Dr Syed Zamerulla and Ravindra Naik in their address to the gathering wished the hospital would reach out to all the people of Honavar.

Sr Maria Goretti, was felicitated on the occasion by Dr Bernard Moras, Archbishop, Dr Derek Fernandes, Bishop of Karwar and Dr Peter Machado, Bishop of Belgaum for her immense contribution towards the vision and growth of the hospital and for her service to the humanity.

The presidential address was done by Archbishop Bernard Moras. In his speech, he congratulated Sr Maria Goretti for her achievement and hard work and also requested the people to join hands in doing good for the development of the society. 

Engineer Ronald Rosario, contractor Ronald Castelino were honoured by Sr Maria Goretti. The supervisors Purushottam and Rakesh, Bhaskar, Harish and Riyaz were given mementoes as a token of gratitude for their services.

On the occasion the doctors presently rendering services were given mementoes by Sr Zeena.

Sr Maria Goretti in her address thanked all the benefactors, donors, core-committee members, priests, religious, doctors and staff for their association, support and services towards the success of the programme. 

Sr Diana proposed the vote of thanks Nagaveni compered the programme.

A dance drama on the history of the beginning of the hospital and its progress was enacted by the students, followed by a folk dance.