Bangalore: St John's Medical College, Hospital begin golden jubilee celebrations
 
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Jul 8: The prestigious St John’s Medical College, which commenced on this day exactly 50 years ago in Bangalore, began its golden jubilee celebrations with a solemn Eucharistic celebration presided over by Dr Alphonsus Mathias, the Archbishop Emeritus of Bangalore, on Monday July 8.

The St John’s Medical College and the multi-speciality hospital were established by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), New Delhi, the apex body of Indian Catholic church, as part of its drive to train doctors to serve in the underprivileged areas of India.

Two of the first batch of students – Dr (Sr) Lillian of Society of Jesus, Mary and Josephy and Dr N D John Vinent – had the rare privilege of participating in the solemn mass to mark the commencement of the golden jubilee celebrations.

Incidentally, the main celebrant in the Holy Eucharistic celebration, Alphonsus Mathias, celebrates the golden jubilee of his Episcopal Ordination as the Bishop this year.

Dr Lawrence D’Souza, Director of St John’s National Academy of Health Sciences, recalled the services rendered by Archbishop Mathias to St John’s and warmly appreciated the latter’s close association over the last five decades.

He also thanked Sr Dr Lillian and Dr John Vincent for being present on the occasion, which he said enhanced the solemnity of the occasion.

Dr Lawrence D’Souza has the rare distinction of also serving as the Director of Fr Muller’s Hospital, Mangalore, which has since opened its own Medical and Homeopathic Colleges.