Media Release
Mangaluru, Feb 9: Lourdes Central School (LCS) celebrated the finale of Vicennial Year on Saturday February 9 at LCS open ground commemorating the glorious achievements of the past 20 years and setting up professional vision for the future.
The celebration began with a solemn welcome to the president of the school Rt Dr Peter Paul Saldanha, bishop of Mangaluru. The LCS family was truly overjoyed at his presence as he made his first official visit to the school.
Rt Fr Dr Peter Paul Saldanha was the president and chief guest of the function. The other dignitaries who graced the occasion were Fr Wilson L Vitus D’Souza, manager Lourdes Central School, members of Bejai Parish Pastoral Parishad- vice president Stany Vas and secretary Cony Saldanha, PTEC vice president Veena Amrith and members of the management committee- Augustine Rodrigues, Roman D’Souza and Dr Adelaide D’Sa.
The formal programme commenced with a prayer song sung by the school choir, seeking God’s bounteous blessings on the school and on everyone.
Fr Wilson L Vitus D’Souza introduced the president and chief guest of the function and extended a cordial welcome to the dignitaries and the august gathering.
Principal, Fr Robert D’Souza gave a bird’s eye view of the LCS 20 sublime years of progress, achievements and memories to last a lifetime.
Jenson Sequera of class 8 enlightened the audience on the significance of the day.
Honouring the achievers
Fr Dr Peter Paul Saldanha honoured the students who exceptionally excelled with an overwhelming performance both in national and international level. They are: Niranjan Rajiv, Sapta Pavoor, Nidhi Noronha, Aathish Shetty and Meghana Kashyap. The pioneer staffs of LCS were also honoured, recognizing the wholehearted contribution of their time, energy, hard work and commitment toward development of this prestigious institution. They are: vice principal Belita Mascarenhas, Grace
Roche, Lydia D’Souza, Saira Pinto and Philomina Periera.
His Excellency planted a sapling symbolically promoting 'Care for Nature' and exhorting everyone to safeguard Nature and nurture greenery.
Collection drive
Collection drive is a unique feature of Lourdes Central School initiated by the principal to mark the celebration of the Feast of our Lady of Lourdes, patroness of the school, every year. The primary aim of this drive is to inculcate values of love, concern and sharing amongst the students. The ardent Lourdites generously responded to the call. The bishop handed over the collection to the Little Sisters of the Poor, Bajoodi, Snehalaya Ashram, Manjeshwar and Snehasadan Ashram, Gurpur.
The Lourdite family sang a song for the bishop praying for God’s bountiful blessings on his endeavours.
Presidential address
Bishop Dr Peter Paul Saldanha in his presidential address thanked and appreciated the impressive achievements in the past 20 years especially raising the school to international standard and obtaining 100 percent result every year. He congratulated the teachers and students for their intense efforts toward building up this institution. He also remembered Fr Bernard D’Souza for his initiative, commitment and vision and Fr J P Tauro for taking the school to the highest standard by obtaining permission from CBSE. Lourdes school is a renowned school, a shining star known to everyone in Mangaluru.
He said that when we are happy or sad, we go to our mothers. We have a Heavenly mother namely Our Lady of Lourdes, earthly mother, teachers, mother earth and Lourdes Central School our mother. Students need to be grateful to them always. He created a new full form and meaning to the acronym ‘LCS’. ‘L’ stands for lively and loving, ‘C’ stands for compassion, care and concern and ‘S’ stands for simplicity. He urged all the students to be loving, compassionate and simple and build a wonderful
personality.
Bishop Dr Peter Paul Saldanha was felicitated by Fr Wilson L Vitus D’Souza manager and principal, Fr Robert D’Souza with a token of love.
Belita Mascarenhas, the vice principal rendered the vote of thanks.
The cultural programme that followed marked the celebration of the feast of our Lady of Lourdes. This celebration began with a dance invoking her blessing on all. Through this dance, the students of classes 4 to 8 depicted that Mother Mary is the true model for the world today in all respect. The students of classes 4, 6 and 7 portrayed the life of Mother Mary and her inspiration and guidance to the concerned authorities of school through a skit. The deceased members of the Lourdite family were remembered and prayed for.
Club Finale
On the occasion the finale of club art and craft exhibition were organized. The LCS orchestra showcased their talents in music live on the stage mesmerizing everyone’s mind and soul. Varieties of beautiful art and crafts and club activities were exhibited. The programme concluded by singing vicennial concluding song sung by the school choir composed by Ivan Mascarenhas.
The programme was beautifully compered by Parvati Menon and Aditya Ballal under the able guidance of Dilla Colaco. The teachers in charge of the programme were vice principal, Ivan, Shanthi, Chandini, Lavina Serao and Linette Pinto.