Media Release
Mangaluru, Oct 8: The Ursuline Franciscan Sisters of the Mangalore Province came together in pledging their blood for the cause to save lives. Their motto ‘Give Blood Save Live’ was driven by their desire to help people by donating blood in a simple but yet virtuous cause. The Ursuline Franciscan Congregation took birth in 1887 on April 10, on Easter Sunday, in the Rosario Cathedral parish of Mangalore under the guidance of Fr Urban Stein. From then on they have grown with novitiates around the world with their vocations in education, orphanages and old age homes.
With the theme of this year’s Provincial Day, held on 7 May, ‘Joyful Communities for Mission’ these sisters bravely knocked on to the Father Muller Medical College Hospital’s Blood Bank to donate their blood in joyful giving to help the living.
A small inaugural was kept at the Father Muller Charitable Institution’s Silver Jubilee Hall post noon on October 5, 2019. Sr Rita Vas, provincial superior, presided over with Fr Rudolph Ravi D’Sa, administrator, Father Muller Medical College Hospital, being the chief guest.
Fr Rudolph, in his address said that Jesus Christ himself shed His blood for mankind so that they may live, so emulating this the sisters giving their blood today are saving the lives of many. He in his tenure in various positions in the administration has first time in its history seen a Congregation coming forward for this noble cause.
Sr Rita, in her presidential address, quipped on a yester year joke that happened when in 1986 few nuns met with an accident and needed blood that all the novices and well-wishers ran forth to give blood even without knowing their blood group. This incident and the present dengue situation prompted the sister’s to donate blood so that by one person’s blood, three people can be saved. Blood has no substitute as of yet and blood by one can save anybody irrespective of their religion, caste or creed.
Dr Charu Khosla, blood bank coordinator, spoke on the importance of blood and that a pint of blood can be divided into plasma, platelet and packed red blood cell, thus saving three lives.
Fr Nelson Pais, assistant administrator, FMMCH, Sr Janet D’Souza, CNO, were present for the occasion. The team of Father Muller’s Blood Bank coordinated the blood donation.
Sr Leena Rodrigues welcomed the gathering, Sr Leena D’Souza gave the vote of thanks and Sr Shalma D’Souza compered the event. In presence also were the provincial team of UFS Mangalore, Sr Clara Menezes, Sr Susheela Monteiro along with their novitiates. As many as 25 units of blood was donated in this noble campaign.