Media Release
Mangaluru, Dec 27: St Aloysius College staff celebrated Christmas in a unique way on December 23 in L F Rasquinha Hall of LCRI Hall. Sr Rose Celine-the superior general of Bethany congregation, Mangaluru, was the chief guest for the celebration. Fr Melwin Pinto SJ, rector of St Aloysius Institutions, presided over the programme. Dr Praveen Martis SJ, principal, Dr Mahalinga Bhat, HoD of Kannada department and Anup Denzil Veigas, convenor of the programme were on the dais.
Christmas celebration is all about loving, caring and sharing. The programme began with a prayer by Fr Vincent Pinto SJ, finance officer of the college.
Dr Praveen Martis SJ, in his welcome address said, "Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. The birth of Jesus indicates the good news to humankind that God loves people. Let this Christmas be a meaningful one. Let us live the life that Jesus Christ wanted us to live; loving and forgiving our enemies and building a society on the foundations of peace, joy and brotherhood. May the Christmas season bring all of us new freshness, new hope and new strength throughout the year 2022.”
Chief guest, Sr Rose Celine in her address, gave a meaningful message of Christmas. She said, “With the passing of time, facing the least expected effects of the pandemic in the unexpected and untimely death of our loved ones, personally or as a family infected by the deadly disease, having no adequate medical facilities, when lack of oxygen forced people to gasp for breath, caught up in financial constraints, gripped by the fear psychosis, amidst the hopelessness of discovery and availability of vaccination, the onslaught of unpredictable variants, some began to ask the question ‘Where is God’? ‘Does God really exist?’ ‘Why is He Silent?’ It seemed darkness engulfed the earth and the soul; In this precarious alarming and helpless situation some lost faith in God, others had a quick recourse to God with deeper faith and God became their only refuge and source of strength, and only saviour”
Rector, Fr Melwin Pinto SJ in his presidential remarks said, “We should all remember that Christmas is a feast for all, irrespective of caste or creed. Christmas is a feast to promote peace, goodwill, love and harmony in the community. The contribution of the Christians in maintaining peace, love and brotherhood isreally appreciative. We have all people in our campus living with unity, love andharmony. Let us all look forward to live in harmony, peace, love and caring one another so that we can make Mangaluru a better place to live.”
There were variety of performances by the teaching and non-teaching staff members. A Christmas dance by Ashrita and team; Christmas Skit by Dr Zeena Flavia D’Souza and team, Stunning Carol singing by the non-teaching staff led by Jacintha Crasta and team rocked the stage.
Karuna Lobo and Navin Kelvin Dalmeida from the department of English meticulously compered the programme. An Interfaith Christmas Messagedelivered by Dr Mahalinga Bhat, HoD of the Kannada. Karuna Lobo rendered the vote of thanks.