RFCM_Compassion Paster _ July 2010

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Managing Editor

Sr M Wilberta, BS

Chief Editor

Sr M Lillis, BS

MEMBERS

Rev Fr Joseph Martis

Mr Ivan Saldanha

Sr Miriam, BS

Sr M Theresine, BS

Sr M Rose Margaret, BS

Sr M Rose Celine, BS

Sr M Bonita, BS

Sr M Jessy Rita, BS

ContentsEditorial Board

THE COMPASSIONATE PASTORJULY 2010

1. Editorial 3

2. Msgr Raymond’s Passion for Belgaum

Mission in Karnataka

- Sr Ann Teresa BS 4

3. Rt Rev Msgr RFC Mascarenhas

- The Late Rev Fr John Pinto 20

4. A Saint in the Making

Servant of God – Msgr RFC Mascarenhas

A Loving Father

- James D’Souza 23

5. Close to Nature... Close to God

- Sr Santosh Maria, BS 25

6. Memories of a Saintly Priest- Our Fr Founder

- Sr M Doreen BS 32

7. Favours Received 37

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“Pray my dear children thatBethany which was born on herhappy day may grow under herprotection into a big tree, whichmay give shelter to hundredsand thousands of virgins to loveOur Lord and promote Hisglory”.

- From the letter of the Servant of GodRFC Mascarenhas dated July 14, 1929 to

Lisieux Convent, Puttur, Karnataka

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The month of July is allied with rain and floods.The unexpected havocs hither and thither awaken anya compassionate heart to creative action. As I pen thiseditorial listening to the rumbling of rain, I am remindedof a few anecdotes from the life of Msgr RaymondMascarenhas, the compassionate pastor, which werenarrated to me recently by Mrs Margaret Isabella Pinto,a parishioner of Udyavar. Msgr Raymond Mascarenhas

was a parish priest at Udyavar for seven years (1907-1914). Mrs Margaretrecounts that Msgr Raymond would be at his best all through the times offloods that used to occur during monsoons. He not only would caution thepeople against the outbreak of cholera, but when it occurred he would be tothe people a true pastor as well as a doctor. Father would visit the people intheir homes distributing country medicines and communion. He would alsofind shelter for the people who were victims of floods.

Reminiscing about the efforts Fr Mascarenhas put in to construct StFrancis Xavier Church at Udyavar, today more than 100 years old, Mrs Margaretrecalls the narration of her mother-in-law. She shared that Father Mascarenhaswould spread a towel on the ground to collect the few coins that the poorparishioners would willingly contribute. He never forced them to contributebut appealed to them to render services in terms of labour. Mrs Pinto’sdescription revealed how close a relationship Fr Mascarenhas had with thepeople. He treasured the hospitality of the poor and accepted gratefullythe meals that they used to serve him in their homes.

No doubt, it was this compassionate heart that inspired him to foundthe Congregation of Bethany on July 16 1921, 89 years ago, on the feastday of our Lady of Mount Carmel. The event was like God Himself appearingon the thundering chariot of clouds illuminating the lives of hundreds andthousands of people, especially the poor. This great priest of God placed allhis endeavours at the feet of Mother Mary, in whose motherly protection hetook shelter.

As we prepare to celebrate the 50th Death Anniversary of the Servantof God let us intercede through him and the Lady of Mount Carmel for acompassionate heart.

In the Rainy Gloom of July Month…

Sr M Lillis BSEditor

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Msgr RFC Mascarenhas was a man burning with zeal to spread the kingdom

of God and proclaim the love of Jesus to all. The mission of evangelization

and of carrying the good news to non Christians was an endeavour close to

his heart, it being one of the objectives of his in founding the Congregation

of the Sisters of the Little Flower of Bethany. In his exhortations to the

Bethany Sisters he would often stress the need to labour for the conversion

of the souls, and he instilled in them the zeal and eagerness for the missions.

To quote his own words, “We should be imbued with the missionary spirit.

One who truly loves God, must love souls as well; and we are supposed to

love God truly. We must prove our zeal, love and effort for missionary

enterprise”.1

The glowing desire in his heart to bring all into the fold of Christ’s

kingdom, led him to send Bethany Sisters to the Belgaum Mission in the

1930s and 40s. The Belgaum Mission areas of Guledgudd, Madanbhavi,

Santibastwad, Balekundri, Nandgad and Londa were inhabited by very poor

people having no facilities for education, health care, proper housing or

transport. Fr Mascarenhas who established the missionary communities in

the remote rural areas of North Karnataka, places where no well-established

Msgr Raymond’s Passion for BelgaumMission in Karnataka

The write-up brings out the heroic zeal and saintly

efforts of the Founder Msgr RFC Mascarenhas in the

Belgaum mission in significant times. Sr Ann Teresa,

hailing from Dharwar, Karnataka, is a veteran of the

Bethany Mission in Belgaum, a person of great vision

and creativity. She served in the General Council for

three terms. Her great contribution in the field of

education as Principal, Secretary of the Bethany Education Society, Province

and General coordinator for education is indeed unmatched. Her services

as the President of All India Association of Catholic Schools are unique.

Sr Ann Teresa BS

1 Bertha, bs, From the Lips of the Founder, p 139

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women’s Congregation of that time dared to enter, though he was fully

aware of the difficulties, challenges and intense sufferings which his sisters

would have to undergo in these missions. He constantly instilled in the sisters,

the desire and eagerness to preach the Gospel to the poor and accept all

inconveniences and sufferings joyfully and offer them to the Lord. St Therese,

the Little Flower was the role model he offered to the sisters. In one of his

instructions to his Bethany daughters he says, “Anything done for the missions

is very pleasing in the sight of God. The conversion of India should be our

chief concern. Only 3 to 4 million are there in India within the fold, out of a

350 million.” 2 The Founder’s perception motivated even young junior sisters

to become courageous missionaries ready to accept sacrifices, struggles and

deprivations.

He responded to the call of God which came to him through Most Rev

Doering, sj, the Archbishop of Poona and Fr George D’Sa, sj and taking the

first step in this adventurous endeavour in the year 1939. The Archbishop

Doering, sj of Poona wrote to him, “Since a number of years I have been

trying to find sisters for that part of my Diocese where Kanarese is spoken.

Still, my efforts have been in vain. You have a Congregation in your Diocese

in which there must be quite a number of members who know Kanarese

well. Will you kindly let me know whether I may hope to get some sisters for

my station at Guledgudd? A convent is ready to receive the nuns.” 3

One would expect the Founder to take time to deliberate on this

request, to make a study of the area and the people, and undertake one or

two visits to the place, before taking a decision to send the sisters to a

new, hitherto unknown area. However, the call to the mission was so

irresistible that he responded in the affirmative to the Archbishop’s request,

within 2 to 3 days as his reply indicates. He wrote to Archbishop Doering, “I

spoke about the matter of the letter with the Mother General and we are

very happy to offer the generous services of our sisters to your Grace in the

manner you desire. …” 4

2 Bertha, bs, From the Lips of the Founder, p 1413 Letter of Archbishop Doering, sj of Poona, dated February 15, 19394 Letter of Msgr RFC Mascarenhas, dated February 20, 1939

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His eagerness to send the pioneering sisters to the remote area of

Gulledgudd was balanced by his deep concern for their well-being. He readily

accepted the proposal of Archbishop Doering that he open a convent at

Dharwad, as the convent there would be a base, and a sort of motherhouse

for the sisters working at Guledgudd. His reply to Archbishop Doering

expresses his sensitivity and thoughtfulness for his spiritual daughters so

well: “The idea of having our sisters at Dharwar appeals very much to the

Mother General and myself and we should be very happy to send some

sisters to work in that place, in the way your Grace suggests. The convent

at Guledgudd will become less remote and solitary for our sisters.” 5

On November 3, 1939, the first step of a long missionary journey and

enterprise was taken as Father Mascarenhas, Mother Martha and Sr Magdalene

left for Dharwar, together with two groups of the pioneers for the mission

at Guledgudd and the convent at Dharwar. On November 4, Presentation

Convent, the first convent at Dharwar was opened with Mother Priscilla as

the Superior and Sisters Gertrude, Cresecentia and Placid as members of

the community. On November 21, the Presentation Primary School was

started for 10 poor children from the surrounding poor localities.

When Msgr RFC Mascarenhas took the courageous step of starting a

new Congregation in Mangalore, he had placed this new foundation, its four

pioneers and the future sisters in the Immaculate Heart of Mary, invoking5 Letter of Msgr RFC Mascarenhas, dated March 13, 1939

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her blessings and guidance in his new venture. The same total trust in our

Blessed Mother and in her support continued in all the Founder’s steps

towards the expansion of the Congregation and became deeper and all

pervading. This was true of his missionary endeavouurs in the Belgaum Mission

as he placed the new convents in this mission under the patronage of Mary

by naming most of them, after her different titles. The first convent at

Dharwar was called the Presentation Convent and the newly founded school,

the Presentation Primary School. On the feast day of the Presentation of

Mary, Msgr Mascarenhas wrote to Archishop Doering, “This day, the feast of

the Presentation of Our Lady (Blessed Mother), the sisters at Dharwar have

opened the school and commenced work with ten poor children. They beg

the Blessing of your Grace on their efforts. They would desire to name the

convent after this title of our Blessed Lady, which is also the suggestion of

Fr Cotta, if your Grace approves of it.” 6

The Blessed Virgin Mary continued to be the patroness and protector

of the Bethany Sisters in the Belgaum Mission, as the convent at Sirsi was

named Ave Maria Convent, the one at Santibastwad, Gratia Plena Convent,

at Madhanbhavi, Fatima Convent and at Nandgad, Immaculate Heart Convent.

This tradition has continued, as the convent at Baad, Karwar is called

Assumption Convent and the one at Nirmal Nagar, Dharwar is called Kripalaya,

which now houses the Provincialate of the Western Province. The Founder

constantly tried to instil the devotion to Mary in the Bethany Sisters and

through them in all those they served.

At Guledgudd

After the opening of the convent at Dharwar, the Founder, together

with Mother Martha, Sr Magdalene and the four young pioneers, Sisters

Lazarus, Lucina, Maura and Crescentia, moved to the new vineyard of the

Lord at Guledgudd. While Dharwar was a town, a district headquarters and

an educational centre, Guledgudd was a village, with very little exposure to

education. Though the people spoke the same Kannada language as in

Dharwar, the local dialect and manner of speaking was quite unintelligible to

the sisters from Mangalore. Even Mother Martha wondered how the sisters

6 Letter of Msgr RFC Mascarenhas, dated November 21, 1939

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would carry on the missionary work in this area. However, the young sisters

had imbibed the undaunted zeal and adventurous spirit of the Founder to

preach the love of Jesus, and were successful in this mission. They overcame

the hurdles of extreme heat, lack of water, cultural differences and food

habits. It was the love and the desire to prove worthy of the trust of their

spiritual Father, Msgr RFC Mascarenhas that motivated and sustained them.

The Founder was very conscious of the difficult circumstances of the

Guledgudd mission and though he left with Mother Martha and Sr Magdelene

for Dharwar and from there for Mangalore, his heart was with his young

spiritual daughters. His love and anxiety for their welfare made him to make

once again within a month the long journey back to Guledgudd. On reaching

the place, his first question to Sr Lucina was, “How are you my child?” He

was pleased to note that the sisters had begun to integrate themselves in

the life of the people, reaching out to women and educating the children.

The sisters began to visit the villages such as Karadi, Asangi and Katnalli,

catechizing the people and preparing the neophytes to receive the

sacraments when the priest visited them. As there was no transportation,

the sisters travelled to the villages, walking miles in the scorching heat. With

great affection and compassion they cared for the children in the orphanage.

Today the hard work of the Bethany Sisters at Guledgudd is bearing

abundant fruit, with thousands of students passing out of their schools.

The medical aid and health awareness programmes have gradually improved

the health condition of the villages. The Christian faith is deeply rooted

among the people.

The Mission in the Patriarchate of Goa

During the first half of the 1940s the world was engulfed in the Second

World War. The scarcity of food and other necessities caused great misery

to the poor of India. The young Bethany Congregation experienced intense

suffering during this period. It was a time, when the fledgling Congregation

lost a large number of young and talented sisters to tuberculosis.

It was an extremely painful and heartbreaking period for the Founder.

Added to the sorrow of the series of deaths of his beloved daughters, was

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the criticism that he had to face from the public because of the illnesses of

the sisters. Yet this man of God was undaunted in his enthusiasm to spread

the love of God in the remotest mission stations. From 1945 to 1947 the

Founder opened seven convents in the Patriarchate of Goa.

The simplicity of life of Bethany sisters, their readiness to be one with

the poor and their compassion and unstinted zeal were noted by missionaries,

who were looking for collaborators, in their work of evangelization. They

were also conscious that Msgr Mascarenhas dreamt of reaching out to the

marginalized, the illiterate, the economically and socially poor. The Founder

constantly motivated and inspired the sisters, to be ready to accept any

sacrifice, to offer the love of Christ and the message of the Gospel in the

most difficult mission areas. In the very first Bethany prayer Manual, At the

Lord’s feet he wrote a prayer for the missions:

Most loving Lord Jesus Christ, who with the price of

Thy most precious blood hast redeemed the world,

look with thine eyes of pity, on unhappy mankind,

so large a portion of which still lies in the darkness of error

and the shadows of death.

…Multiply O Lord, the messengers of Thy Gospel. 7

Fortified by such prayer, the Bethany Sisters were enkindled with the

Founder’s own burning zeal for the mission. No wonder the Jesuit missionaries

in their work gave preference to the Bethany Sisters. Fr C P Andrade sj,

while requesting the Mother General to send sisters to Nandgad wrote, “Do

not lose this opportunity. I shall have to knock the doors of another

Congregation, but I do not want to do that, because your sisters are best

fitted for our missions given the present conditions.” 8

The first Jesuit missionary of the Belgaum mission, who was keen to

invite the Bethany Sisters was Fr Armando Alvares sj. He was not only a

zealous missionary, but one who like Robert de Nobilii adopted his life like

that of Indian gurus and tried to inculturate his evangelizing activities. Msgr

7 At Lord’s Feet, Bethany’s Prayer Manual8 Letter of Fr C P Andrade, sj , dated September 24, 1946

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Mascarenhas was deeply impressed by Fr Alvares’ commitment to the mission

and by his spirit of sacrifice. The Founder was keen that his daughters should

be trained and work under Fr Alvares as true Indian missionaries. At the

invitation of the Patriarch of Goa, Msgr Mascarenhas joyfully accepted to

send sisters to the missions. His letter to the Mission Superior of the Jesuits,

speaks of his admiration of Fr Alvares. He wrote, “We have considered all

the circumstances and particularly the invitation of H.E, the Patriarch of

Goa…not the least of all, the edifying zeal and saintly example of Fr Alvares

and have resolved to take up the work offered to us. … We beg of you

however to remember that ours is a new and young Congregation, still

groping its way in the

spiritual and religious life,

specially the missionary

kind of it, but we are

encouraged, in our rather

bold endeavour by the

fact of the charitable

active presence in the

field before us of you

Fathers of the Society

whom we know so well and deeply esteem. Be you our help and guide and

we have no fear.” 9

At Santibastwad

Within three months of writing the letter to the Jesuit Mission Superior,

Fr Mascarenhas was ready with a band of four young enthusiastic Bethany

Sisters Philomene, Marian, Felix and Salome to land in the mission adventure

of Bastwad and the surrounding villages. Adventure indeed it was from day

one, as Sr Philomene, one of the pioneers describes her missionary journey.

Despite the fact that the first day of their missionary journey was a rainy

day, Sisters Salome and Philomene travelled by bullock cart to the missions

without any provision for food but with two camp cots and a little money.

They reached Belgaum at a distance of 10 kms. It had begun to rain but the

Journeying in the Belgaum Mission

9 Letter of Msgr RFC Mascarenhas, dated February 10, 1945

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two young missionaries were determined to reach the next mission station

another 10 kms away. Sr Philomene describes their tour thus, “From Belgaum

we proceeded to Balekundri mission, while it continued to rain. We arrived

there at midnight. We were wet through and through. The chapel over

there was locked. We asked the cart-driver for the catechist’s house and he

opened the chapel. With no food, drenched to the skin though we were,

we slept well on the camp-cots. The next day early morning we went to

the keri village and collected the adults and prepared them for confession.

We waited for the Priest, but there was no trace of him. We were quite

disappointed and hungry too.

The Priest arrived at about noon and sat in the confessional. Mass was

celebrated around 2 p.m. on that day. He asked us if there was anything to

drink and we said that we had nothing to offer him. He told us that he

would go ahead of us to Madanbhavi and prepare some food for us. On the

way to Madanbhavi by cart we found a hotel and had some coffee. Sr

Salome by then was completely exhausted.” 10

That was the first day. Sr Philomene further narrates their tour to

Madanbhavi village and how they were introduced to the people there. As

per her diary, on the following day Sr Salome was sick and was unfit for

travel. Sr Philomene and the catechist continued teaching catechism in the

villages of Madanbhavi for three consecutive days. On the fourth day they

returned by cart to St Paul’s in Belgaum. After the night’s rest on the fifth

day they left for the convent at Santisbastwad. This was the schedule of

their first missionary journey.

In the successive months and years, the sisters carried on their

evangelizing activities in 15 different villages, some of them at a distance of

3 to 6 kms and others 15 to 50 kms away. They would walk to the other

mission stations, reciting rosaries. In the distant villages, they would spend a

week or more, in extremely deprivation. Sr Philomene writes in her diary:

“We had no decent shelter. We would be put up in peoples’ huts or on a

little veranda. All our bodily needs like food, rest, bath etc. had to be met in

that improvised shelter. The only thought that sustained us in this plight

10 Annete, bs, The Saga of Bethany in North Karnataka, pp 44-45

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was that the Son of God too had no place whereon to rest His head.

Sometimes a missionary priest would come and halt for two to five days in a

week as need arose.

Our life there was as follows: Rising at 3.30 am, with a little prayer we

would go to the Catholic peoples’ houses and awaken them for Mass. At

4.30 am, the Mass was offered by the missionary. The altar table was set

under a tree. During the months of December and January it would be very

cold and we would shiver having no warm clothes. Our food was very simple.

It was just rice and curry and some coffee. In spite of all these hardships

there was a kind of interior joy.”11

During the day, children were taught songs, Catechism, hygiene and

to read and write. In the evenings, as the people returned from their fields

adult Catechism classes were conducted. The untiring efforts of the sisters

were blessed, as many were drawn to the Faith. In Kuduchi village alone

there were 140 baptisms. The Founder’s heart was filled with joy as each of

the early sisters in the missions had spent not just a few years in these

difficult circumstances, but decades of their lives were offered for these

missions. Sr Edana and Sr Prudance are just two examples of such dedication.

Sr Edana spent 28 years (1947-1976) in the missions, 15 of them in

Santibastwad. She recalls her experience: “I used to teach the children and

also engage in different activities among the people. I liked those simple

innocent children. They were open hearted, guileless, obedient and always

eager to study. I spent my time happily with them. My faith is deepened by

working in the mission and witnessing the trust, respect and love of the

simple ignorant people. I praise God for giving me a chance to work among

these people, wherein I studied the virtue of humility and simplicity.” 12 Sr

Prudance recalls: “I served Madanbhavi mission for 13 years and for the past

33 years I am serving at Santibastwad. When I came here there were only

seven Catholic families. Now there are 52.”13

The Founder often visited Santibastwad, as he was drawn to the

simplicity of the people, open to receive the Word of God. His constant

11 Ibid p 4812 Annette, bs, The Saga of Bethany in North Karnataka, p 5113 Ibid, p. 57

13

support, encouragement and appreciation, made up for all the deprivations

the sisters had to undergo. On a rainy day when the stream on the way to

Santibastwad overflowed its banks and the road was blocked, Msgr

Mascarenhas arrived at the stream, from Mangalore via Belgaum. The villagers

from Santibastwad were waiting to tell him to return to Belgaum, as it

would be impossible to cross the stream. However the Founder was

determined to reach Santibastwad and refused to go back, in spite of the

villagers’ repeated assertions that it would be impossible for this elderly priest

to cross the stream. The distraught villagers then carried him in a chair on

their shoulders across the strong current of water. Such was his love and

zeal for the poor and the missions.

The success of the mission at Santibastwad made the missionary priests

request Fr Mascarenhas to open the Bethany Convents in the substations.

However, these places were fraught with problems and risks. But for Fr

Mascarenhas, a man of indomitable trust in God, evangelization was obedience

to Jesus’ command: “Go forth and proclaim the good news” (Mk 16:15).

The missions were such a great priority for him that at a time when there

were no sisters for the new mission stations, the services of the sisters

teaching in schools in South Kanara were sacrificed in order to send them to

the Belgaum mission. He did this under great financial constraints. The

sisters who were withdrawn from the school, had to be replaced by lay

teachers. The Congregation had to pay salary to these teachers from its

own meagre funds, while the sisters sent to the Belgaum missions received a

monthly subsidy of just Rs.25/- for their sustenance.

In his letter to Fr A Alvares, the Founder writes: “We have arranged to

send sisters to the new stations, four to each place. … need not explain

how we had to strain ourselves to do this.” 14

The Superior General, Mother Petra’s letter to Fr A Alvares expresses

her worry and anguish in providing sisters to the missions. She writes, “In

three years we have sent to your missions sixteen sisters. We have sent

them by removing them from their actual work here. … We feel that in

14 Letter of Fr RFC Mascarenhas, dated May 27, 194715 Letter of Mother Petra, bs , dated June 15, 1948

14

undertaking these missions we have attempted too much for our strength in

number and otherwise.”15

In spite of such anxieties and constraints, Bethany forged ahead in

proclaiming God’s kingdom

in the remote rural areas

of Belgaum mission under

the guidance of its

Founder. There were at

the same time moments

when both the sisters and

the authorities had to face

painful experiences,

moments when hard decisions had to be taken, even to the point of

withdrawing the sisters from certain missions. Such was the case of the

Nandgad mission.

At Nandgad

The Immaculate Heart Convent at Nandgad was opened on May 31,

1947. Mother Gemma was the Superior. Sisters Marian, Antoinette and Manna

formed the community of zealous missionaries. They began their work with

enthusiasm, taught in an English medium school, visited the surrounding

villages, catechizing the people and preparing them to receive the sacraments.

During the four year period, the sisters faced innumerable problems

and difficulties. They had no proper residence of their own. Added to this

they had to face prolonged court cases and spent time attending the court

at Belgaum. The school too did not seem to have prospects of success, as

there were schools of different languages in this place. In spite of all these

difficulties, Mother Gemma in her letter to the Founder, after describing all

the problems states, “Truly I say to you, we are not hesitant to suffer. For

the sake of the Convent, we wish to struggle and toil.” 16 The authorities of

the Kannada medium school opposed the running of the English medium

school. So after much prayer and anxiety, a resolution was taken with great

sorrow to withdraw the sisters from Nandgad from May 1, 1951.

Caring for the Sick

16 Letter of Mother Gemma,.bs, dated October 24, 1948

15

At Madanbhavi

M a d a n b h a v i ,

init ial ly was the

substation of the

Santibastwad mission.

Since the substation

and its surrounding

vil lages were more

than 50 kms away

from Santibastwad mission, Fr. Armando requested the Superior General to

open a convent at Madanbhavi. Madanbhavi was a backward and

undeveloped area. In the villages around there were landlords belonging to

the higher castes. They employed the dalits to work in their fields. The

dalits were segregated and were neither allowed to draw water from the

wells nor to enter the Hindu temples. They had neither opportunity for

education nor any possibility of improving their economic or social status.

Initially the convent was opened at a village called Chechadi. The sisters

had to visit the villages, stay in the huts of the poor. Every morning they had

to get up at 3 a.m., pray and then while it was pitch-dark go from hut to

hut to awaken people and bring them for the celebration of the Eucharist.

It was a dangerous and risky task. The sisters carried on this mission with a

spirit of sacrifice. However the Founder and the Superior General realized

the risk the sisters were exposed to and closed the convent and opened it

at Madanbhavi.

The Jesuit missionaries purchased two acres of land at Madanbhavi and

opened an orphanage and a Primary School, catering to the Dalit children.

They invited the Bethany Sisters to take care of the orphans and teach in

the School. The Fatima Convent was opened on August 13, 1946. Sisters

Annunciata, Venera, Laura and Concilia were the pioneers. The sisters visited

nine different villages on foot catechizing the dalits. In far away villages they

had to spend the night in the cowshed of the dalits. Since the sisters

worked for the dalits, they had no access to the wells. In spite of such harsh

conditions, the sisters expressed their compassionate love for the poor and

The joy of being one with the people

16

the outcastes, by educating them, taking care of the sick and being one

with the dalits.

The Jesuits missionaries had also opened a school for the dalits at a

village called Inchal, 7 kms from Madanbhavi. The higher caste Lingayats did

not approve of the service rendered by the sisters to the dalits. They hatched

a plot to drive away the Sisters. In March 1947, on learning that an Inspector

from the Education Department would visit the school at Inchal, Srs Anunciata

and Laura hurried to the school, 7 kms away from the convent with charts

and blackboards. As they were in the school, a group of men entered and

abused the sisters, asking them to leave the place. The sisters remained

reciting the rosary. Their serenity infuriated the men further. They advanced

towards Sr Anunciata and assaulted her. She fell from the chair, as they hit

her with wooden board. Frightened, the sisters came out of the building

and then were surrounded by men who drove them out of the village.

They walked back to Madanbhavi in pain and sorrow. In their thirst, when

they went to the well, they were not permitted to take water. Sr Annunciata

suffered intense pain in her chest and was hospitalized for 11 days.

Even such violent incidents did not deter the brave souls and they

continued their mission in Madanbhavi and Chechadi. Their dedication and

whole hearted commitment to the mission was admirable. Noting the selfless

service of Sr Venera at Chechadi the priest there wrote to the Founder,

“You know this mission is the hardest of all in Belgaum, beset with many

difficulties and opposition. Sr Venera is in best relations with everybody in

Hargoppa. She knows thoroughly the circumstances of this centre and its

people, is very energetic, healthy, zealous, courageous-qualities that are

necessary here.” 17

Motivated though, by the undaunted zeal for the mission, in sending

the sisters to the Belgaum mission, the Founder was deeply concerned

about their welfare and religious life. His letter to the Jesuit Superiors, reveals

his struggles, “We beg of you to understand, our personnel is limited both in

numbers and their general capacity and in accepting to work in so many

places in these parts we have with the best intention, overreached

ourselves.”18 17 Letter of Fr A Albinota,, sj, dated December 15, 194818 Letter of Msgr RFC Mascarenhas, dated December 3, 1948

17

The Convent at Madanbhavi is flourishing to this day with the continuous

dedication of the sisters. Thousands of dalit children have been taken care

of with great love and affection in the orphanages. The children after

completing their primary education in Madanbhavi, continue their high school

studies at the Nesargi school run by the Jesuits.

At Balekundri

Balekundri was another substation of Santibastwad. Here too it was Fr

Armando Alvares, sj who first planted the vineyard of the Lord in 1947 and

invited the Bethany Sisters as his collaborators. Sr Maura was the first superior

of Sacred Heart Convent, Balekundri. The sisters taught in the Kannada

medium school and visited a number of villages catechizing the people. Often

they spent nights in the villages, teaching prayers and bhajans and preparing

the people for the sacraments. In the late 1940s and 1950s Fr C P Andrade

sj began evangelizing the people in the new villages with the cooperation of

the sisters. In his correspondence with the Founder, he expressed with joy

the success of their mission. In 1951 he reported that the number of baptisms

in two years were 116. In his letter of January 20, 1951 he writes, “On

Christmas day we baptized eight persons. One of them was from the new

village called Mavinnakatti. He was named Raymond after you. May he bring

his whole village into Christ’s fold. Sisters are doing well and I am pleased

with the sisters’ work.” 19

Thus one sees how the Founder’s zeal for the mission had an impact

on the sisters and the missionary and led to the christening and naming of

the neophytes after him. The Founder’s personal visits, his enquiries into

the needs of the mission and of sending sisters to work in this vineyard were

appreciated by Frs Alvares and Andrade. By 1950 there were a thousand

converts spread in nine villages. The sisters worked hard to deepen the

faith of the converts, spending even the whole night, praying and singing

bhajans with them.

The school was developed and raised to a High School by Fr C P Andrade.

The concentration on the growth of the institution led to the neglect of

the mission work. Fr Thomas Tharayil, the Parish Priest in the 1960s, wanted

19 Letter of Msgr RFC Mascarenhas, dated January 20, 1951

18

to open a hospital and

requested the Mother

General to send a sister

doctor and sister nurses.

Since the Congregation

could not respond to this

request, the priest invited

another Congregation

who took up the medical

and educational ministry. In

1971, therefore, Bethany

Sisters were withdrawn from the Balekundri mission.

At Londa

Londa is a village surrounded by thick forests. It gained importance as a

railway junction connecting the Mumbai-Bangalore line to Goa. In the 1940s,

Londa had a few Catholic families who had migrated from Goa. There were

also Catholic railway employees stationed at Londa. The Jesuits from Belgaum

visited this mission station and took care of the spiritual needs of the people.

Fr A D’ Cruz, sj of Alnavar requested the Founder for the services of

the Bethany Sisters. The Founder ever eager for the expansion of the

missionary ventures, readily accepted the request in spite of the difficult

situations in which his spiritual daughters would have to work. He arrived at

Londa with Mother Priscilla, Sisters Florelle and Venera. Madeleine Convent,

Londa was opened on May 31, 1947.

The sisters had no proper residence, as the rooms in which they lived

doubled as classrooms during the day. The pioneers and the early sisters

courageously carried on the work of catechesis and gave the people whatever

they needed, even though the sisters themselves had very meagre funds.

They did not even have a place to bathe or wash their clothes and had to

go to one Mr Coelho’s house for these basic needs. Sr Verena who joined

the community later recalls her experiences, “It was a very lonely place,

surrounded by thick forests. There were no houses around. … We were

put up in a small house. That served as the classroom too. At times some

20 Annette, bs, The Saga of Bethany in North Karnataka, p 110

The Early Mission in Belgaum 1947

19

21 Bertha, bs From the Lips of the Founder, p 141

miscreants from the railway station side would come and trouble the Sisters.

Nights were frightening.” 20

In 1949 a plot of land was secured from the Government and a simple

convent and school building were constructed. The students came from

economically poor background and their parents lacked the resources to

earn their livelihood. The sisters educated these children with total

commitment and love. In 1954 Rt Rev Michael Rodrigues, the Bishop of

Belgaum visited the sisters. He was deeply touched by the simplicity of the

sisters and the rapport with the people. The sisters’ life of asceticism in the

remote forest area shocked him. He was at the same time edified by their

missionary zeal which made them live in such poverty and deprivation.

Even today the sisters work for the development of the children and

the poor women of the area. They strive to deepen the faith among the

Catholics of Londa and the substations. The Primary school has grown into a

High School. A boarding house caters to the needs of the poor children of

the surrounding villages.

Conclusion

Msgr Raymond FC Mascarenhas’ passion for the Belguam Mission has

transformed the lives of thousands of poor, especially the poor dalits. His

zeal for the liberation of the marginalized and outcastes of the Belgaum

Mission has given them a new lease of life, through the education imparted

by the Bethany Sisters for the past seven decades. The words of wisdom of

this holy prophet ring in the heart and mind of every Bethany Sister, his

spiritual daughter: “Let us revive our missionary spirit and once revived let us

ask God to keep it always ablaze for His greater glory and for the salvation of

souls.” 21

The aforementioned facts and episodes bring out in a small measure

the Founder, Msgr Raymond F C Mascarenhas’ heroic zeal and saintly

commitment, which strengthened by the Lord, he was able to inculcate

into the personality of the early Bethany Sisters and the mosaic of the

Congregation which has weathered the storms of time.

May his dream be realized to the full through the missionary enterprise

by his daughters, the present and the future generation of the Bethany

Sisters.

20

One of the most outstanding figures of the diocese of Mangalore and

among the clergy in India passed away when Mgr Raymond Francis Camil

Mascarenhas went to his reward on 23 December 1960 at the ripe old age of

86.

The immense work he had turned out in the long span of life is an asset to

the diocese and a manifestation of the zeal he had, to do what he could for the

furtherance of the Kingdom of God in this vast country of ours in the various

capacities he was placed in. This ideal he had before his mind from the day he

was ordained priest, on which occasion he took the name of Francis in honour

of the great apostle of India.

Born in a very respectable family in Shimoga on 23 January 1875, he was

brought up in Mangalore until he was ordained on 4 March 1900. For 60 years

he laboured in the various parishes of the diocese. He built a monumental

church at Udyavar in honour of his patron St Francis Xavier and after having

worked untiringly in the vast parish of Agrar he was appointed the first parish

priest of the newly constituted parish of Bendore in the city of Mangalore. For

the 17 years he was parish priest, practically from nothing he created a parish

Rt Rev Mgr RFC Mascarenhas

Rev Fr John Pinto

A tribute that appeared in UNITAS of 1961(soon after Msgr’s death in

1960), a magazine of St Joseph’s Interdiocesan Seminary, Mangalore, the

author, the late Fr John G Pinto, a priest of the Mangalore Diocese, a

contemporary of the Servant of God Msgr Raymond (he was also his

Godchild, it is learnt). He served at Bantwal, Shirtady, Belthangady,

Omzoor, Hospet and Pezar parishes among other postings. As a close

confidant of the Servant of God, in later years, he stood by him in

various trials and difficulties in connection with his pastoral works. Thus

it brings out rare facets of Msgr Mascarenhas, poignantly from the heart

of a co-priest who knew him at close quarters. The author passed away

on 10 August 1967.

21

full of blooming activities with a beautiful church, schools and the newly

started Congregation of the Bethany Sisters. With devotions and works of

zeal galore, Bendore parish was second to none in Mangalore. The raw

material-the new parish- offered to the zealous parish priest every incentive

to work with ardour unmindful of his own self; for though he was known to

have very poor health and was dyspeptic, he spent 17 years in the dusty

soda shop close to the road, intent first on building a worthy house for the

Lord with little thought for self.

When questioned how he could pass his days in that dust-ridden make-

shift of a house, he jokingly would remark that the dust around contained so

many germs that they attacked one another and never touched him.

As parish priest of Bendore he would, data occasione, place the high ideals

of what a diocesan priest ought to be before the large number of young men

who owing to his special attention and encouragement filled the rank and file

of the secular clergy both in Mangalore and elsewhere. Two of his assistants

became successively bishops of Mangalore, Mgr Victor Fernandes and Mgr Basil

Peres and the third, Mgr James Mendonca, joined the diocese of Trichinopoly

and is now the bishop there.

In 1931, Bishop Victor Fernandes made Mgr Mascarenhas his Vicar General.

He was a towering personality, head and shoulders over others. In the college

and in the seminary he was known for his brilliant talents, but he preferred to

carry out in himself the high ideals of the diocesan clergy and chose the humble

life of a secular priest. Even then the light could not be hidden under a bushel

and his brilliant talents brought him to the forefront wherever he was. As an

orator, dialectician and writer, he headed many a commission, and negotiating

mission and made his mark all over India and there were few among the

Catholic clergy and laity who did not know Mgr Mascarenhas.

With a view to providing for the education of the poor, he started on 16

July 1921 the Congregation of the Bethany Sisters. All religious orders and

Congregations have sowed in tears and reaped in joy. So too this indigenous

Congregation had to get through severe trials and tribulations. The Institute

has stood the test of time and weathered many a storm. In 40 years, it has its

22

ramifications in several other dioceses as Mysore, Bangalore, Calicut, Belgaum,

Poona, Delhi and Simla.

Mgr Mascarenhas carried on all these works at great personal sacrifice

and relying on Providence. With practically no help from others or from outside,

he built two fine churches, several convents, high schools and elementary

schools, industrial and training schools, a list that would bewilder anyone. His

life as a minister of God was solid and nobody would gainsay that he led a truly

sacerdotal interior life.

He was made a Domestic Prelate in 1955. That honour must have come to

the grand old octogenarian as a relief and recognition for the strenuous work

done by him for God and for the Church. “At last the cloud is lifted” said Cardinal

Newman when, misunderstood by his own and maligned by those of the Anglican

Communion, Leo XIII gave him the Red Hat. So did the good Monsignor feel

about the rare honour done him in similar circumstances.

Towards the end of his life he was failing in mind and no wonder. He had

worked so hard that he must have overtaxed himself.

With great joy he had ascended the Altar to celebrate his sacerdotal

Diamond Jubilee Mass on 29 February 1960. But after the Gospel at the sermon

he had a stroke of paralysis which was the beginning of the end. He did the

Jubilee Mass after a month, but mostly he was bed-ridden and he passed away

on 23 December exactly 85 years 11 months old to the day. His funeral took

place that very day and he lies buried in St Sebastian’s Church, Bendore, the

place wherein he had spent 47 years in strenuous labours.

Courtsey: Unitas 1961

(Obituary, pp 87-88)

St Joseph’s Interdiocesan Seminary

Jeppu, Mangalore

23

If, at one time, I thought it was my good fortune to have known

Father Raymond Mascarenhas from such close quarters, being next-door

neighbour to Bethany which is older to me by eight years, I am now convinced

that it has been more than a blessing. At age 81 plus, to have been able to

recollect, reminiscence and to present our beloved father Raymond to our

readers, as I saw him, as I knew him, experienced love and awe for him,

over a period of time, is something I had not expected to achieve in my

lifetime.

In my writings on the great man, beginning with my presentation titled

“A Remembrance” which was carried by Mangalore Magazine, the official

publication of the Catholic Association of South Kanara in its January 2009

issue, I have tried to project him, in my simple language as (i) The

Compassionate Pastor (ii) The Compassionate Father (iii) The Forgiving Father

(iv) The Charismatic Father and (v) The Loving Father.

In the book Reminiscences, p. 37, Sr Theresine of Bethany writes that

our beloved Founder of their Congregation, though a deeply spiritual man,

had a sense of humour too. Why not enjoy a little humour ourselves to

share memories of that smiling face, even at this distance of time? I mean

no insult to anybody, my effort being to present Msgr Raymond as a unique

personality, and, as a simple loving Father.

On one occasion, when I went to visit a reigning Bishop, I acquiesced

A Saint in the MakingServant of God – Msgr RFC Mascarenhas

A Loving Father

James D’ SouzaBangalore

Mr James D’ Souza, now 83 years of age, is a devoted

admirer of the Servant of God Raymond Mascarenhas.

Having been a parishioner at Bendur, Mangalore, and

an altar server to Msgr Raymond Mascarenhas, he

recollects our ‘Servant of God’ in an unusually warm

manner and brings out the ‘Fatherly’ qualities of Msgr

Mascarenhas. Mr James a successful banker, now lives

in Bangalore.

24

with him my ignorance of the correct words in Konkani for greeting him. He

was so magnanimous and understanding, for I don’t know if he had advance

knowledge of the number of summers I was carrying on my shoulders partly

helped by my walking stick, a broken hip-joint, arthritic knee-joints and visible

signs of discomfort having been kissed by the chikunguniya bug few months

earlier he received me at the entrance to his chambers while still standing,

but asking me to a chair “first sit, make yourself comfortable and relax.” And,

as a finale to this happy, wonderful experience, instead of answering my

question, he confronted me with his own question, “You have not told me

the purpose of this visit.” And we all had a hearty laugh. He knew why I had

gone to meet him!!!

Our beloved Father Raymond carried the ex-officio title of Monsignor as

Vicar General for ten years from 1931 to 1941. He was made Domestic

Prelate by Pope Pius XII in 1955 which got him dignified title of Monsignor

for life. If ever he wanted anything for himself in this world it was this one

gift from God, though coming late in his life, as a sign of acceptance and

recognition for all he had done and accomplished for His Church. He was,

otherwise, the same simple ‘father’ to everybody who loved him and whom

he loved.

I must confess that, during my years of contact and interaction with

him, I have always addressed him as ‘Father.’ It was so beautiful and blessing

to be near him, to talk to him “Yes father,” “No father.” He was such a loving

and lovable personality. And, as for a father’s love for his children?

It was his life’s mission and he manifested it in establishing schools for

the education and uplift of children all through his active life, and carried

forward by the Congregation he founded. He loved children and his main

concern was the girl-child. He was ecstatic while in the midst of children. As

for the Congregation of Religious Sisters of Bethany, “I will give my life for

them,” he had said. Young or old, they were his children. To hear him

commiserating so very gently with them with a “Putha” in Konkani meaning

“my child” was music to the ears. Such was his endearing love for them.

This, then, is our loving father, servant of God Msgr Raymond FC

Mascarenhas. May God raise him to the honours of the Altar, is our fervent

prayer.

25

Introduction

We are nearer to God’s heart in a garden than anywhere else on earth.

Possibly because lovely gardens evoke the luxuriance of Eden in the story of

humanity’s fall or because we discover something about God’s will when we

work in our garden. Whatever it may be, when we look through the history,

most of the holy and righteous persons, who fell in love with God had also

fallen in love with nature. They had truly found the heart of God in the very

heart of the nature. I would like to add a saintly man of the 20th century,

Raymond Francis Camillus Mascarenhas, the revered Founder of the Sisters of

the Little Flower of Bethany to the successive venerable persons like St Francis

of Assisi, St Therese of Lisieux, Rabindranath Tagore to name a few, who loved

God and nature. He truly loved nature and taught his sisters to do so, at a time

when people had begun to alienate themselves from nature through

industrialization. In his dealings with the nature, there was a ‘beyond vision’ of

reality yet to come. Hence through this article I would like to highlight a few

aspects from the life of Msgr Raymond as to how nature for him made an easy

link with God.

Close to Nature... Close to GodFounder - the Pioneer Ecologist

This analysis, in today’s context of ecology and

environment awareness, brings to the fore the

advance concern and eco-friendliness of the Servant

of God Msgr Raymond FC Mascarenhas, and the

manner in which he implemented the involvement of

Bethany Sisters, with nature values. Sr Santosh Maria,

hailing from Kerala, is a third year BTh student at St

Joseph’s Interdiocesan Seminary, Mangalore. She is a diploma holder in

Theology of Consecrated life and an efficient teacher. Her writings and

conferences display a remarkable touch of originality and depth, reflected

in all her work.

Sr Santosh Maria, BS

26

1. Finding God in the Nature

God created this beautiful earth and entrusted it to man to till it and keep

it, making him the crown of creation. Man became the caretaker of God’s works.

Only people who are close to God can hear God’s heart beating through nature.

RFC Mascarenhas was such a man who was very close to the heart of God

through the nature. Sr Esperie who had a first-hand experience with Msgr

Raymond remarks: “Fr Founder was a great lover of nature and he always

encouraged people to love nature and conserve it. He knew a great deal about

every tree, every plant and he treated nature with great respect and care. His

love was not only for humanity but also for all the works of the Creator. He saw

the beauty of the Creator reflected in everything. He inculcated a great love for

nature in our sisters. His advice to them was never to cut a tree but to plant

them more.”1

2. Eco-Spirituality of Msgr RFC Mascarenhas

Even a child knows now, why unending natural calamities occur. There is

no need to curse God for all these heart breaking occurrences, for “we have

treated our mother earth so badly, that at any moment an acid rain can fall in

our gardens and pollutants can drift from industry a hundred miles away.

Changing weather patterns have created winds that tear the branches of the

trees and bend the foxgloves to the ground. Climatologists tell us that the

flutter of a butterfly’s wings in Tokyo has an eventual effect on the weather in

London. It follows that the feelings of the rain forests and the fumes of fossils

fuels will ultimately affect not only our garden, but all life.”2

1 Esperie, bs, My Joy and My Crown, p 382 Roth, Nancy, Close to God’s Heart, p 40

27

Tsunamis and earthquakes break the rhythm of our life. They would

make us stretch our hands towards others for food and shelter. All wealth

earned for a life time is lost within the fraction of a second. Scientists estimate

that 50% of all land and sea-life will disappear by 2100. The extinction is

believed to be human-triggered and will be quickest in earth’s history. High

temperature, water scarcity and water abundance resulting from flooding

or heavy precipitation have shown to be related to many unheard of

sicknesses.

Whenever a man gets alienated from his eco system, he is in essence,

alienated from God too, for He is the Creator. Msgr RFC Mascarenhas loved

nature, preserved it and he could bring alive ‘the dry bones’ of a barren

land, plant gardens on rocky hills and trample down thorns and thistles to

grow fruit trees and food crops. He could hear the music of God in the

chirping of the birds and the running of the streams. There is an incident

narrated by Sr Agnus, ‘One day as it rained heavily at Rosa Mystica, Fr Founder

told me, “When you look at the showers of rain falling down on the ground

and making it fertile, think of the showers of graces God sends on you and

thank Him for them.” He was naturally attuned to see God in the nature.’ 3

3. The Garden Planted…Msgr RFC Mascarenhas seemed to have special love to the word ‘garden’

which he often used it in his speech and so many of the sisters who were

associated with him could not but mention his love for the garden. First and

foremost he considered Bethany as the garden of Our Lady, where he was

the gardener for the timebeing. Another garden he cherished was the Rosa

Mystica at Gurupur, Mangalore. He dedicated this beautiful garden to Our

3 Bertha, bs,(Ed) From the Lips of the Founder, pp 306-7

28

Lady of Rosa Mystica.

Fr John D’Souza SJ of

revered memory had

this to say: “A den of

tigers and wild animals

has been transformed

into a beautiful garden

of Eden.”4 Sr Theresine

records this incident in

the book, Reminiscences,

“Our elderly house maids, especially Cecybai, narrated to me how Fr. Founder

saw that the coconut palms and various fruit-yielding trees were planted in

the garden. Once the pits were dug, there were times when father himself

got down into them and planted the saplings. He knew every tree by name

and location. Every tree and every stone at Rosa Mystica would recall his

memory.”5 Those coconut palms and mango trees he planted are still yielding,

proclaiming the love of that benevolent gardener. It is marvellous to note

that in those days he could journey to the hills of Wynad which is almost a

2500 feet above the sea level and could spot another garden at Pallikunnu.

When he bought it, it was an orange orchard and later on it was converted

into a coffee, and a rubber estate. It was also just like Rosa Mystica a God-

forsaken land in those days, but today blooming with full life and full of colour.

He was not only a lover of gardens but also of sunrise, sunset and the

sea. Ullal was one of his favourite spots. He would take children along with

him so that they could enjoy a sea bath, which he knew would improve

their health and revive their fallen energy. He would spend time on the

seashore looking at the horizon. Saints can speak to God even from beyond

the horizon! He believed that nature could heal many of the aliments. So he

built the buildings in such eco-friendly way, very specially when they were

destined for infirmaries. We have the Raphael’s House at Gurpur, built on a

hill. The cool breeze of Gurpur valley dances into each room of this small

cottage. We would surely feel refreshed and revived if we take a good rest

here. He built Vamanjoor house as a health resort for sisters who were ailing

from Tuberculosis. The resort was built with an eco-friendly touch, proposed

by Father Founder himself.

4 Theresine, bs, “The Story of Rosa Mystica”:Platinum Jubilee Souvenir,1932-2007,p 245 Theresine and Esuria bs, Reminiscences, p 35

A Mango tree planted by the Founder still bearing fruit

29

4. A Challenge Left for You and me

Our Planet Earth is one of the most beautiful creations of God and He

entrusted it to you and me. Our body is made up of this Earth. Thus to ‘love

oneself’ is to love nature. The recent Copenhagen Conference discussed

the many dangers our planet faces but they hardly made any radical decisions

to save the planet. Leaders are reluctant to take a firm step, because it

would bring down their flourishing economy.

Over the last centuries we too had our share in the form of floods,

tsunamis, cyclones, droughts and as a result many new diseases have crept

into our lives. They have wiped away many lives and so we cannot sit back

and think, and this is a subject which our leaders should discuss and plan. As

many single drops of water make a mighty ocean, so too I can add my mite

to this endeavour. I am obliged to do so. How and what to do is left to the

individual’s and community’s creative and responsible thinking.

Only rare people who have a greater God-consciousness are able to

recognize the face of the Creator in all the created things. Msgr Raymond

was such a person. In his letters to his sisters he would ask about the

garden they were cultivating, after enquiring about them with the same

affection. “…I forgot about the garden. What progress is it making…?”6

Everything in the nature spoke to him. He would find delight in the growth

of trees. He would miss them very much when they were cut. Sister Esperie

narrates an incident in her book Bethany My Joy and My Crown. “Fr Founder

was 84 and he came to Rosa Mystica to attend the vestition ceremony.

After the ceremony when father came out he noticed that two or three

drumstick trees were missing from their places in the compound. His keen

sense of perception and attention to details at this age is to be admired. He

asked me, “Esperie, who cut the trees?”...I accompanied father till the

chaplain’s cottage. There again he noticed another tree was cut. He said,

“Here there was a matti tree. Tell them not to cut such trees. In case it

dries up or needs to be cut, another sapling must be planted.” 7 When he

purchased the land at Gurpur, he wrote a letter to the sisters at Lisieux

Convent, Puttur, “…If any of you are willing, come and remain here. If you

come you must know how to dig, to plough, to take ¯ÁnZÉA GzÁPï, also to

6 Letter of Msgr.RFC Mascarenhas dated Nov 23, 1937 to Bethulia Community, Meppadi7 Esperie, bs. Bethany My Joy and My crown, p 38

30

cut stones and build.

Send me your

application soon.”8 In

this humorous letter

he included a clarion

call to be a formator

of the virgin soil. We

see a man who

welcomed the

nature into his heart

and embraced it with a growing affection. That made all the difference.

The challenge before us is to form such an intimate friendship with nature.

We need to act with a greater urgency. We should ensure that we do not

punish our beautiful nature to a devastating end. The reaction of the nature

will be beyond our endurance. But should we wait until then?

Conclusion

The story of Msgr Raymond is a love story of nature too. He was a

gardener in every sense and taught many of his sisters to be good gardeners.

Gardening taught him that he could plant and water but have to wait,

allowing God to take over. Sometimes it may seem an eternity. But that

humble man was ready to wait, trusting in the providence of God fully. It

helped him to notice everything, to find joy in small things. In this process

he allowed himself to be a garden of Almighty Father. God pruned him offering

him the chalice of sufferings, ploughed him through humiliations and bitter

experiences. God granted the experience of droughts and cyclones in his

life. There were moments of sheer joy too when He sent pouring showers

of blessings on him. The unfathomed joy of being a priest of God, and

cherishing his priesthood in the daily Eucharistic sacrifice, the growth of his

most cherished garden…thus the eternal Gardener taught him the secret of

dying to live. “Unless the grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it

remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit” (Jn 12:24). Msgr RFC

Mascarenhas was a seed truly fallen to the ground. Thus in the process of

becoming a gardener, he became the garden itself offering us a challenge to

take up and live it in our day-to-day life.

8 Letter of Msgr RFC Mascarenhas, September 16, 1931

31

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bertha, M bs, (Ed). From the Lips of the Founder. Mangalore: Bethany

Publications, 1996.

Esperie, M bs, My Joy and My Crown: My Memories of Msgr RFC Mascarenhas.

Mangalore: Bethany Publications, 2003.

D’Souza, Violette, M. bs Unless the Seed Die. Mangalore: Bethany Publications,

1985.

Bethany Generalate Archives, Mangalore.

Roth, Nancy “Close to God’s Heart in the Garden”, in The Way:Contemporary

Christian Spirituality, Jan2001,(33-41).

Theresine, M bs, “The story of Rosa Mystica”: Platinum Jubilee Souvenir

1932-2007.

Theresine, M and Esuria,M bs. Reminiscences. Mangalore: Bethany Publications,

2009.

32

Rev Fr RFC Mascarenhas was a holy and loving priest of God and people.

I saw him for the first time in 1949 while I was studying in Third Form at the

Little Flower High School, Kinnigoly. This holy priest would visit the sisters

sometimes and at the same time come to our school and Boarding House as

well. We would be quite happy in his presence as he told the stories, he would

speak about the life and missionary zeal of Little Therese of Child Jesus, the

patroness of the School. It was so inspiring, that seven girls out of 15 in the

Sixth Form, in 1952 joined religious life (4 to Bethany, 1 to Ursulines, 1 to

Charity and 1 to Brigittines).

I was one among those four girls. I joined Bethany on 3rd June 1952. It

was customary during those days to go to Founder’s Cottage immediately after

the initial procedure of receiving the new candidates. Accordingly I went to

founder accompanied by my father and a sister. Rev Fr Mascarenhas blessed

me and my father. He spoke to my father for a while. Finally, he thanked him

for offering two of his daughters for Bethany. Ever since, I have experienced a

strong support of Fr Founder during my formative years.

After my joining Bethany, my mother was upset, so was my grand mother.

They were worried about me. I was a mischievous girl, a heavy sleeper and

fond of good food. On 8th June 1952, my grand mother appeared in the

Memories of a Saintly Priest - our Fr Founder

Sr M Doreen BS

Heroic sufferings are the hallmark of Saints in the

church. Servant of God Msgr Raymond all through his

life faced sufferings, walking the talk. Sr Doreen, a

senior nun of Bethany, deep from the heart and

experience, leads the reader into Msgr Mascarenhas’

last days. The writer has carved a place for herself in

the field of education - celebrated teacher and

headmistress for 22 years. After her retirement she equipped herself from

Manitoba Institute of Management, Canada, and has engaged in multifarious

social action for the downtrodden and as a successful counsellor. Presently,

she is the director of Jyoti Social Work Centre of the Bethany

Congregation in Bangalore.

33

parlour of Bethany. She met Mother Priscilla, the Superior of the Community

and proceeded to Fr Founder’s residence. I was called by Fr Founder. My

grand mother explained to Father, all her reasons for my so called unhappiness

in the convent and asked Fr Founder to send me back home along with her.

Ignorant as I was, of the arguments of my grand mother, I looked at Fr

Founder and said “I will not go home”. Beloved Fr Founder placed his hand

on my head and said, “No child, I will not send you, Bethany needs you, I

shall convince your grand mother”. And dear Fr Founder did it. My grand

mother returned home and I knelt down at father’s feet, for his blessing.

Our beloved Fr Founder intervened on my behalf and I continued my

formation.

At the end of my second year of Teachers’ training course in April

1954, I was attacked by typhoid and was hospitalized at Fr Muller’s. My

condition was very bad. During those days Fr Founder visited me very often.

Every time he visited me I would request him to send me to the Novitiate

along with my companions, since I was a postulant for six months. On medical

advice the superiors had decided to postpone my vestition by one year. The

compassionate Fr Founder encouraged me to obey my superiors with the

promise of reserving for me the name of Mother Mary. During that year I

was sent for teaching at Rosa Mystica. At the end of that year, as promised

Fr Founder gave me the name which he had reserved i.e. Sr Mary Doreen of

Jesus Pierced (Dolorosa) and I entered the Novitiate. Thus he relieved me

of all the tensions. He was a true and compassionate Father, who was true

to his word.

Those were the years of trials and misunderstandings for our Fr Founder.

We were asked to pray earnestly for Bethany, a fact we did not understand. Fr

Founder was suffering intensely. He was deprived of all the necessities of life as

the Founder. One afternoon we, the Novices at Rosa Mystica were surprised to

see our beloved Fr Founder walking alone from the bus stand to our Novitiate.

We rushed to meet him. We found him weak and worried. He sat in the convent

parlour for a while, spoke to us just a few words; finally requested us to pray

much for him and for Bethany. Such was his deep trust in the power of prayer!

I was a member of Motherhouse Community immediately after my First

Profession in May 1956. Bethany was in trouble then. On the feast of Little

Therese the second Patroness of our congregation we, the Junior sisters

34

requested Fr founder to speak to us. He came to the Motherhouse chapel

accompanied by one of the labourers. He spoke to us on the Little way of

Little Therese, her deep love for Jesus and Mary ... finally he touched upon

the power of prayer and said, “Prayer is like the cement which strengthens

the life span of a building and as such we need to spend more time in

prayer, storm heaven for Bethany”.

Fr Founder was directed to offer Mass in private. A temporary altar was

prepared in his cottage on the verandah. The Junior Sisters were asked to take

turns and serve Father’s Mass. We were happy to do this. Fr Founder offered

Mass daily with so much devotion and fervour, that we found him absorbed in

the Mystery of Calvary. After Mass he would spend time before the Crucifix. He

would not talk to us even while we lingered around after Mass. He taught us by

his eloquent example to obey our superiors in all circumstances.

We have experienced the consequences of secluded life of Fr Founder. All

the while he appeared to be resigned to the will of Superiors. He would not

utter any words of anger or impatience. We could see him seated on his chair

in the verandah and pray the Rosary. The saintly Fr Founder would not talk to

us then, since we were forbidden to talk to him. He was deeply hurt at this type

of indifference on the part of his own spiritual daughters, for whose sake he

was ready to give his life. Now I feel sorry for being one among those sisters

who were under pressure and ignored the holy person – our Rev Fr Founder!

He suffered loneliness and indifference from all of us, his beloved daughters.

Yes, he suffered in silence – Man of sorrows, strengthened by the Mother of

Sorrows to whom he had great filial devotion.

One morning, as I was going to school along with three other junior sisters,

Fr Founder walked near the gate of his compound, called me aside and asked

me to bring the notes of lessons book of one of the senior sisters teaching in

St Joseph’s, Kankanady. I was scared to attempt. In the evening Fr Founder

was awaiting my return from school and was disappointed to see me without

bringing that book. He told me to try the following day.

Meanwhile, word reached the superior of the community, that I was seen

speaking to Fr Founder. She was furious. As I reached the community bell,

near the Grotto of Our Lady, she asked me to go to Mother General’s room

immediately. Both of them were angry with me – Mother General too was very

displeased. Then, the superior of the house said to me “You are disobedient,

35

you were told not to go to Father’s house, now, take your trunk and go

home at once.”

Though the circumstances were apparently not favourable for Fr

Founder, I believed that he was still the superior to all of us. Therefore,

instead of running to take my trunk, I ran to father’s house- sobbing in

distress. He was praying the Rosary seated in front of our Lady. He lovingly

placed his hand on my head and asked me for the reason. I said “Mother has

told me to take my trunk and go home; I do not want to go.” Father was

silent for a while then he said “don’t cry my child, you are needed in Bethany.

Go to the community and have your tea. I shall tell the superior later.” I have

no comments further!

I am still in Bethany and I am grateful to God and to our beloved Fr

Founder for the blessings of my perseverance in Bethany.

I have often seen him seated before the Blessed Sacrament for long

hours. He had placed a picture of the Sacred Heart on the backside of the

Tabernacle in the Motherhouse Chapel and there he would spend long hours

all alone - in silence. Was he drinking the chalice of suffering, all for the sake

of Bethany, the apple of his eye! After the prayer he would go to his cottage

in deep thoughtfulness.

The clouds of sufferings were cleared gradually after 1959. There was

a change in the administration. Some relaxation was found. Fr Founder was

once again available to all of us to spend some time in recreation. He was

happy at the free atmosphere and speak about the blessings of God and of

Blessed Mother on Bethany.

All the same, Fr Founder continued to be in his cottage. His Sacerdotal

Diamond Jubilee was celebrated on 29th February 1960. He was very much

excited on the occasion, so also all of us. St Sebastian’s Church Bendore was

full to its capacity. But the Lord had his own plan-during the Eucharistic

Celebration Father was so happy - that after the homily he could not stand

up....! The doctors were called in- still, much could not be done.

Fr Founder proved to be the minister of God during the last few months.

He was confined to his cottage. Very often he would ask his attendants to

take him to the chapel to the Blessed Sacrament. He would gaze at the

Tabernacle with much devotion and love that I was inspired by that gesture

of the holy person – his living faith towards the Real Presence.

36

Being in his room he would pray the Rosary. His trusted friend Fr Marian

Castelino would visit him often, so also many of his friends, sisters, relatives

and admirers. During the last week of his life i.e. December 1960, Fr Castelino

would teach him prayers in his ears saying “In Manos Tua Domine, commendo

spiritu mea”. Fr Founder would repeat the same in whispers. So also “Immaculate

Heart of Mary, Pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death”. Father’s

room was a holy place. On 22nd December 1960, late in the evening all of us

gathered in his room. Father was praying not in agony – calm and serene. On

23rd early morning at 5 a.m. we got the sad news that dear Father passed away.

A saint, I felt a great loss, someone who loved us had passed away …. an

intercessor in heaven.

His mortal remains were placed in the Motherhouse Chapel. People, religious

both men and women and priests poured in the Chapel all through the day.

Many priests offered prayers and blessings. I saw many touching their rosaries

to Father’s coffin. They were saying, “A holy person… a saintly priest… Bethany

is fortunate to have such a selfless, humble servant to be their Founder…”

The funeral was held the same evening at St Sebastian Church, Bendore.

Oh what a crowd! What a solemnity!

Mixed feeling of loneliness – of having lost a loving, compassionate, a kind

Father... one who understood me thoroughly… Feelings of joy – a powerful

intercessor in heaven.

After Msgr Raymond got the paralytic stroke during the Eucharistic celebration ofhis Sacerdotal Diamond Jubilee on 29th February 1960, Mother Macrina, theSuperior General presided over the felicitation programme. Most Rev BishopRaymond D’Mello and other priests of the diocese are seen in the photo.

37

2000/12 Thanks to Msgr RFC Mascarenhas for favours received.

- Sr Victoria, Guledgudd

2000/13 My grateful thanks for the favours received through the intercession

of Msgr RFC Mascarenhas.

- James Canute Lobo, Mogarnad



- Dulhari Kujur, Ranchi


of Msgr RFC Mascarenhas

- A V Monteiro


- Sr Elnora, BS

2000/17 Thanks for the many favours received through then intercession

of Msgr RFC Mascarenhas. I shall continue to pray for still more

favours.

- A devotee



- Sr Sapientia, BS


- Sylvia, Taccode

2000/20 Thanks to Msgr RFC Mascarenhas for the favours received.

- Sr Theresine, BS


- Sr Edburge, BS

2000/22 Received favours through the intercession of Msgr Raymond

Mascarenhas. My heartfelt thanks to him.

- Sr Sheela, Madanbhavi

Favours Received from 1999 to 2001 throughthe Intercession of the Servant of God

Raymond FC Mascarenhas and Published in Raknno,the Konkani Weekly of Mangalore Diocese

38

2000/23 Received favours through the intercession of Msgr RFC

Mascarenhas. My sincere thanks to him. I regret for the delay in

publication.

- Sr Surekha, BS



- Theresine, BS

2001/1 Through the intercession of Msgr Raymond Mascarenhas, my

sister’s health was restored. Sincere thanks to him.

- A devotee


- A devotee

2001/3 Received favours through the intercession of Msgr Raymond

Mascarenhas. My heartfelt thanks to him.

- William D’ Souza, Kinnigoli


- CRF



- Juliet Rasquinha


Mascarenhas. My sincere thanks to him.

- Sister Rosette, BS

2001/7 Thanksgiving for favours received through the intercession of Msgr

Raymond Francis Camillus Mascarenhas- Bethany Founder.

- Sr Esuria, BS


- WLC


- Sr Benny, BS, Orissa



- Sr Severine, BS

2001/11 Thanks to Msgr RFC Mascarenhas for the special favours received.

- Sr. Benny, BS, Orissa

39


of Msgr Raymond Mascarenhas. I still continue to pray for more

favours.

- C.A



- Shrimati Alice Sequeira, Kirem


of. Msgr RFC Mascarenhas

- Sr Felix, BS. Bangalore


- A devotee



- Maria



- Sr Victia, Guledgudd


- Sr Mariette, BS, Bendur


- Ancilla


- Superior, Rosa Mystica Convent


- A devotee

2001/22 Heartfelt thanks to Msgr RFC Mascarenhas for the favours received.

- Sr Theresild, BS

2001/23 Thanks to Rev Fr RFC Mascarenhas, the founder of Bethany for

the favours received.

- Bethany Convent, Bendur

2001/24 When I was at the point of dying, I was saved through the

intercession of Msgr RFC Mascarenhas. My sincere thanks to him.

May he be granted honours of the altar soon.

- Sr Noel, BS

40

2001/25 The mission which God ordained, I am carrying it out through the

intercession of Msgr RFC Mascarenhas. My grateful thanks to him.

- Sr Donalda Pais, Arunodaya Special School, Karkal

August 29, 2009 Published in Divo

Received favours through the intercession of Msgr RFC Mascarenhas. My sincere

thanks to him. Regret for the delay in publishing.

Sandra Baretto & Family, Honnavar

April 19, 2010 Published in The Secular Citizen

My heartfelt thanks to Msgr Raymond Mascarenhas for granting good health.

Praying for more favours.

- Ignatius D’ Souza,

Mangalore/Dubai

June 14, 2010 Published in The Secular Citizen

Thanks to Msgr Raimond Mascarenhas for the favours granted in successful

operation.

-Precilla Mathias, Parel

41

Favours Received

1991 Faith in God Moves Mountains.

i. The Provident Fund slips of the employees of St Vincent’s Convent School,

Berhampur, Orissa from 1991 to 2001 were not released due to the clerical

fault in the Provident Fund Office. The management of the school was asked to

pay the penalty to the tune of Rs four lakhs for no fault of their own.

Hence the school authorities sought the assistance of the Provident Fund

Commissioner at Delhi. But the Assistant Provident Fund Commissioner at

Berhampur was unmoved and unwilling to change his stand. We requested

the sisters, the staff and the students to intercede through Msgr RFC

Mascarenhas. Very soon there was a change in the attitude of the Assistant

Provident Fund Commissioner who passed an order in September 2001 and

released the Provident Fund slips free from having to pay any penalty.

ii. The construction of Oriya Medium School in Berhampur, Orissa was held

up for a number of years due to the delay in approving the building plan by the

Block Development Authority at Berhampur. After waiting patiently and praying

incessantly for several months through the intercession of Msgr RFC

Mascarenhas, the plan was sanctioned by the Block Development Authority.

iii. We were in need of a good water source. The water diviner located the

spot and assured us that there is good water source and water would be available

without having to drill deep. We were worried and anxious when water was

not found even after drilling to a level of 300 feet deep. To add to our anxiety

we were told that there is no chance of finding water even to a depth of 450

feet. We had recourse to God through the intercession of Msgr. RFC Mascarenhas

and next morning we had the good news of finding sufficient water as an

answer to our prayers. We thank and praise the Lord for answering our prayers

and granting our requests.

Sr Benedicta Castelino BS

Shanthi Ashram, Berhampur, Orissa.

42

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

1996 Prayer Changes Things

I developed severe itching on my whole body. Consulting several doctors

and taking treatment from them brought no relief. I felt embarrassed to meet

anyone in public because the skin of the whole body was dried up. Finally I

approached Dr Raghavendra Bhat who said prayer and faith alone can work a

miracle.

At this juncture I went to Msgr Raymond FC’s cottage, poured out to him

tearfully my distress and prayed for relief. I felt assured that I would be healed.

As a result of the ongoing treatment under Dr Raghavendra Bhat and the

unceasing prayers of all the inmates of Bethany day by day I found improvement

and now I am completely restored to good health.

May God be glorified for the healing power manifested through the

intercession of Msgr Raymond FC Mascarenhas.

Sr Josita BS

Santa Cruz Convent, Kulshekar

2000 God Answers Prayers

I was suffering with a deep wound on the right leg near the thigh. I

underwent treatment for two months without cure. As per the advice of the

doctor I was required to undergo plastic surgery. With trust and confidence I

prayed to the Founder earnestly for three months. I experienced healing and

now I am able to walk without pain.

My left leg below the knee and above the ankle was badly affected. I

consulted five doctors who prescribed antibiotics but without positive results.

My leg was looking disfigured. Doctors diagnosed it as cellulites, a type of ulcer.

I was advised to go to Hinduja Hospital, Mumbai for treatment. While the

treatment continued I prayed continuously through the intercession of Msgr

Raymond FC Mascarenhas for one and half year. I thank and praise God for

answering my prayers and granting me complete healing.

Sr Concetta BSRosa Mystica Convent, Kinnikambla.

43

09.07.2009 JOB SECURED

My brother was in need of a good job. I began praying to Msgr RFC

Mascarenhas. God has blessed him with a good job abroad.

My heartfelt thanks to God for answering my prayer.Mrs. Jyothi Fernandes

Arasara Guthu House, Aikala PostTalipady. Damaskatte

2010

My wife and I express our grateful thanks to the Servant of God, Msgr

Raymond Mascarenhas for the great favour received through his intercession.

I lost my job during the global recession in 2008. It was not going to be easy to

get another job at my age 52. We prayed to this great Man of God, persistently

since November 2008, for this miracle to happen. I got a decent job and I

started on it on 12th April 2010. We continue our prayers for the Honours of the

Altar to our Benefactor, and we request the Postulator and the Vice Postulator

to accept our humble thanks-offering for the “Cause”.

Cynthia and Peter D’ SouzaIn Calgary (Alberta) Canada

24.09.2009

Through the intercession of Fr Founder I have received the following favours:

1. Dolphy D’ Souza, my nephew got a permanent job in MCC Bank though

he had crossed the age bar.

2. Permission for PCMB combination in Presentation Girls’ Composite P.U.

College, Dharwad was granted by the concerned authorities in 2009 which was

denied since 2006. Gradually the student strength increased considerably and

the required equipments for the college were received as a gift from generous

well-wisher. We thank and praise the Lord for the good infrastructure.

- Sr Prima BSPresentation Convent, Dharwad

44

2010

Once my sister called me up and informed me that her child is running

high temperature. She was hesitating to go to the doctor as she had financial

problems. Praying through the intercession of Fr Founder daily for any favour

has been a practice, in her family. Therefore, I asked her to continue to pray.

One night she placed the photo of our Fr Founder on the child’s body and

continued to pray. To her surprise the next day when the child awoke from her

sleep, she did not have the temperature. She thanked God for working this

miracle thro’ our Fr Founder.

I was constantly praying to have a good job for my brother-in-law. Though

he had a job, he was not able to make both ends meet. I believe it is thro’ the

intercession of our Founder he got a better job and is now able to meet the

expenses of his family. So along with my sister’s family I thank and praise God

and pray that our Fr Founder may be granted the honours of the altar.

Sr Rositta, BSBethany Convent, Susni

Jharkhand

THE COMPASSIONATE PASTOR

Published twice a year in July and December. No subscription. Donations

will be gratefully accepted to meet the expenses of printing, mailing and

the process of Canonization. Donations and offerings may be sent to the

address given below. Cheques/drafts may be made in favour of: Cause of

Msgr Raymond FC Mascarenhas. We invite you to share your

experiences for possible inclusion in this bulletin.

The Vice-PostulatorCause of the Servant of God Raymond MascarenhasBethany Convent, Kankanady PostMangalore - 575 002Karnataka, India

Managing Editor

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