Mangalore Diocese News

Media Release

Puttur , June 25 : Bishop of Diocese of Mangalore and President of Catholic Board of Education His Excellency Most Rev. Dr Peter Paul Saldanha paid his official visit to Mai De Deus Church and affiliated educational institutions on 24 June ,2023. After arriving at the Church at 9am performed the rituals of Mass, visited the Mai De Deus Institutions and interacted with the staff and students of the schools. Bishop in his address urged the students saying, “Value added life is to be lived as accumulation of knowledge alone will not be enough since accumulation of life values is need of the hour. When culture, love, compassion, respect and spiritual values are inculcated in life through education, the education becomes complete in every sense. In this ever-changing world we need to face every challenge and tread the path of success”.

The highlights of the Pastoral visit:

• A ceremonial welcome at the Church premises.
• Visitation to all the educational institutions affiliated to the Mai De Deus Church.
• Interaction with the staff and students.
• The Bishop offered the Holy Eucharistic Celebration where 83 children were confirmed with the Sacrament of Confirmation.
• Interaction with Mai De Deus Parish Pastoral Council and Heads of the Institutions

Lord Bishop also had interaction with the teaching and non- teaching faculty of the Institutions. On this occasion he said, “Imparting education is not an occupation but a responsibility to form life. Imparting knowledge only is not the job of the teachers but to be an example by the lifestyle likely to be emulated by the students to become real persons of good culture. Create an aura and be a role model”.

Mai De Deus Girls High school, Maide Deus Higher Primary School, St Victors English Medium School in the Church premises, St Philomena English Medium School, St Philomena High school, St Philomena P U College, St Philomena College in the St Philomena campus were visited and interaction was held with students and the staff. Bishop also visited the men’s and women’s hostels and had interaction with Wardens and the inmates of both the hostels.

On the auspicious occasion of this pastoral visit, the Parish Priest of Mai De Deus Church and also the Correspondent of Mai De Deus Educational Institutions Very Rev. Fr Lawrence Mascarenhas, Assistant Parish Priest Rev Ajay Lohith Mascarenhas, Church Parish Pastoral Council Vice President Shri Gerald D’Costa ,Secretary Smt Eveline, and the members of Parish Pastoral Council and the devotees were present in large numbers.

On the visit to the institutions, Mai De Deus Higher Primary School Head Miss Smt Janet D’Souza, St Victors’ English Medium School Head Master Mr Harry D’Souza St Victors’ Girls’ High school Head Miss Smt Roseline Lobo, St Philomena English Medium School Head Miss Sr Lora Pais, St Philomena High school Head Master Rev. Fr Maxim D’Souza, Principal of St Philomena PU College Rev. Fr Ashok Rayan Crasta, Principal of St Philomena College Rev Dr Antony Prakash Monteiro, St Philomena Men’s Hostel Warden Rev Fr Roopesh Tauro,St PHILOMENA Women’s Hostel Warden Sr Lourdh Mary and Campus Director of St Philomena College Rev. Fr Stany Pinto were present.