Mangalore Diocese News

By Meena Serrao Barboza

Mangaluru, Sep 30 : 29 September 2023 became a memorable day in the history of the Missionary Society of Infant Jesus as the Fathers and Brothers were privileged to celebrate for the first time the Founder's Day just two years after the death of the Founder Rev Fr.Lawrence Pinto. 

Before commencing the celebration of the Solemn Thanksgiving Holy Mass in honour of our Founder's Day , His Lordship Most Rev. Dr. Peter Paul Saldanha, Bishop of Mangalore blessed the renovated Missionary Society of Infant Jesus , Mother House. Other invited Priests, Sisters faithful took part in the blessing of the renovated Mother House.

Before the Holy Mass could begin, Fr. Melwin Basil Pinto, MSIJ welcomed wholeheartedly Bishop Peter Paul Saldanha, all Rev. Fathers, Rev. Sisters, siblings of the Founder , benefactors, faithful gathered for the Founder's Day Eucharistic celebration.

Thereafter the Holy Mass began. Holy Mass was presided over by Bishop Peter Paul Saldanha , Rev. Fr. Victor George D'Souza, the Chancellor of the Diocese of Mangalore, Fr. James D'Souza, Vicar Forane of City Deanery, Fr. Andrew Leo D'Souza parish priest of Bondel church, Fr. Bathula Ravi Kumar, MSIJ, Superior General, Fr. Ashok Kumar Nalla,MSIJ and all other Rev. Fathers concelebrated in the Solemn Thanksgiving Holy Mass. The Bishop in his homily on the auspicious occasion of Founder's Day, made the gathering known that it is God who calls us and blesses us to become blessing in the lives of others in turn, the Founder too was called by God and by his way of life he has inspired many. He is not venerable, servant of God, beatified, or declared as a saint yet we celebrate the person of the Founder; what good God did in his life, he has shared it with so many people, and they have experienced blessings from him in their life, said the Bishop.

Before the final hymn of Holy Mass, Rev . Fr. Bathula Ravi Kumar, MSIJ the Superior General proposed the Vote of thanks for everything that has happened on the celebration of Founder's Day. Revelation Singing group led by Mr. Suraj Noronha and Co sang melodiously for the Holy Mass. The gathered people expressed words of appreciation for the function organized in a very systematic way.

The Founder's day function was ended with a fellowship meal.