The Congregation of the Sisters of the Little Flower of Bethany observed its 150th birth anniversary with a solemn Eucharistic celebration at St. Sebastian's Church, Bendur, Mangalore, Karnataka, South India, on February 28.
It was also the 125th priestly ordination anniversary of Servant of God Raymond Francis Camillus Mascaredhas, the founder of the Congregation.
Cardinal Filipe Neri Ferrão, president of the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India (CCBI) and the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC), led the Mass along with Bishops Peter Paul Saldanha (Mangalore), Gerald Lobo (Udupi), Francis Serrao (Shimoga), Geevarghese Mar Makarios (Puttur), and Aloysius Paul D'Souza.
In his homily, Bishop Saldanha commended Msgr. Mascarenhas for his strong faith and commitment to evangelism.
Emphasizing the priest's efforts to translate the Gospels into the local tongue and create hymns still heard in churches, he remarked, "He became someone beautiful for God and added beauty to many lives."
Msgr. Mascarenhas founded the congregation in 1921.
After Mass, Bishop Saldanha led a felicitation program. Speaking at the assembly, Cardinal Ferrão said Msgr. Mascarenhas was a "true servant of God" and a synodal disciple model.
Celebrating the twin jubilees, the congregation revealed a set of projects with an eye toward education and mission:
• Help for St. Joseph's Major Seminary, Mangalore seminarians.
• Evangelization efforts at Holalkere Mission in Shimoga Diocese.
Over three years, the project calls for the planting and tending of 5,000 seedlings.
• Evangelism training for one hundred Bethany Sisters and one hundred laypeople.
• One hundred rural girls are undergoing vocational training to be nursery instructors.
• Education for fifty dropouts in Tanzania, Africa, and sixty violence-torn Manipur children.
Declaring his blessings and releasing the Jubilee Souvenir, Bishop Saldanha praised the Bethany Sisters' committed service and Msgr. Mascarenhas' services.
Mother General Sr. Rose Celine noted the congregation's expansion under former leaders and ecclesiastical cooperation.
Cardinal Ferrão released a Konkani version of "Unless the Seed Dies,” a biography of Msgr. Mascarenhas by the late Dr. Violette B.S.
Additionally shown was a documentary about his life, which considered his ongoing impact on the Church in Mangalore and beyond.
Cultural events rounded the occasion with a choral piece by St. Theresa School and a prayer dance by Sacred Hearts High School, Kulshekar.
Emphasizing Msgr. Mascaranhas's influence on faith, education, and evangelism, the dual jubilee celebration honored his legacy.
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