The compassionate Pastor - July 2013

Managing Editor

Sr M Wilberta, BS

Chief Editor

Sr M Lillis, BS

MEMBERS

Rev Fr Joseph Martis

Mr Ivan Saldanha

Mr Edmund Frank

Sr Miriam, BS

Sr M Rose Margaret, BS

Sr M Jessy Rita, BS

Sr M Virginia, BS

Sr Mary Naulak, BS

Sr M Gracy Bennis BS

ContentsEditorial Board

THE COMPASSIONATE PASTORJULY 2013

1. Editorial 3

2. SD Raymond FC Mascarenhas’ Seven

Secrets for a Successful Chirstian Living

- Bro Jason Pinto SDB 5

3. Detached - but There When Needed

- Sr Olinda Pereira 14

4. In Quest of a Sanit- Servant of God -

Raymond FC Mascarenhas

- Mr James D’Souza 20

5. Servant of God, Raymond FC Mascarenhas -

a Message and a Messenger of the Word

of God

- Sr Rose Margaret BS 22

6. Vision in Mission

- Sr Surekha BS 30

7. RFC Mascarenhas: A Prophet for our Times

- Sr Namritha BS 39

8. Bethany’s Birth - in the Words of Mgr

Raymond FC Mascarenhas 48

9. Favours Received 52

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INSPIRING SAYINGS OFTHE SERVANT OF GOD

RAYMOND FC MASCARENHAS

“Jesus in the Eucharist is a living prayer. So wewill transform our actions into prayer, if we areunited to Him.”

“Charity requires one to deny oneself, whichconquest must be made, thro’ the help of prayer.”

“Pray to the heart of Jesus to have a sincerefraternal charity.”

“Let us cultivate tender devotion to Mary in orderto acquire purity and holiness of life.”

“Prayer made well with humility, simplicity andlove, will obtain pure love of God, as no other meanswill obtain.”

“Bethany has been dear to Mother Mary, it is dearto her, and it will be dear to her, and therefore shehas deigned to bless and prosper it, in spite ofexterior opposition and contempt.”

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MERCY PERSONIFIED

“Jesus has this message for us: Mercy. I think- and I say it with humility- thatthis is the Lord’s most powerful message: mercy.”

- Pope Francis

Referring to the first Angelus message of PopeFrancis, Andrea Tornielli, the biographer of the Popewrites: “To a world that finds it so difficult to believe,the new Pope wanted to shout the same proclamation

as two thousand years ago, that this mercy is not a sentiment but a person.His very striking way of recalling Incarnation-was a maternal gesture: he heldhis arms in front of him and moved as though, rocking a baby and said, “OurLady … held in her arms the Mercy of God made man.”1

Mercy and compassion were the hallmarks of the Servant of God,Raymond Mascarenhas too. His ordination souvenir has a picture of Jesusbreaking and giving the bread to a little boy. On it is the printed verse,“Blessed are the merciful…” Mgr Raymond who had a deeper insight into themystery of incarnation, the great revelation of God’s mercy, left no stoneunturned to exemplify in his day to day life the mercy of God. Sr Bartholomea,a Bethany Sister who was entrusted with the development of the compoundat Rosa Mystica, Kinnikambla in Dhakshina Kannada, in the late thirties records:“I had to spend the night at the sugar-cane press, situated at some distancefrom our Convent home. The Founder happened to halt for that night in hiscottage in the campus. When he came to know of my night-watch at thesaid sugar cane press, immediately he sent his car to the spot with a message:“Let the Sister rest in the car during the night.”2 Such was his tender mercy.

The month of July brings home to us the memory of an outstanding actof mercy of Mgr Raymond, namely, the founding of the indigenousCongregation of Bethany in Mangalore with four ordinary lady teachers fromthe parish of Bendur. His letter to Bishop Valerian on the purpose of startingthis venture unfolds his merciful heart. “I was prompted to do it by the needwhich I and, with me many parish priests of the diocese felt to have a supplyof permanent religious teachers for our elementary schools and incidentally,the children of our parishes for which work no such provision existed in ourdiocese; and for want of which we were greatly handicapped in our work forreligious education of the young in our parishes.”3

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His merciful heart vibrated with the sufferings of the marginalized. Thismessage of mercy runs through all the articles in this issue of TheCompassionate Pastor.

Bro Jason Pinto unfolds seven secrets of Christian living from the life theServant of God. Having spotlighted his depth of spiritual life he exemplifiesthe visible expression of his spirituality in his concern for the Church, themarginalized and the weaker sex. Sr Olinda Pereira, the grandniece of MgrRaymond in her article “Detached - but there When Needed” shares themirth, fun and the lofty experiences of hers in the company of her kind-hearted uncle. The article “In Quest of a Saint” by Mr James D’Souza whowas an eyewitness to Mgr Raymond’s struggles of life represents him asCONFIDENCE personified. Sr Rose Margaret’s writing on “Servant of GodRaymond Mascarenhas, a Message and a Messenger of the Word of God”exposes the mercy of the Servant of God displayed by bringing home to thepeople the Word of God in numerous creative ways so that the people loveJesus and experience His love. The piece of writing of Sr Surekha on ‘Vision inMission’ accentuates the visionary leadership of Mgr Raymond after the exampleof Jesus. She underscores originality and creativity as the special characteristicsof Mgr Raymond and Glory of God as the captivating goal of his life.

The article “RFC Mascarenhas - A Prophet for our Times” by Sr Namrithaexpounds the prophetic characteristics of the life and mission of the Servantof God especially his sufferings endured with great faith and serenity to builda just society.

The extract from Mgr Raymond’s report on Bethany written in the year1925 to Bishop Paul Pereni SJ reveals his sense of accountability, integrity inaddition to his concern for the Mother Church.

As the centenary bells chime in great exultation at St Sebastian Church,Bendur, Mangalore, wherein lie the mortal remains of the Servant of God MgrRaymond, the first parish priest, I recall to myself the first sermon preachedby him in 1914 standing on the barren land of Bendur, “Will these dry bonesever live?”4 Yes indeed. This is the power of mercy and compassion. In himwe have a model to translate the mercy of Jesus in our day to day life.

Sr M Lillis BSEditor

(Endnotes)1 Andrea Tornielli, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, FRANCIS Pope of a New World.2 Bertha BS, From the Lips of the Founder, Mangalore, 1996, 305.3 Report of Fr RFC Mascarenhas on Bethany to Rt Rev Valerian D’Souza Bishop of Mangalore, 31

August 1928.4 Violette D’Souza BS, Unless the Seed Die, Mangalore, 2010, 22

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SD RAYMOND FC MASCARENHAS’SEVEN SECRETS

FOR A SUCCESSFUL CHRISTIAN LIVING

Jason Pinto, is a Salesian brother, who belongsto the Panjim-Konkan Province of Bl Jose Vaz. Atpresent he is pursuing his Theology at Jnaana-DeepaVidyapeeth, Pune. His grandparents were theparishioners of St Francis Xavier Church, Udyavar,where SD RFC Mascarenhas laboured as a parish priest.He is a great admirer of Mgr Mascarenhas for hispastoral zeal and love for the Church.

Bro Jason has successfully completed his BA from KSOU, Mysore, PGDiploma in Konkani language from St Aloysius, Mangalore, and B Ph fromDivyadaan, Salesian Philsophate.

He recounts his faithfulness to God’s call as his greatest achievementin life.

In this article Bro Jason enumerates the seven secrets (tips) of thespirituality of SD Raymond FC Mascarenhas, and invites the readers toemulate them in their lives.

“Seven”, a biblical number is captivating indeed. In the Bible we read

about the seven day account of creation, the seven years of famine andseven years of prosperity in Joseph’s dream, the seven enemy tribes ofIsrael and the seven deadly sins. Even Peter asked Jesus if he should forgivehis offender seven times. Christian tradition speaks about the sevensacraments, the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven joys and sevensorrows of Mary, the seven heavenly virtues, etc. In the secular world wehear about the Seven Wonders of the World, the seven continents of theworld, the seven seas and seven oceans, the seven days of the week, etc.Stephen Covey in his celebrated book “The Seven Habits of Highly EffectivePeople” presents us with seven attitudes which we need to cultivate inorder to bring about effectiveness in our life. Based on the same linesI thought of presenting a few insights culled from the life of S D (Servus Dei- Servant of God) Mgr Raymond Francis Camillus Mascarenhas in order to helpus live a successful and happy Christian life. He is truly a model for us to

Jason Pinto, SDB

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imitate. These “secrets”, however, are not something like hidden mysteriesof his life which the world did not know. Rather these are tips for us toadmire and imitate as we live our Christian life as followers of our Lord Jesus

Christ. These seven secrets are his union with God, love for Jesus, openness

to the Spirit, tender devotion to Mary, concern for the Church, zeal for the

poor and the marginalized, and sensitivity to the weaker sex.

1. Union with God

Mgr Raymond Mascarenhas lived his life as a man in union with God.Being deeply aware that his mission was God’s plan for him, he went aboutunperturbed to fulfil it, with great hope and trust in God doing everythingto please Him. His life pleasing to God was a consequence of his deeprelationship with God.

This union with God was manifested in his trust in Divine Providence.When one of the Sisters expressed her anxiety to him about a financialproblem which she encountered while paying a due, he simply smiled andsaid, “We always draw from our bank in heaven. Our Lord and his BlessedMother are very rich and their wealth is ours for the mere asking.”1 A concreteexample of his trust in Divine Providence was in the many churches that hebuilt. Sr Violette D’Souza, one of his biographers, beautifully encapsulates itin her book: he had adapted and made his own the saying of his favourite StTeresa of Avila, “Raymond and a couple of rupees can do nothing, butRaymond and a couple of rupees and God can do everything.”2 Such was histrust in God and His providence. He did his best and left the rest in thehands of God.

His whole life was a life lived in pleasing God. He recommended asimilar attitude to his Sisters as well. He said, “Everyday give first place inyour heart to God. Never act with a view to please the world or others orthe self; act only to please God. If God is pleased what does the rest matter?”3

On another occasion he said, “In doing good never seek applause from theworld or approbation from superiors and companions, but do it solely andexclusively for God.”4 He would always insist that even the smallest of thingsdone for the mission must be done for the love of God. He once told aSister who typed his letter, “Even the first draft of the copy that you keepfor your personal file should be equally neat and as presentable as the final

1 Sr M Violette D’ Souza, Unless the Seed Die, 2010, pg 77.2 D’Souza, pg 25.3 D’Souza, pg 67.4 D’Souza, pg 67.

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one, for it, too, is done for the love of God.”5 Thus Sr Grace Maria describeshim: Fr Raymond was an ordinary person, who lived in ordinary circumstances,but his response to God made him an extra-ordinary person.6

We too can imbibe this attitude of being attuned to God as we liveour daily lives. Modern day culture with its fleet of ideas on secularism, atheismand media, has played a great deal to distort our union with God. MgrRaymond Mascarenhas, a simple and humble priest, who trusted in DivineProvidence and did everything to please God, shows us the way to restorethis union. Personal prayer, solitude, offering all our works to God can beother means to be in union with God.

2. Love for Jesus

His love for Jesus was very much evident in his love for the Word ofGod (Jesus being the Divine Word Himself), his devotion to the BlessedSacrament – the sacramental body of Christ, and his devotion to the SacredHeart of Jesus.

His love for the Divine Word was shown in his translation of theGospels into Konkani, the language of his people, and also in preparing aharmony of the Gospels and the life of Christ in simple Konkani verse formsuitable for children.7 He preached diligently about Jesus whom he lovedpassionately from his heart. Even looking at the crucifix moved his heartwith great emotion.

He had great devotion to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and heinstilled the same devotion in the Sisters as well. He was instrumental instarting the perpetual adoration to the Blessed Sacrament in 1937.8 Heunreluctantly advised his spiritual daughters to receive Holy Communion andalso our Lord’s great love for them.9

He had tremendous devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus andwould often sign his letters with words like, “I leave you in the Heart ofJesus”.10 He recommended an act of consecration to the Sacred Heart ofJesus in all the houses of the Congregation on the major feast days of OurLady and on the anniversary of the Bethany foundation. He ardently preachedabout the love and mercy of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in his daily conversation,

5 D’Souza, pg 81.6 Sr Grace Maria BS, A Great Luminary – Mgr Raymond FC Mascarenhas, 2010, pg 5.7 D’Souza, pg 47.8 Sr M Lillis BS, First Mangalorean Servant of God – Raymond FC Mascarenhas, 2010, pg 13.9 D’Souza, pg 69.10 D’Souza, pg 68.

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his spiritual guidance, sermons, conferences, etc.11 Indeed, as Sr Violetterightly puts it, “all his priestly ministry to others was an overflow of his owninner spirit of love and dedication to Jesus Christ who had called him to workin his vineyard.”12

Jesus, the visible face of the invisible God (Col. 1: 15), continues tofascinate us. His life and works reflect the very nature of God and his planfor each one of us, offering himself as a model to live as good human beings.Basing ourselves on Mgr Raymond Mascarenhas’ love for Jesus, we too candevelop Christ-consciousness in ourselves. We can meet Jesus in the Eucharist,in the breaking of the Word and in the breaking of the Bread, in contemplatingon His Sacred Heart, through which ‘God loved humankind with a humanheart’ (Second Vatican Council, Gaudium et spes # 22).

3. Openness to the Spirit

In the 92 years since its establishment (1921–2013) the BethanyCongregation boasts of 172 communities spread all over India and acrossthe globe with more than 1349 Sisters catering to people from all walks oflife. It was definitely a divine venture complemented by the openness of itsfounder to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Mgr Raymond Mascarenhasallowed himself to be led, guided and inspired by the Holy Spirit throughouthis life. The Holy Spirit stimulated the founder into action to meet theneeds of the Church.13 The Spirit of the Lord was at work in him. The Spiritenabled him to face all types of sufferings in the growth of the infantCongregation. He himself once stated, “I carried on the work of foundingBethany in the face of warm appreciation and bitter criticism.”14 Appreciationnever elated him nor did criticism deter him from his goal. “The Holy Spirit,”whom St Augustine would refer as the, “quiet guest of our soul,” makes usreceptive to God. In Mgr Raymond Mascarenhas we find a man moved bythe Spirit to serve those who were in need and those who were neglected.Submissive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit he went about doing good.

We too are called to engage in a similar encounter with God, throughthe Holy Spirit whom Jesus proposed to us as our advocate. With the presenceof the Holy Spirit in us we discover who God is in our lives. We are able todiscern between what is good and what is evil, and what God expects fromus.

11 D’Souza, pg 70.12 D’Souza, pg 68.13 D’Souza, pg 113.14 D’Souza, pg 37.

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4. Tender Devotion to Mary

The very fact that he was born on a Saturday influenced his devotionto Mary, the Holy Mother of God.15 This devotion was inculcated in himthrough his mother, Joanna, who played an important role in Raymond’shome-training. The evening family rosary was a daily feature in the Mascarenhashousehold. It is here that he developed a filial devotion to Mary. Heexperienced her maternal presence throughout his life. He chose the feastof Our Lady of Mount Carmel (16 July 1921) to initiate his work with justfour lady teachers who consecrated themselves to God. He entrusted themto Mary saying, “O Blessed Mother, protect these your children whom youhave given to me in all confidence, for the extension of your Son’s Kingdom.”16

In all his letters, recommendations and spiritual advices there was always aword on Mary. He would often remark in his later years, “Bethany is thegarden of Our Lady, and I am only the gardener for the time being.”17

In 1947, the Silver Jubilee of Bethany’s foundation, he solemnlyconsecrated the whole Congregation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, andexpressed his desire that the Sisters renew this consecration every year onthe same date – 16 July. He taught them to call on her as ‘Queen Mother ofBethany’ and adopt as their motto “Ecce Ancilla Domini” (Behold the Handmaidof the Lord) from the life of Mary.18 He strongly believed in the dictum “ToJesus, through Mary” and would frequently remind his spiritual daughters tohave devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary because “the more you have it,the closer you will get to our Lord. It is impossible to have devotion to herwithout loving our Lord more.” On another occasion he said, “When we feelweary of life’s problems let us pick up the rosary and pray it meditatively.”19

He made sure that all the Marian feasts were celebrated with fitting honour.He translated two little booklets entitled A few minutes with Mary on Saturdaysand The Imitation of Mary from English to Konkani for the common folk.20

One of his spiritual advice given to the Sisters was, “Ask our Blessed Motherto teach you to love him (Jesus) as she loved him, for no human being couldhave loved Jesus as much as she did.”21 Even in his last will and testamentwe find the words: ‘All for Jesus, through Mary’, in the very title itself. Apartfrom this he had personal devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes, Our Lady of

15 D’Souza, pg 1.16 D’Souza, pg 33.17 D’Souza, pg 34.18 Lillis, pg 12.19 D’Souza, pg 71.20 D’Souza, pg 72.21 D’Souza, pg 79.

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Dolours and Our Lady of Fatima.22 The love that his mother instilled in himtowards our Heavenly Mother brought to fruition so many marvellous worksin the life and growth of the Bethany Congregation.

Thus he poses before us Mary, model of faith, the lowly handmaid of theLord, through whom the Almighty worked marvels (Lk 1: 49). Imitating MgrRaymond Mascarenhas in his tender devotion to Mary can be a wonderfulexample for us to be God’s lowly instruments, who exalts the humble(Lk 1: 52).

5. Concern for the Church

His concern for the Church could be seen in the way he exercised hisministerial priesthood as a compassionate pastor, starting and organizing groupsand associations as a charismatic leader and finally sowing the seeds of areligious vocation, promoting vocations for the Church as an exemplaryvocation promoter. Right from his childhood, young Raymond had a greatinclination to be a priest. And so, it was not surprising that he enjoyederecting little altars and imitating the priest at Mass, playing ‘Mass-Mass’. Hetook great pride in being called a priest - “Padri” in his colloquial lingo.23 Hetook his seminary formation seriously and allowed himself to be guided byGod and moulded by his Superiors.24

In the words of Sr Violette – “In his unflagging zeal he preached retreats,furnished the people with abundant opportunities of receiving the Sacramentsof Penance and Eucharist, arranged for classes in religious instruction andprovided facilities for the education of children. Above all, he was their goodshepherd, a priest who by his word and example taught them to pray andled them to God and His Blessed Mother.”25 Thus he made good use of hisministerial priesthood to serve the Church, by administering the Sacramentsand reaching out to people. Hence the title “Compassionate Pastor” isapt for him.

He was also a charismatic leader. Right from his seminary days peopletook notice of his leadership qualities. He was an exemplary seminarian andhence was appointed prefect in his seminary.26 The numerous groups thathe founded, be it the Altar Servers’ Sodality, sodalities for men, women,boys, girls and the St Vincent de Paul Society, are a manifestation of hisconcern for the Church, a spectrum in which all the faithful were included.

22 Lillis, pg 13.23 Maria, pg 8.24 Lillis, pg 7.25 D’Souza, pg 18.26 Maria, pg 16.

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One of the main tasks of the Church is to impart education and Mgr RaymondMascarenhas did this by starting schools for boys as well as girls. Last but notthe least was the founding of the Bethany Congregation with a band ofdynamic and dedicated Sisters to serve the Lord among the poor andmarginalized.27 As the director of the Mangalore Roman Catholic PioneerFund, as member of the District Educational Council of South Kanara, asVicar General of the Mangalore diocese, as President of the CatholicAssociation of South Kanara, as Vice President of the Catholic Board ofEducation, as President of the Mangalore Roman Catholic Provident Fund heshowed his charismatic leadership to serve the people.28

By his own life witness Mgr Raymond Mascarenhas sowed seeds of areligious vocation and provided labourers to work in the vineyard of theLord. As someone rightly said, “he was like the leaven in the bread or hiddencatalyst; whose presence inspired many persons to devote their lives to theLord.”29 During his time in the Bendur parish, there were two to threepriests ordained every year to serve the Lord, both in and outside theMangalore diocese.30 His very presence was an appeal to join the religiouslife. Through his life, works and words he was able to capture young heartsto this way of life. Bishop Basil Peres jokingly called him the ‘bishop maker’after three of his vocation boys were ordained bishops. Such was the charmof this exemplary vocation promoter.31 Apart from these young boys, herecruited a number of young girls to collaborate with him in his mission towork for girls, through the establishment of the Bethany Congregation.

He was intuitive to the concerns of the Church and responded tothem in a very concrete manner. Thus he not only built and renovatedchurches, but also the Church – the people of God. We too are called toserve the Church with our talents, strengths and resources. Here is a beautifulexample before us to follow.

6. Zeal for the Poor and the Marginalized

Mgr Raymond Mascarenhas’ mission in life was very much evident in hiszeal for the poor and the marginalized. He himself lived a poor life and thusidentified himself with them. It is said: his room was as barren of comforts aswas his empty purse.32 The poor and the neglected were his first priority.His heart ached for this sector of his parish. He would say, “Poverty is the

27 D’Souza, pg 22.28 Lillis, pg 10.29 D’Souza, pg 23.30 D’Souza, pg 24.31 D’Souza, pg 24.32 D’Souza, pg 1.

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first class ticket to the heart of our Lord which always went out to the poorand the humble.”33 The founding of the Bethany Congregation was anoutcome of his love for the poor and the marginalized. The Sisters immersedthemselves in opening schools, boarding houses and orphanages; caring forparish churches; giving religious instruction to children and adults;evangelization; building homes for the elderly; establishing health clinics; andengaging in agricultural pursuits concretized his zeal to work for the poorand the marginalized. He put his heart and soul in each and every task thathe undertook; accepting the everyday events, knowing well that DivineProvidence would never fail him.34 However, his service to the poor was nota mere doling out of things. He made sure that they were able to stand ontheir own feet. For those who were not able to study in a formal school, heintroduced vocational training, agricultural training and catering. He providedrural children with boarding facilities so as to avail them of a shelter whilethey did their schooling in the city. Such was his foresight and predilectionfor the poor and the marginalized.35

Serving the poor is one of the hallmarks of Christian charity which weare all called to render. Once again he stands out as an example for us toimitate.

7. Sensitivity to the Weaker Sex

Last, but definitely not the least striking feature which comes across inthe life of Mgr Raymond Mascarenhas was his Gender Sensitivity. In today’scontext when newspapers and news channels are flooded with rape cases,molestation charges, dowry deaths, female infanticide and feticide and thelike, highlighting the number of inhuman atrocities inflicted on women, MgrRaymond Mascarenhas has much to offer. He learnt the first lesson in self-discipline, self-control and self-denial in his life through a woman – his belovedmother.36 His groups had men as well as women, schools for both boys andgirls, sodalities for men as well as women. The very aim of founding a religiousCongregation was to foster religious vocations for the many young girls whowished to serve God. He began his apostolic work with four lady teacherswho generously offered him their time, service and talents to serve thepoor.37 He would often remark, “Bethany has provided the grace of religiouslife for scores of our girls, who for want of sufficient higher education or

33 D’Souza, pg 74.34 D’Souza, pg 60.35 Maria, pg 25.36 D’Souza, pg 12.37 D’Souza, pg 29.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

D’Souza, Violette BS, Unless the Seed Die, Bethany Publications, Mangalore,2010.

Lillis, M BS, First Mangalorean Servant of God – Raymond FC Mascarenhas,Prasad Printers, Mangalore, 2010.

Maria, Grace BS, A Great Luminary – Mgr Raymond FC Mascarenhas, IntechPrinters & Publishers, Karnal, 2010.

substantial dowries could not find admission into the older Congregations ofthe diocese.38 He even went to the extent of forgoing his post as the VicarGeneral of the diocese in order to be the director of Bethany,39 a choicewhich he never regretted. He had already envisioned his active and spiritualpresence to lead this infant Congregation to greater heights.40 And thepresence of a dynamic visionary priest like Mgr Raymond Mascarenhas in themidst of them was just inevitable.

Truly Mgr Raymond Mascarenhas was a vibrant and a charismatic priest.But this vibrancy and charism was a result of his deep intimacy with theTriune God, Mary: the Mother of God, love for the Church – the Mysticalbody of Christ, his love for his neighbour shown in his concern for themarginalized and the weaker sex. His life is a model for us to imitate, even aslay Christians. I am convinced that this holy priest was a living saint whoallowed God to work through him. Walking along these steps treaded byhim will surely help us to live as better Christians and come closer to God andour neighbour in need.

38 D’Souza, pg 42.39 D’Souza, pg 87.40 Lillis, pg 10.

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Sr Olinda Pereira was born on 15 August 1925.She has her Ph D from Mysore University, MA fromBanaras Hindu University, Varanasi, BA from St AgnesCollege, and BT from St Ann’s College of Education,Mangalore. She is the grand nicec of the Servant ofGod Mgr Raymond Masacarenhas.

Sr Olinda has rendered her services at Interneeat Institute of Women’s Studies Manila, Philippines-1996, She was Administrative assistant, Provincial house Nairobi, Kenya(1991-1994), Director of the Institute of Social Service Prabhatara,New Delhi (1985-1990, 1997-1998), exchange professor School of Socialwork, McMaster university, Hamilton Canada (1978, 1979, 984), Principalof college of Social work Roshni Nilaya (1961-1984), and member ofNational committee of women in 1979.

She is the author of books, Understanding Children –1,2,3,Adjustment and its correlates among preadolescents, Domestic workersstruggle for life. Sr Olinda has been awarded with Mahatma GandhiPeace award by McMaster University, Hamilton, Women achiever award,Sandesha, award for Social Service, Rachana, woman of the year byMangalore Catholic chamber of Commerce, woman of the year award –Mangalore University, Veera Rani Abbakka award for work in the field ofsocial service.

At present she spends her time in caring for the elderly, offersdirection to the Day care centres for senior citizens. This is an interviewwith her by Sr Mary Naulak BS.

DETACHED - BUT THERE WHEN NEEDED

Sr Olinda Pereira

Sr Olinda how old were you when you first met your uncle, Mgr RFCMascarenhas?

I remember he came for my first communion. He gave me a rosary. Maybe I was six.

Your impression about him as a child. Were you scared or comfortablewith him?

I was comfortable because he had very kind eyes; and he resembled my

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grandfather, his older brother so much. And we were very fond of grandpa;so we transferred that affection to him. For us he was our grandpa‘s brother,you see.

But, actually, as a child, except for that first communion day, I don’thave much recollection of him. Then there was the twin Jubilee or somethingthat was celebrated in the Catholic Club. I remember the speech that hemade –a very remarkable one. One thing he said was, “No man is a hero to hisown valet, and least of all to himself.” It is like `I know my shortcomings; andI know I am not deserving all this.’ That made an impression on me. Ofcourse, by that time I was grown up, so I could understand what he wassaying.

We know much more about your grandfather, Dr Simon Mascarenhasthan any other siblings of RFC. Would you say he was closer to yourgrandpa than any one of them?

Because when the eldest brother died, grandpa‘s house became likefamily house for them. The ancestral house was the one at Sturruck road; atwhat point of time it went to the other brother, I don’t know. Later, therewas one Basil Mascarenhas who lived there. He was their cousin. So, for all ofthem- my granduncle and his sisters, grandpa‘s house became family house.It was the house where they would meet; from that point of view, theywere quite close.

Some say that he had a quick temper; did you notice any such personalweaknesses in him?

I do not know much about that aspect because in those days we didnot have so much contact with him. And then he was in the Bishop’s Houseas Vicar General. He would come home once in a way for celebrations andoccasions. I had more interaction with him after he retired to Bethany andlived in that little house. By that time I was able to appreciate him also,especially with the starting of the CYM (Catholic Youth Movement). He tooka lot of interest in it. Fr Agneleto was our director. He too had great regardsfor him and consulted him a lot. He even composed an anthem for the ICYM.I used to go to him for something or the other. And he was kind of retired, sohe would come over to grandparents‘ house. And for us it was a big occasionwhen the whole family met. Even when somebody was ill, when the othergranduncle was ill or my grandpa was ill and dying, he came. But defects in histemperaments, even if there were, they were not visible to us.

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What have you to say about his relationship with the youth?

He could relate to people of all ages. And he was always joking with us.In this connection I remember something. My mother always insisted that wego and meet him and take his blessings before we went anywhere. When Ihad been to Rome for the Second World Congress on Lay Apostolate, andeven when I returned, my mother reminded me to go and meet granduncle.When I went to him he said, “I wonder what your great grandmother wouldsay about all this roaming around.”

He might have said that with a secret sense of pride in you.

Yes, I think he was proud of me.

So, you would say he had a supportive attitude towards the youth?

Yes. He was very encouraging.

Do you have any idea about his relationship with his parents especiallywith his mother? Did he speak about her often?

Yes, they used to speak about their parents at home. But more thanthat, I do not know because they had died by then. But very often theyreferred to his mother. Even my mother used to speak fondly of her (RFC‘smother- Joanna).

Did he encourage Religious Vocation in the family?

Yes, he encouraged us in words to join religious life. But he never pointedout where to go. Wherever God calls you, there you go. That was his mind.My aunt and sister went to Apostolic Carmel. And yes, one cousin joinedBethany. And then, there were my two uncle priests. One thing was verysure - that he had a genuine love for the poor. Even my grandfather (DrSimon Mascarenhas) was fond of the poor.

He did not invite you to Bethany then?

Never invited. But if we did join, I am sure he would have been happy.

Was he speaking about Bethany at home?

Not with us; but may be with elders, especially my aunt Billy (JulianaMascarenhas) who was an Inspectress of schools. At one place she discoveredthat Bethany Sisters were being harassed. So she wrote a confidential letterto the higher-ups about it. And she was so conscientious that she did noteven get this thing done in the office. She made my sister to type it out.

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How often were his visits to the family?

I cannot say he came often; but when we needed him he was there,like in times of sickness. And if he had problems, he did not reveal much; butwould talk with grownups especially my aunt Billy who was also very scrupulousabout keeping confidences. We youngsters did not share in that confidence,so we would not know. But my aunt was a big support to him. She played avery good role. She was also a great support to the Sisters. She was a veryupright person. He was very close to her.

Some say Mgr Raymond was a reserved man while others say he wasjovial. What do you say about this aspect of his personality?

That’s the thing. You can see both sides of him. He was reserved abouthimself. It was always a big occasion when he came to the house. And wewould see the warm side of him. For instance, Christmas lunch at mygrandparents‘ house; he would be there and we all would be invited. Therewas a lot of fun. He would tease us and make fun of us. Grandpa was also fullof fun. So between the two brothers, everyone enjoyed. Those were theoccasions when we really enjoyed ourselves.

Another way he showed his great humanness was when anyone was ill;for example when my grandpa was ill. He came and administered theSacraments. He did the same when my grandpa‘s other brother was sick. Tous he would not talk about his difficulties. But it was more to aunt Billy,grandpa and grandma, his sister-in-law, whom he liked very much.

Of his many qualities, which one would you pick as ‘outstanding ?‘

Personally, I feel he was a very detached person, I must say, from thefamily. He was detached; but he was there when anyone needed him, especiallyin times of sickness and death. During all such times he was there and wouldmost certainly take part. I remember how he came when grandpa was ill.What courage we felt when he walked in! So calm! His presence itself was sosupportive. At the same time, during meals and other times he joked andteased - very human from that point of view.

You and other members of the family spoke of his detachment. Doyou have any anecdote or incident to substantiate it?

Well, what we noticed was that, he did not show undue concern forus. But if we approached him he would show interest, guide us and give hisopinion. And, a detached person in a sense he was not doing things forhimself. Even Bethany, it was his dream child, and he would want to see itflourish. That was a normal thing.

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Was he consulted on family matters?

Yes, sometimes. For instance, in those days arranged marriages werethe norm. When some a marriage proposal was coming through they wouldplace it before him and ask what he thought about it. They would take himinto confidence for all family affairs - grandpa‘s family and even his two sisters‘families. He had a lot of wisdom.

He was known to be a great homilist. Do you remember any homilyof his?

He was really marvelous. But I can only remember the one at the twinjubilee, in that big hall with grand speeches. I am not sure whether he preachedat my sister’s wedding; but I certainly remember he blessed the nuptials.

Somewhere you have mentioned that you saw him sitting on a stonewith his head in his hand.

Yea, that was when Bendur Church was being built. I think he was theparish priest there. We were returning from school (St Agnes School) oneday and there he was, sitting on a stone, his head in his hand. My secondsister- Cedric‘s mother saw him. She was quite sharp among us. She camehome and told my mother, “Aba (grandpa) was sitting there on a stone likethat (demonstrates).” Then my mother told us that he had lots of problems,that’s why he was sitting like that, and that we must pray for him. So, thatalso went into our heads - that he had troubles.

That might have made you feel sympathy for him.

Yes, yes, we felt sympathy. Actually that incident I remember well.

You saw him too?

Yes. It was my sister who saw him first. Then she poked me saying,“See, see, Aba (grandpa) is sitting there.”

Did you go and speak to him?

May be we went, I do not remember well. But even if we went hewould not keep us long to talk with him. He would just say, “Oh you havecome, God bless you,” or something like that.

Do you remember any advice of his that stood you in good stead?

When I was in ICYM, I used to take his advice now and then for somethingor the other. But I feel, more than his advice, it is his example. Although I feltbad about his publishing those booklets, I also feel it was a great act ofhumility on his part to withdraw them when asked to. To go round at thatage and get back the books from the people! That shows his humility. If he

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was stubborn he would have said, “No, I would not.” But he did what wasasked by the authorities. He did a lot of good, and some mistakes, may beeven big mistakes. But bigger the mistakes, the more is the humility neededto correct them.

Having said all this, what do you think is his greatest contribution tothe Mangalore Church?

As a pastor he had served in several parishes. I feel what is important isnot the fact that he had put up church buildings, but the fact that he hadwon the hearts of the people. So, I feel the pastoral dimension he had givento the priesthood in Mangalore, is his greatest contribution. Wherever he hadworked, people remember him. The old people really talk so highly of him. Hewas really a spiritual man. Mistakes and shortcomings, who does not havethem?

Anything else you would like to tell about him?

About his simplicity. His lifestyle was quite simple. He would not wantmuch attention for himself. He could manage with a little, even though I amsure sisters would have been more than ready to do anything for him.

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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Gaudium Meum et Corona Mea.

A dream does not become reality through magic. It takes sweat,determination and hard work. So said General (Retd) Colin Powell of theUnited States of America. Well, the ‘dream’ has long become reality. Bethany,his “Crowning Glory” is 92 today. Ad Multos Annos!.

Standing firm for what he believed in, regardless of the odds againsthim and the pressures that tore into him – that was COURAGE and Mgr RFCthe author, and, the reward in his own words ‘My Joy and My Crown’. Isn’tit, then, the time to sing :

O Lord my God when I in awesome wonderConsider all the works Thy hand hath madeSo, sings my soulMy Saviour, God to theeHow great Thou artHOW GREAT THOU ART.

Holding his head high and being the best and knowing it, when lifeseemed to fall apart at his feet, facing each difficulty with the convictionthat it would be a better Dawn on the morrow and never giving up. Thatwas Mgr RFC – CONFIDENCE personified.

Mr James D’Souza, Bethany’s next doorneighbour in Bendur, is currently spends his retirementin Bangalore. He is a great admirer of Mgr Raymond’slife of holiness. Though he is now 85, he continueswith his writing on various facets of the life of MgrRaymond whom he holds in high esteem.

In the article, ‘In Quest of a Saint‘ Mr Jamesrecords, The Faith, Humility, Courage, Confidence,Strength and Compassion of Mgr Raymond which led Bethany Congregationto complete 92 years of its glorious existence. His only wish and prayer isthat Bethany grows year after year walking in the footsteps of theirFounder, ‘the saint in the making.’

IN QUEST OF A SAINTSERVANT OF GOD RAYMOND

FC MASCARENHAS

Mr James D’Souza

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Keeping a smile on his face, when inside he felt like dying – for examplewhen he was facing acute financial crunch and being told that his bankaccount was showing a nil balance – that was his STRENGTH.

As a good Pastor, stopping at nothing if only to make another’s lifelittle more bearable and comfortable, his COMPASSION for the poor aroundhim, especially those among his parishioners, his SELFLESSNESS in givingmore than he had, expecting nothing in return was second nature to him.

The famous evangelist and preacher Martin Luther King Jr, had this tosay :

Faith is taking the first stepEven when youDon’t seeThe whole staircase.

It was with his undying FAITH and unquestionable self-confidence thathe took the ‘first’ step of founding his Religious Congregation on 16 July1921 and then suddenly to discover no staircase after that first step! Atthat trying moment, was he a little scared and anxious, if only for the safetyand well-being of the four young ladies, the nucleus of his Magnum Opus,that led him, with all HUMILITY to Our Lady, prostrate before her and pray“Do what you wilt with me but don’t abandon these children who havecome trusting in you and me and Bethany”.

A mighty big complement from a very important person – a person ofsubstance was the main inspiration for me to write this piece to coincidewith the importance of the day. I quote, ‘You have understood our Founder’sintention and his deepest desire’, unquote. I deserve nothing and I seeknothing. As I have repeatedly expressed, both by word and in my writingshow fortunate, proud and blessed I am to have been acquainted with andso very closely interacted with such a great person, who, given similarcircumstances at that time, had no parallel. I praise and thank God for thegift of life itself that, at age 84, enables me to explain and present thevirtues, intentions and deepest desires of their Founder to the scores ofyoung and not-so-young Bethanyites who have not seen or known him. AsBethany completes 92 years of its glorious existence, may the staircase onwhich he took his first step grow longer and longer, with more steps added,till the end of time. May God bless you all.

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SERVANT OF GOD, RAYMOND FCMASCARENHAS

A MESSAGE AND A MESSENGEROF THE WORD OF GOD

Introduction:

“Anyone who loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him,and we shall come to him and make a home in him” (Jn 14:23). The Servantof God Mgr Raymond FC Mascarenhas, a mystic and a prophet, loved theWord and was totally at home with the Word. In his priestly ministry, hedevoted a central place for preaching the Word with fervour and passion.As a result, each day he was fashioned and reinforced by the active, creative,dynamic and illuminating power of the Divine Word. By his word and examplehe became the voice of God, a message and the good news to hisparishioners, to the Bethany Sisters - his spiritual daughters, and to all thosewho came to listen to him from far and near. His life-giving words, his other-centred preferences and his broad outlook became ever more a manifestation,a proclamation and a witness to the Gospel. He was a man of God both inprecept and example.

Mystery of Incarnation- Mgr Raymond’s Fascination!

“In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, and theWord was God” (John 1:1). St John describes Jesus as God’s life-giving andlight-giving Word that came to the earth in human form. This Mystery ofIncarnation of the Word was very dear to Mgr Raymond Mascarenhas’ heart.

Sr Rose Margaret is a Bethany Sister, who hasworked extensively in different parts of India, in thefield of education, social work, pastoral work andadministration. As she worked for the Cause of SDRaymond FC Mascarenhas for a length of time shedeveloped high esteem and a deep appreciation forhis life of holiness. This enthused her to unearth thevarious aspects of Mgr Raymond’s spirituality.

In this article she writes, Mgr Raymond was a true minister of Godwho performed his sacred duty of preaching the Gospel with zeal andzest to all who were hungry for the Word of God. He seized everyopportunity to be the message and the messenger of the Gospel.

Sr Rose Margaret

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With the Holy Bible in his hand, kneeling for a length of time before theBlessed Sacrament, Mgr Raymond, marvelled at the Incarnation of the Sonof God, meditated on it day and night with tears in his eyes and welcomedthe Word as Mary did. He endeavoured to fathom how a great and mightyGod could give up His divinity to become like us in human form. His encounterwith the Divine shaped his life and he became a dynamic force.

He lived the mystery of Incarnation to the core with faith, courageand conviction. He took the Word of God to the homes of ordinary Christians.It was the Word of God that enabled him to be in touch with God inprayer and in touch with the world in compassion and love, to be availableto all, at all times and all through his life, with energy and enthusiasm, passionand fire.

Proclamation of the Word - Mgr Raymond’s Passion!

“Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Gospel to all creation” (Mk.16, 15). Mgr Raymond followed the command of the Lord, in word and spiritand proclaimed the Gospel to all especially to the flock entrusted to his care.People came from distant parishes to hear him especially during the Lentenand Holy Week Services. “Let the words I enjoin on you today stay in yourheart. You shall tell them to your children and keep on telling them, whenyou are sitting at home, when you are out and about, when you are lyingdown and when you are standing up” Deut 6: 6-7).

Mgr Raymond seized every opportunity to be the message and themessenger of the Gospel and preached the Word in his homilies, retreatsand exhortations, Catechetical instructions and interactions, writings andtranslations, paintings and in all his undertakings.

The Code of Canon Law, Book III, THE TEACHING OFFICE OF THECHURCH, ‘On Preaching the Word of God’, in Canon 762 states, ‘The Peopleof God are first united through the Word of the living God, and are fullyentitled to seek this Word from their priests. For this reason sacred ministersare to consider the office of preaching as of great importance, sinceproclaiming the Gospel of God to all is among their principal duties.’1 As aminister of God’s Word, Mgr Raymond, each day read the Word, reflectedon the Word, practised it in his daily life and preached the Word as a perfectfollower of Christ. Though he was a priest of the pre-Vatican era, Mgr Raymond

1 The Code of Canon Law, Book III, “ The Ministry of the Divine Word”, 1983, 141

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was fully conscious of his priestly ministry, and all that entailed in proclaimingChrist, to the people of his time.

Vatican II, Decree on THE MINISTRY AND LIFE OF PRIESTS states, “Inthe measure in which they participate in the office of the Apostles, Godgives priests a special grace to be ministers of Christ among the people.They perform the sacred duty of preaching the Gospel, so that the offeringof the people can be made acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.”2

He was a fervent priest after the heart of Christ and a powerful preacherwho had command over the Scripture. In his preaching, people experiencedhim as one sent by God to deliver the Word of God to all the people of goodwill. He preached with zeal and zest to all who were hungry for the Word ofGod and ignited their hearts and minds. History repeats itself. Even today,the priests, Sisters and lay people reverently recall, quote and cherish hishomilies preached on most significant occasions.

The write-up of the following Priests, Religious and Laity of histime indicates that Mgr Raymond was in great demand as a preacherthroughout the diocese and beyond.

* Rev Fr Gerald LR Miranda on 24 August 1976, in ‘My Reminiscences’writes, “I still recall some of the sermons and Catechetical lessons of myinfant days. Mgr Mascarenhas was just about 44 years of age then.”3

* Mgr M FC Castelino, in his speech at the closing of the Birth Centenaryof Rt Rev Mgr RFC Mascarenhas, Founder of Bethany, on 23.01.1975 said,“Fr Mascarenhas was a renowned preacher. People from other parishes usedto come to Bendur to hear his sermons, especially on Good Friday. On majoroccasions, it was Fr Mascarenhas who was chosen to preach. He used totake a text from the Scripture and base the whole sermon on it.”4

* The words of Mr S R Nazareth affirm Sacerdos’ Statement: “As apreacher he is unrivalled. His fluency of speech is a speciality! As such, hewas in great demand not only all over the diocese, but even outside it.Among his many discourses, his fitting sermon at the Eucharistic Congresspreached at the open-air function to single out.”5

2 Vat II, Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests, chapter I, The Priesthood in the Ministry of theChurch, 441.

3 Rev Fr Gerald LR Miranda, “My Reminiscences“, 24.8.1976.4 Mgr M FC Castelino, Speech at the Closing of the Birth Centenary of Rt Rev Mgr RFC Mascarenhas

Founder of Bethany, 23.01.1975.5 S R Nazareth, “My Regard for Father Mascarenhas“, 30.11.1949.

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* Rev Fr John G Pinto: “As a preacher he has few equals. Besides thevarious retreats he preached to the religious, priests and people, his sermonsunsurpassed in originality of thought and attracted huge gatherings in Bendurwhen he was the parish priest. The inaugural sermon in Bom Jesu Church ofGoa for the All-India Catholic Conference brought him into the limelight.”

A few out of many testimonies mentioned above illustrate MgrRaymond’s obsessive love for the Word of God and his animated sermons onthe Gospel. We have every reason to be proud of this great personality whobrought spiritual vibrancy in the life of many with his single-minded devotionto God and His Word. His untiring zeal for the Word should enthuse us- thefollowers of Christ and set us in motion towards bringing Christ to ourshattered world during the Year of Faith.

“Let the words I enjoin on you today stay in your heart. You shall tellthem to your children, and keep on telling them, when you are sitting athome, when you are out and about, when you are lying down and whenyou are standing up” (Deut 6: 6-7).

Having fervently loved and deliberately lived by the Word of God, at alltimes, Mgr Raymond’s foremost concern was to save souls and promote thespiritual welfare of the religious as well as the laity. As an illustrious preacherand a Spiritual Guide, he directed many retreats to the priests, the religiousand the lay people. His preaching was down to earth simple, realistic andcreative.

Mr LC Pais, one of the friends of the Founder recalls: “Years ago whenI was a student in the College, Fr Mascarenhas preached a retreat at theBejai Church. Probably such a retreat was never preached in that Church. Iattended every one of his sermons and meditations.”7 He was ever willing towalk that extra mile with them if the Word that he preached could bringabout a transformation in their lives.

From the very inception of Bethany-the Congregation which he founded-he nurtured it with utmost care and love. He provided spiritual nourishmentto the members for their all round growth and development throughexhortations, spiritual conferences and retreats.

His only aid in giving the conferences was a Missal or Bible. Sr Bertha,who was closely associated with the Founder for nearly 30 years as a religious,

6 Bertha, BS, Mgr Raymond A Mystic and A Prophet, 2007, 55.7 Ibid, 56

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in her introduction to the book, Mgr Raymond- A Mystic and a Prophet,writes, “In my book, From the Lips of the Founder, I had written down theFounder’s words. They were his insights and reflections from Holy Scriptureand as such were filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.”8

Sr Poma once asked Father for a good spiritual reading book from hispersonal library. Father looked high and low in his book-shelf and in a fewminutes came out with a copy of the ‘New Testament.’ Whereupon thesister told him, ‘I have read this book many times.” “What!” He said, “Manytimes? These are the words of Eternal Wisdom! You will stand to gain,when you read and re-read them prayerfully.”9 Saying this he generated inher reverence and taste for the Word of God.

Through his personal letters to individuals he preached the Word directlyinto their hearts. His letters were full of spiritual thoughts with appropriatequotations from the Bible. He enabled them to lift their hearts and minds toGod in their joys and sorrows, problems and misunderstandings. He had atremendous capacity, an astute mind and a large heart to communicateGod’s love through his letters.

Mgr Raymond who was known as a powerful preacher was also acomprehensible writer. After his retirement when he could not get activelyinvolved in serving the Church and the society, he used his pen to spreadthe good news of Christ and cater to the spiritual and secular needs of thepeople. He wrote books on the life of Christ in simple Konkani verse, suitablefor children.’10 As a Pastor his main concern was that people participateeffectively in liturgical services. He translated the daily Missal and the NewTestament to Konkani to enable the faithful to participate in the liturgy in amore personal and meaningful way.

His writings and translations were greatly appreciated by the Vatican.JB Montini Pro. Secretary of State to Pope Pius XII, Rome Chief Drafter ofDocuments on 3 May 1950, writes, “I have the honour to acknowledgereceipt, on behalf of the Holy Father, of the copies of your translations ofthe Gospels and the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin, which the SacredCongregation of Propaganda presented to Him on your behalf. His Holinessdeeply appreciates the sentiments of loyal filial devotion to the Vicar ofChrist, which prompted you to place at his disposal these copies of your

8 Bertha, BS, Mgr Raymond A Mystic and A Prophet, 2007, Introduction, ix.9 Bertha, BS, From the Lips of the Founder, 1996, 300.10 Bertha, BS, Mgr Raymond A Mystic and A Prophet, 57.

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translations, and he would have me express to you his heart felt gratitude.It is the Pontiff’s earnest prayer that Almighty God may reward your zealouslabours by blessing your work with a rich spiritual harvest, and, in pledge ofthat celestial recompense, he lovingly imparts to you his paternal ApostolicBenediction.”11

“Have the book of this Law always on your lips; meditate on it day andnight, so that you may carefully keep everything that is written in it, thenyour undertakings will prosper” (Joshua 1:8, 9). These words from Joshuaare apt in the life of Mgr Raymond. The churches, convents, schools, andorphanages - he built everything on the Word of God. In 1914 when hecame to Bendur as the first parish priest, looking at the dry, barren land, hereferred to Ezekiel and said, ‘Will these dry bones ever live’ (Cf Ezk: 37:3)?Today St Sebastian Parish, Bendur, is one of the prominent parishes in thediocese Mangalore. Under the prominent leadership of the clergy, the religiousand the laity, it has gloriously stepped into the Centenary year (1914-2014).On this memorable event we offer our salutation and respect to the Servantof God Mgr Raymond FC Mascarenhas, the founder parish priest.

On the tabernacle of the Bethany Motherhouse chapel he inscribedthese words: “Behold! How He loved.” He named the first house of theCongregation ‘Bethany’ so that the spirit governed the lives of the inmates-Martha, Mary and Lazarus of Bethany of the Gospel fame, and motivated,the Sisters to live a life of love and service.

His inner spiritual urge and tremendous love for the Gospel promptedhim to paint the charism and spirit of the Congregation on the walls of theBethany chapel with lovely scenes and quotes from the Bible - that of Martha,Mary, and Lazarus of Bethany.

11 JB Montini, Pro Secretary of State to Pope Pius XII, Rome Chief Drafter of Documents

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He vividly expressed in the pictures he got painted on the walls of theBethany Motherhouse chapel, fitting quotations from the New Testament,thereby justifying his love for the Word of God.

“Her many sins are forgiven for she has loved much.”

It is heartening to note that the Congregation of the Sisters of theLittle Flower of Bethany, founded by the Servant of God, Mgr Raymond FCMascarenhas, has resplendently entered the Centenary Decade (1921-2021)with the theme: “Open Wide the Door, Let Him Enter Now”. The reason forexpansion, growth and progress in all his endeavours and establishmentswas the deep faith, the Founder Mgr Raymond FC Mascarenhas and hisspiritual daughters had in the Word of God. Let us hope and pray that thisholy man of God, a message and a messenger of the Word of God will beraised to the honours of the Altar.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. The Code of Canon Law, Book III, “The Ministry of the Divine Word”,

1983, The Canon Law Society Trust, published by Collins for Theological

Publications in India, St Peter’s Pontifical Seminary, Bangalore, 560055.

2. THE DOCUMENTS OF VATICAN II, Decree on THE MINISTRY AND LIFE

OF PRIESTS, CHAPTER I, ‘The Priesthood in the Ministry of the Church’,

WITH PRESENTATION OF THE MOST REV R J KNOX, Apostolic

Internuncio, ST PAUL PUBLICATION, 1966.

3. Rev Fr Gerald LR Miranda “My Reminiscences” 24 August 1976, Bethany

Generalate Archives, Mangalore.

4. Mgr M FC Castelino, Speech at the Closing of the Birth Centenary of Rt

Rev Mgr RFC Mascarenhas Founder of Bethany, 23.01.1975.

5. S R Nazareth, Kadri, “My Regard for Father Mascarenhas”, 30.11.1949,

Bethany Generalate Archives, Mangalore.

6. Bertha, BS, Mgr Raymond A Mystic and A Prophet, Bethany Publications,

Mangalore, 2007.

7. Bertha, BS, From the Lips of the Founder, Bethany Publications,

Mangalore, 1996.

8. JB Montini, Pro Secretary of State to Pope Pius XII, Rome Chief Drafter

of Documents on 3 May 1950. Bethany Generalate Archives, Mangalore.

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Surekha Lobo is a religious and a member of theBethany Sisters of the Little Flower. She hails fromMogarnad Parish, Karingana. She has a Bachelor’sDegree in Philosophy from Dharmaram College,Bangalore and Bachelor’s Degree in Theology fromVidyajyoti College, Delhi. She holds a Master’s Degreein Management and Pastoral Theology from Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth, Pune, in Maharashtra. She hasdone the Formators’ course for three consecutive summers, under theInstitute for Formation, India. She is actively involved in the formationwork as well as educational ministry partially. She has served as generalcoordinator for vocation promotion for 3 years. She has an experience ofthree years of teaching in Morning Star Regional Seminary, Barrackpore,West Bengal. Currently she is an Assistant Tertian Directress, at RosaMystica Tertiate, Gurpur, Karnataka.

VISION IN MISSION

A Reflective Study on Mgr RFC Mascarenhas,the Servant of God and the Founder of the Sisters of the Little

Flower of Bethany, Mangalore.

Sr Surekha Lobo

The world around you tells the fascinating story of the new world beingborn of practical visionaries growing all-around you. Thousands of visionaries inevery country are creating a new world, solving a thought problem, findinghigher common ground around you. We are in a scientific era. We are in afast changing world and the only thing that is constant in this world is change.Today, everything and everyone is measured in terms of Character Competenceand Spiritual Power. Yahweh had a vision of redemption and He communicatedthat vision to leaders. The Bible is full of examples of leaders who had God-given visions and lived to pursue those visions. In the Old Testament onesees Moses with a mission of leading the people of Israel to the freedom ofthe Promised Land – from slavery in Egypt.1 Young David killed Goliath andfreed Israel from disgrace by the uncircumcised Philistine.2 King Solomon builtthe Temple; and Nehemiah rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem.3 In the NewTestament: Peter ministered to large crowds.4 Paul saw possibilities in pagan

1 Exodus 3:7-12.2 1 Samuel 17:20-50.3 1 Kings 6 and Nehemiah chapters 1-6.4 Acts 1:15; 2:14; 3:11-12; 4:8; 4:29; 4:33; 5:12-16; 5:21; 5:42; 10:34; etc.

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cities and planted Churches wherever he could.5 Esther saves her people.6

They saw with their mind’s eye a future that was preferred to the present.They are men/women fired with a passion for God and passion for humanity.

Hence, vision as modelled in Scripture and throughout Church historycame as God’s people opened their eyes to the needs around them and thensought the mind of God as to what He wanted them to do. Vision is God’sperspective given to humanity.

Jesus was gripped by the vision of God’s reign. The vision propelled Himforward to do courageous things. For example, in the parable of the mustardseed, he predicted the nature of the Kingdom. It has small beginnings likethe mustard seed but he envisioned that the mustard seed would grow intoa tree big enough for the birds of the air to build nests on it. He also comparedthe kingdom to yeast which can transform the dough. A little yeast will domagic to the dough7. Through the vision, you define what kind of positivechange you want to make. It is inspiring, motivating and gives purpose. Avision can ultimately create a community. This is what Jesus did. Jesus sharedhis vision with his followers and was able to translate that vision into a realitythrough his disciples in building the community of the apostles.8 They werethe basic fishermen—that team of men who would later revolutionize theworld as appointed witnesses of Christ (Acts 1:8). A great vision can serve auseful purpose even if it is understood by just a few key people. That sharedsense of a desirable future can help motivate and coordinate the kind ofactions that create transformations.9

We can say that our vision for Christian leadership must come from themodel of leadership as found in Scripture: Jesus Christ. His vision should beour own; otherwise we cannot call it “Christian” leadership. Interestingly, Godcalls people to be leaders and equips them with the skills that they need tocarry out the job He gives them. It is God who will call and God who willprovide truly great leaders with all that they need to carry out the task athand, as long as their heart is right.10

5 Acts 13:1-4; 13:16; 13:43; 14:1; 14:3; 14:14-15; 14:21-3; 16:10; 16:13-15; 17:1-4; 17:11-12; 17:17;17:32-34; 18:4-5; 18:7-11; 19:26; 20:1-2; 20:17-21; 20:25-32.

6 Esther 5: 1-27 PT Joseph, SJ, Pastoral Leadership Styles and Emotional Intelligence. 2010, 143.8 PT Joseph, SJ, 2010, 143.9 JP Kotter, Leading Change, 199610 What is a Servant Leader - accessed 21 February 2013. www.burgmann.act.edu.au/.../What-is-a-

Servant-Leader.pdf; Internet

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A vision is an attempt to “know who you are, where you’re going, andwhat will guide your journey.” Knowing who you are means having a significantpurpose. Where you’re going, means moving ahead with specific goal orhaving a picture of the future. What will guide your journey signifies clarity invalues. It’s because leadership is about having a goal and arriving at it. Knowingwhere you’re going requires having a clear vision. A vision builds trust,collaboration, interdependence, motivation, and mutual responsibility forsuccess.

This study throws light on the Vision, not of a nation, or an organizationor a company, but of someone who has a clear sense of the future and theactions needed to get there effectively. That someone is none other thanthe Servant of God Mgr Raymond Mascarenhas, the Founder of theCongregation of the Sisters of the Little Flower of Bethany, who’d haveturned 137 had he been alive, leave alone his vision. He was open to theinspiration of the Holy Spirit in his daily life and communicated this gift to hisdaughters, the Bethany Sisters. When reading about Mgr Raymond, one canview him from the perspective of the visionary leadership and enumerate thecharacteristics of a compelling vision that an effective leader should have inthe mission of transformation.

Mgr Raymond had a vision

The core of his vision is making a choice inlife. It is Ignatian: choosing the standard of Christand negating the standard of Satan. Oneevening, just as Raymond returned from school,he overheard a lady visitor remarking to hismother: “This son of yours can be an instrumenteither for a great deal of good or a great dealof evil.” Raymond is said to have declared hisfirm resolution, ‘Why should I be an instrumentof evil? I would rather go about doing good.”The best decision is to take the path that willbenefit you most in the end after it’s all saidand done and that is the road less travelled by.We feel that the vision of Mgr Raymond is thechoice he made. He was someone who wasable to think ‘outside the box,’ who could sharea vision effectively and who could inspire and

Mgr Raymond as theVicar General

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encourage others to be visionaries. The founding of an indigenous Congregation(1921) is considered as the magnum opus the crowning glory of MgrRaymond’s achievements.

In his report to The Right Rev Dr Valerian J D’ Souza, the then Bishop ofMangalore, Mgr Raymond himself writes, “I have been greatly moved by thegreat good which an Institute of this kind was calculated to do among ourpeople by giving an opportunity of religious life to many among our girls who,on account of the circumstances of their education, means and conditions inlife, would have no facility for joining any of the Religious Congregations existingin the Diocese, but nevertheless could be received and prove suitable for aninstitute of this kind. As a matter of fact, the circumstances of most of thosethat I have got together are such that either they could not have the privilegeof a religious life at all or would have had to go outside the Diocese to findit.”11 Mgr Raymond’s heart ached for this sector of his parish. As he turned toGod in prayer, soon it became clear to him that he must meet the challengein whatever way that might be open to him. Ultimately, he conceived theidea of founding a Congregation with the double aim of making religious lifepossible for many young girls and, to prepare apostles to carry the GoodNews of Christ’s Kingdom to the poor and neglected in various parts of thecountry.

Strengthened by the encouraging words of Bishop Paul Perini SJ, thethen Bishop of Mangalore, Mgr Raymond committed his project to the Lord,and waited for God to send him labourers who would bring glory to God andbe willing to offer their time, services, and talents to serve the poor. EventuallyGod provided four generous lady teachers who were apt for this venture.

Mgr Raymond-a Man of the Church

Visionary leadership is transformative. It involves greatness, penetratingthe ordinary, reaching through it to bring out the best the world has to offer.Being called to be a true disciple of Christ, Mgr Raymond was totally unitedwith Him who inspired him to continue his mission and ministry. He identifiedhimself with the person, message and mission of Christ and was obsessedwith the evangelical urge “to have the Gospel preached to the poor” and tomake the whole Christian world become conscious of its apostolic call. Accordingto him, everyone must be an apostle and must fulfil one’s apostolic task inone’s own field in so far as one is able. He “consumed himself in the service ofGod and man/ woman”.12 His consuming zeal for Christ and for His kingdom11 Rev Fr RFC Mascarenhas 31 August 1928, A Report on Bethany to The Right Rev Dr Valerian J

D’Souza, Bishop of Mangalore.12 Miranda, My Reminiscences, 4.08.1976

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was so great that no hurdles prevented him from moving ahead. Upholdingthis view, one of the diocesan priests wrote: “…he spent doing good in allplaces he went to as a parish priest. It was his zeal that prompted him to startthe Bethany Congregation, whose motto also is to serve the poor and needyespecially by imparting education to them. Like all saints he was misunderstoodand had to face criticism and opposition from many. He bore everything bravelywith full trust in the Lord. However, he succeeded in his endeavours, and theChurch appreciated his work by making him a Monsignor, a title of dignitywhich he wore with humility and yet so befittingly”.13 He was a man with apassion, passion for the mission, passion for the proclamation of the GoodNews to the poor.

Divine–focused aspect in the leadership style of Mgr Raymond

Awesome, he was really God dependent person. In reading hisexhortations and letters one is struck by Raymond’s constant reference toGod in the following form as a continuous criterion:

“Do well whatever you do; do it for God and for God alone, and your lifewill be a continual canticle of praise, a continual Gloria Patri…” “I am not alone;the Holy Trinity, Our Lady and my Guardian Angel are always with me”.

The phrase “Glory of God” is often repeated. Just as in an organizationits goals and specific orientation determine its structures and tasks, so for MgrRaymond it is in function precisely of giving glory to God that governmentstructures in ‘Bethany’ are established, decisions by superiors are made, apostolicdiscernment is guided, and the type of formation is chosen. Furthermore,Mgr Raymond expects ‘Bethany Sisters’ to share his own spiritual vision byinternalizing the directives he expounded in the Constitutions, exhortationsand letters. As a visionary he regarded his life and contribution to the spreadof God’s Kingdom as a blessing divinely given. The power that moved him wasthe power of faith in God.

Authentic leadership

Mgr Raymond was a man of integrity and truth. At times he abhorredcompromises and ‘stood for truth irrespective of consequences’.14 In theopen-ended section, one of the most appreciated things which ranked firstby the eye witnesses is his authenticity and determination.

13 A D’Souza 17.06.2002, Memories on Mgr Raymond.14 M Hyacinth, BS Interview, 02.03.2005.

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As we page through the biographical sketch, one is certain that creativityand originality were a special mark of Mgr Raymond’s characte; originality inthe ideas he presented, originality in all the works that he did. It was hisoriginality and fluency in speech in presenting matters that attracted peopleand held them spell bound. He had a good command over English, Latin andKonkani. He spent his retired life using his pen to cater to both the spiritualand secular needs of the public. He did a lot to popularize Konkani hymns andbooks, both in prose and poetry. He has rendered the four Gospels in Konkaniand then the entire New Testament.

Credible leadership

Credible leaders model the way forward for others by acting in a mannerthat is consistent with their words (they “walk the talk”). They are alsoconsistent in their message and decisions.

Right from the beginning Mgr Raymond grew up in faith and trust in thearms of his parents from whose guidance he imbibed the spirit of love, hope,courage and sacrifice. His father greatly contributed to Raymond’s daringspirit and courage to venture into the new and the unknown. Firmness ofcharacter stood him in good stead to the end of his life. Speaking about hismother’s influence he said: “It was on the lap of my mother that I learnt thefirst lessons in self-discipline, self-control and self-denial”.15

From what has been analyzed we may summarize the visionary leadershipof Mgr Raymond thus:

Captured by the compassionate love of God manifested in Jesus, hewas deeply disturbed and pained to see the choices people made betweenthe values of the kingdom and of the world and allowed himself to bechallenged and respond to the opportunities and threats of his times. Hewas a man who treasured values, maintained high ethical standards, drewinspiration in spirituality, and was driven by values of honesty and integrity. Hedared to take the unbeaten path, to take risks, risks on behalf of the poorand the marginalized. He was convinced that risk-taking was part of being aleader.

Conclusion

Some leaders are born and others are made. Mgr Raymond belongs tothe first category. The history of the Catholic Church is resplendent with the

15 D’Souza Violette, BS Unless the Seed Die, 1985, 12.

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reforms and renewals. It is through these reforms and renewals the Churchstrives to be relevant to the changing times. At every such mile stone, therestand tall personalities of the Fathers of the Church, Doctors of the Churchand Saints and Blesseds, the sung and the unsung heroes of faith; the daughtersand sons of the Mother Church. Mgr Raymond is one of such unsung heroes.When the existing Religious Congregations were unable to read the signs ofthe time, Mgr Raymond, a passionate pastor could. He can be called a man ofvision, for he perceived the discrepancies between life promoting and deathleading activities and the Vision God has for humanity.

With the vision focused Mgr Raymond remained open for endlesspossibilities of the future.

The outcome of such a vision and mission, in the case of Mgr Raymondis the birth of the Congregation of the Sisters of Little Flower of Bethany inthe Church. The vision that Fr Raymond saw, had a far reaching impact. Thetiny mustard seed sprouted and never ceased to grow up into a mighty tree.A religious Congregation, sprouted as a tiny diocesan Congregation, very soon,even during the life time of Fr Raymond, spread into other dioceses of SouthIndia and later into north and north-east India. Today, within a span of 92years, being rooted in Indian culture, ‘Bethany’ has spread rapidly to thelength and breadth of the country and at present has foundations in 24states of India and 9 dioceses of Europe and Africa. The core idea is that avisionary sees what others do not. In the context of hopelessness a visionaryenvisions a multitude of possibilities. That comes from God.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Adair J Great Leaders. England: Talbot Adair Press, 1989.

Adair, John. Lexicon Of Leadership: The Difinitive Guide to Leaderhsip. UnitedStates: Kogan Page Limited, 2011.

A D’Souza, Fr Memories on Mgr Raymond, 17.06.2002, Bethany GeneralateArchives, Mangalore.

Alex A Pais, BA, LLB, Advocate High Court, “Rev Fr RFC Mascarenhas-AnAppreciation”, 1949, Bethany Generalate Archives, Mangalore.

D’Souza, Sister M Violette. Unless the seed die; A brief sketch of RFC Monsignor.Mangalore: Kodialbail Press, 1985.

Fr Geo Payyapilly, Sr Mary Benedict BS, Fullness of Life. Bethany Publications,Mangalore, 2003.

Rev Fr Gerald LR Miranda, “My Reminiscences” 24 August 1976, BethanyGeneralte Archives, Mangalore.

Hybels, Bill. Courageous Leadership. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002.

Ihlenfeldt, Bill. Visioanry Leadership: A Proven Pathwaay to Visionary Change.Bloomington: Author House, 2011.

Jacob, Pierre. “Ignatian Discernment.” In A commentary of the Rules ofDiscernment and the Autobiography of Ignatius of Loyola, 77. Gujarat SahityaPrakash, 2008.

Joseph, Fr PT Pastoral Leadership Styles and Emotional Intelligence. St Paul’s,Bangalore, 2010.

J Mendonca, Bishop of Trichinopoly, Letter to Fr RFC Mascarenhas dated 26February 1950.

Judith Mascarenhas, Speech, 4 March 2000 on the Sacerdontal Centenary ofMgr RFC Mascarenhas at Bethany Bendur, Mangalore.

Kotter, John P. Leading Change. Boston, Massachusetts: Hardvard BusinessSchool Press, 1996.

Log of Bethany 1921-1953, Bethany Generalate Archives, Mangalore.

Address of the Catholic Association of South Kanara, to Rt Rev Mgr RFCMascarenhas at the Catholic Bank on 27 March 1941, Mangalore, April 1941.

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SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:

Exodus 3:7-12.

1 Samuel 17:20-50.

1 Kings 6 and Nehemiah Chapters 1-6.

Acts 1:15; 2:14; 3:11-12; 4:8; 4:29; 4:33; 5:12-16; 5:21; 5:42; 10:34; etc.

Acts 13:1-4; 13:16; 13:43; 14:1; 14:3; 14:14-15; 14:21-3; 16:10; 16:13-15;17:1-4; 17:11-12; 17:17; 17:32-34; 18:4-5; 18:7-11;

19:26; 20:1-2; 20:17-21; 20:25-32.

Esther 5: 1-2

Malphurs, Aubrey. Planting Growing Churches for the 21st Century, ThirdEdition. USA: Baker Book Publications, 2004.

Maxwell, John C Leadership Within You. United States, America: ThomasNelson Inc. Publishers, 1993.

Rev Fr Gerald LR Miranda, “My Reminiscences” 24 August 1976, BethanyGeneralate Archives, Mangalore.

Porras, James C Collins and Jerry I. Built to Last: Successful Habits of VisionaryCompanies, New York: Harper Collins, 2002.

Rev Fr RFC Mascarenhas, Parish Priest of Bendur, The First Report on Bethanyto The Right Rev Dr Paul Perini, SJ, Bishop of Calicut and the AdministratorApostolic of Mangalore, 19 March 1925.

Rev Fr RFC Mascarenhas, Parish Priest of Bendur, The Special Report on Bethanyto The Right Rev Dr Valerian J. D’ Souza, Bishop of Mangalore, 31 August1928.

Sr M Paupera, BS Memories on Mgr Raymond. 28 June 2002.

Sr M Esperie, BS, Bethany My joy and My Crown, 33. Bethany Publications,Mangalore, 2003.

What is a Servant Leader-accessed 21 February 2013.www.burgmann.act.edu.au/.../What-is-a-Servant-Leader.pdf;Internet.

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Sr Namrita BS, a member of BethanyCongregation hails from Kerala. Sr Namrita wasinvolved in teaching and formative ministry ever sinceshe completed her academic studies namely BachelorDegree (BA) at St Agnes College Bandore andBachelor in Education (BEd) at St Ann’s CollegeMangalore, respectively. She served one year as ateacher at St Joseph’s Convent School, Sagar inShimoga Diocese and one year in St Theresa’s School Bendore. Soonafter this she assisted the pre-novice Directress at Bethany Motherhouse.

After her Theological (BTh) studies at Kristu Jyoti College Bangalore,She was sent to Patna to pursue the counseling and spirituality course.With this background she was appointed for four years as the animatorand Pre-Novice Directress at Nazareth Home, Bajpe. Besides this sheserved for two years as the Novice Directress at Rosa Mystica Novitiate,Gurpur. She also did one year Canon Law at St Peter’s Pontifical Institute,Bangalore. Presently she is pursuing her II Year Masters Degree inSpirituality at Jnana Deep Vidyapeeth, Pune.

In this article she emphatically writes, how Mgr Mascarenhas, likethe Prophets of Old Testament, upheld the values of the kingdomthrough his far-sighted vision, preaching, writings and benevolent works.

Introduction

“In every age there have been men and women, who obedient to theFather’s call and to the promptings of the Spirit, have chosen a special way offollowing Christ in order to devote themselves to Him with an “undivided”heart (I Cor 7:34). In this way, through the many charisms of spiritual andprophetic life bestowed on them by the Spirit, they have helped to make themystery and the mission of the Church shine forth, and in doing so, havecontributed to the renewal of the society.” These words of Pope John Paul IIin Vita Consecrata were certainly true of Fr Raymond Mascarenhas, the Servantof God, who was a priest, writer, composer, translator, poet and prophet,

RFC MASCARENHAS:A PROPHET FOR OUR TIMES

Sr Namrita BS

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visionary, Konkani scholar as well as orator and the Founder of the Congregationof the Sisters of the Little Flower of Bethany. Raymond did respond to thevoice of God and read the signs of the times in the early 19th century andanswered a call within the call through “Bethany,” the promising garden whichis now humming with life and light.

In this modern era, when faith and religion are in question, and religiousheroes and heroines and their experiences are seen as neurotic, the evolutionof RFC Mascarenhas’ prophetic life and living and his insightful stand has aliving justification of the Gospel values and have been perceived and accountedfor the spread of his ideas over those of other scholarly men and women ofour scientific age. Mgr Mascarenhas walked the untrodden path and thatmade the difference. Hence in this article, I shall try to highlight a few aspectsof the Prophetic life of Mgr Mascarenhas and articulate how he was a prophetfor our times.

1. A Prophetic Vision

A prophet is one who reads the signs of the times and challenges theexisting unjust and inhuman socio-economic order and allows God to transformit.1 To read the signs further means, not only to identify the joys and sorrowsof the people, but also to analyze them, to find out the causes, even theroot cause of the situation. The Prophets of Israel were deeply immersed inthe life situation of their people. They lived in full solidarity with the people.The supreme example is Jesus of Nazareth, the “Son of God” who becameincarnate as “Son of man”. The prophets then analyzed why the particularsituation had come about and pointed out to the causes and to the rootcause. Thus we see that Prophetic vision is not against prophetic living; insteadas a visionary child destined to serve God. Mgr Mascarenhas’ vision commandedadmiration and reverence because it was believed to be the product of divineprovidence. His vision was a model of revelation on the style of Biblical prophets,such as Ezekiel, Isaiah and Jeremiah aided in his validation as a powerful priestlyfigure. Hence, in placing his plans before his superior the Right Reverend Paul

Perini, SJ, he says in all humility, “I speak as if in foolishness...”2. Nonetheless,

out of a vision rooted in the deep spirituality and untiring missionary zeal ofthe godly man that he was, Mgr Mascarenhas, opened the first of our houses

1 Coyle, Kathleen, SSC, “Prophetic Mysticism: The Call of Empowered Women Religious”, In Christo,July 2008, 133.

2 D’Souza, Violette, BS, Unless the Seed Die, 1985, 29.3 Sr M Bertha BS, Mgr Raymond: A Mystic and A Prophet, 2007, 11.

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outside Mangalore Diocese in the newly erected diocese of Calicut3. “Willthese dry bones live?”4. The grand vision of Ezekiel (37:1-14) in which thewhole valley, filled with dry bones, is made to come back to life through theprophecy of Ezekiel, is an expressive symbol of the future of Israel. “The LordYahweh says, ‘I am going to raise you from your graves ..., put my spirit inyou... and resettle you on your own soil.” Thus all the Prophets of Israel, andJesus himself, foretells a bright future and a final “life in fullness”. Today Bethany,the living epitome of Founder’s well-nourished promising garden gives expressionto the above question. Not only the dry bones have come alive but overthem flesh and skin have come. Indeed, today Bendur is one of the mostdeveloped parishes of Mangalore with a number of schools and colleges around.It is like an evergreen Cyprus, full of life and light.

His great work of founding the Congregation of the Sisters of the LittleFlower of Bethany had the clear purpose of giving an opportunity to girls frompoor families for embracing religious life. The Bethany Sisters then dedicatedthemselves to the welfare and education of the poorer sections of the society.The ideal before him was therefore: “Good news to the poor, sight to theblind and freedom to the oppressed” (Lk 4:18). Thus his final goal was totransform the community from “dead bones” to a “living people”. In fact, thisis what the people of Bendur expressed when he was transferred, summingup his ministry in their parish. They compared his mission and vision to that ofProphet Ezekiel, who narrates his magnificent vision in which God, throughthe Prophet, “gives life to dry bones” (Ez 37:1-4), and restores them to theirhuman dignity.5

2. Every True Prophet is a Genuine Priest

My way of understanding the phenomenon is by making clear the basicassumption: namely, that priestly life is experiencing God. Although this mightseem an ordinary expression, it is not an unfolded reality; hence, when wetalk about priestly life we are talking about the journey within. The journeywithin us is an invitation and a process; beckoning us to see the world with adifference, with more humane eyes. We often consider it the privilege of afew. On the other hand, Jesus’ way of being a priest and a prophet consistedabove all in the power to see life as God sees it and penetrate the mysterywith the wisdom communicated to him by the Father.6 We are called by our

4 D’souza, Violette, BS, Unless the Seed Die, 1985, 20.5 Farewell Address to Mgr Mascarenhas given by Parishioners of Bendur on 23 July 1931.6 Coyle, Kathleen, SSC, “Prophetic Mysticism: The Call of Empowered Women Religious”, In Christo,

July2008, 75-86.

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baptism to become mystics, “we are born from above” (John 3:3), as Jesusreminded Nicodemus, so that we can live in the truth. The Spirit “searcheseverything, even the depths of hearts” (1 Cor 2:10). Our call as religious is toecho God’s word in the society; a prophetic lifestyle is meant to serve eachother because every true prophet is a mystic and every genuine mystic is aprophet.7 Hence, a prophet is one who speaks by the divine inspiration or asan interpreter through whom the will of God is expressed. Rather, it suggestssomething dynamic- a process, energy, or movement”.

In fact, the life and ministry of Mgr Mascarenhas show that he had twoprominent dimensions in his spirituality: contemplation and action. In his ministryas a pastor and a diocesan priest he read the “signs of the times” andunderstood the need to transform the existing social and economic situationparticularly of the poor girls and women. Mgr Mascarenhas stood like anundaunted hero and put himself into action so as to transform the existingsituation and venture into an action that would create a socio-economic andreligious environment in order to liberate an oppressive dilemma. This is notunlike Jeremiah who was uncertain of his call as prophet:

“Now the word of the Lord came to me saying, “Before I formed you inthe womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; Iappoint you a prophet to the nations.” Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Truly I donot know how… Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth;and the Lord said to me, “Now I have put my words in your mouth” (Jer 1:4-10).

By likening himself to these Biblical prophets, Mgr Mascarenhas creates atypology where he himself is the prophetic voice for the twentieth century.

3. Prophetic Mission-An Expression of God’s Compassionate Love

Mgr Mascarenhas’ compassionate love which resulted from his deepcommunion and contact with God ignites him to redeem the suffering humanityand bring to it the liberating touch of Christ. Thus, mission needs mysticalawareness and prophetic life. They are meant to serve each other becauseevery true prophet is a mystic and every genuine mystic is a prophet.8 Hence,contemplation should lead us to action. When we move into the cave of theheart, we switch off the inner stream of our thought and feelings; we soak in

7 Painadath, Sebastin, “We are Co-Pilgrims:Towards a Culture of Religious Harmony”, A Journal ofISPCK, Delhi, 2006, 9-12

8 Ibid.

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the divine energy as Jesus, the mystics and saints did while they lived onearth; in reality Mgr Mascarenhas was no exception. He preached by wordand example. He would say,

“I have to give you Christ, teach you how to love Christ and send youout to the villages to witness to Christ by your life. If I should give this love,it is necessary that I should have it within me in full measure. This is why I goto the Blessed Sacrament to fill my heart with love. I should be a cistern ofGod’s love, if I am to give this love to others through various channels. Withoutthis, my apostolate in Bethany will be “like a sounding brass and a tinklingcymbal,” as St Paul says (1Cor. 13:1).”9

Moreover, he was passionately in love with the Blessed Sacrament. Hepressed on with perseverance and determination alone to accomplish greatthings for God and for the world. Nevertheless, he inspired his spiritual daughtersto be fearless and to face every situation with calmness.10 Indeed, thecompassionate ones are prophetic. His compassion towards the economicallybackward women was remarkable. For him compassion was not a sentimentbut an active participation in the mission of Jesus. They never mince wordsbut speak exactly what is in their minds. They speak their minds “within acontext of liberating oppressed people and believing in a God who iscompassionate and faithful.” Thus interiority and prophetic proclamationconstituted the characteristics of his spiritual stance.

4. A Prophet for Our Times

Each age has spiritual giants who influence the way people in futuregenerations relate to their God and fellow human beings. Mgr Mascarenhas issuch a prophet of the 20th century. He reminds us of the spiritual life andhighlights for us alternative ways of living out those concerns. Of course, noone can mirror all the dimensions of the mystery of the life of Christ. Butoccasionally individuals arrive on the scene who manifest in a striking wayparticular aspect of the paschal paradigm of Christian existence. Such individualsprovide us with insights and inspirations for the rhythm of our own journey.They focus our faith on aspects of the life of the Spirit which we may haveforgotten.

9 Sr M Bertha BS, Mgr Raymond: A Mystic and A Prophet, 2007, 13.10 M Theresine BS, M Esuria BS, Reminiscences, 2009, 51.

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As a young priest he was sent to take up work in difficult places. “Heream I, send me,” was his response like Prophet Isaiah, when he was asked totake up his ministry. He committed himself whole heartedly to his mission.11

Mgr Mascarenhas has influenced many and has profound effect oncontemporary spirituality through his different, sometimes opposing, life andvisions, through his scholarly works: writings, composing, and translations.How do we then develop a mystical consciousness by which we experienceand nourish the divine energy in the core of our being and vibrate thatenergy as compassion to those whom we serve in our ministry? Havingresearched the mysterious concept of the life of a prophet of our times, Inow focus my attention on his prophetic works.

Literary Activities as part of his prophetic life.

As I dwelt more deeply into these unique experiences, and exploredtheir underlying spiritual and theological depth and intensity, my researchquestion, then, became why and how does Mgr Mascarenhas’ works bearprophetic witness. Mgr Mascarenhas was a popular preacher and a prolificwriter. His efforts to spread a literary awareness among the Konkani-speakingpeople, especially the poor, deserve a special mention. To enable them tolearn to read and write by instructing them in their mother tongue, he publisheda primary reader entitled “Pailem Pustak.”12 A good idea of his work as atranslator can be gained from the following examples: Little Office of theImmaculate Conception, Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Office of theDead, Funeral Rites and Rituals, Masses for the Dear Departed. At a timewhen the Bible was not available in Konkani, he began translating the booksof the Bible – first the Gospels, then the whole New Testament which hepublished. He had also translated most of the Old Testament books. So theWord of God was the guiding light on his path. A Few Minutes with Mary onSaturdays, the Imitation of Mary (a translation of his previous publication inEnglish published by the Catholic Truth Society at Trichinopoly) are his othercontributions. He also wrote a book on the Life of Christ. The Little Office ofthe Immaculate Conception rendered by him into Konkani is the one that isgenerally used by the Marian Sodalities. Towards the end of his long life, as hewas failing in health, Mgr Mascarenhas undertook the task of translating thewhole of the Old Testament.

11 John Fernandes, “Father Mascarenhas- A Pastor who was a Prophet”, in the Joskiran, Journal ofReligion and Thought, Vol 10, No 1, March 2013, 34-35.

12 M Violette BS, Unless the Seed Die, 1982, 46.

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In the field of Sacred MusicA talented poet and composer, Mgr Mascarenhas has translated more

than fifty hymns from Latin and English into Konkani each with a symphony ofthe Harmony of Celestial Revelations. Most of these collections have becomeso popular that people chant them in Churches and in homes.13 The collectionsof these are found in “Shembor Kontigo”- an old Konkani hymnal.

5. Relevance Today

Finally, an attempt is made to understand and appreciate the relevanceand practical significance of the prophetic life, living, experience and insightsof Mgr Mascarenhas as a true prophet of our times. The prophetic works andwritings lead to an integral vision and universal understanding of realities. Inrecent years the life and works of Mgr Mascarenhas have become one ofparticular significance to great theologians and scholars and of course to hisspiritual daughters. Above all, Mgr Mascarenhas’ attempt is a model, to createa gender just society. If you want to be a prophet you must carry your crossand follow Jesus of Nazareth. There cannot be a true disciple of Christ withoutthe cross.

In addition, he was an outspoken man. He did not hesitate to evenquestion bishops when required. He was a member of the Municipal Counciland the District Educational Council, being the only priests there and Directorof the Roman Catholic Provident Fund for a number of years, until on his ownaccord he resigned from these posts. His monumental works like the Churchof Udyavar, the Church of Bendur, the Presbytery of Agrar, the sites of theChurches in Siddakatte, Nirkan and Alipade, St Sebastian’s School, St MargaretMary’s School, St Joseph’s Kankanady School, built inspite of so much povertyand hardships excited the attention of priests and people alike, speak thelittle that he had done for the Diocese, but the little however which couldnot be entirely lost sight of when putting on record such damaging thingsagainst the last decade of his years, when the fruits of his toil were beingenjoyed by others, and the Diocese was receiving so much credit from them.In all these situations he was trying to show that there is something for himin the public eye which deserved consideration, and not mere motive forglory. His humility was so great that he offered his pain and agony to hisBlessed Mother and the Crucified Lord:

13 M Violette BS, Unless the Seed Die, 1982, 47.

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“In the light of eternity and in the presence of our Crucified Lord andthe Mother of Sorrows, they are indeed a worthy close to my career which isbeing stamped with the seal of the Cross, nevertheless in the interests oftruth and justice and for the sake of my own representation and that ofBethany which I have no right to expose to ridicule”.14

All the same, in fulfilling their task the prophets have to pay the price fortheir mission. The cost of prophetism has been, and still is, very high. All theprophets of Israel, then John and ultimately Jesus himself, have paid thisheavy price. Prophets were misunderstood, ridiculed, opposed, rejected,persecuted and even put to death. The prophets who had to sacrifice theirlives for the cause for which they stood. But true prophets stand firm in theircommitment suffer persecution and even death bravely. By this they provethe truth and strength of their mission. Ultimately the cause for which theprophets stood is realized in the hearts of the people for whom they sacrificedtheir life. Thus, the birth of a new society, new world has given new hope ofa “new heaven and earth”.

Conclusion

In the life and ministry of Mgr Mascarenhas we pursue many traits of thelife of a prophet. Like the prophets he denounced untruth and injustice. Hedeclared justice, truth and love. His preaching, works, writings, deeds, visionand mission are witness to this. He served the poor, the sick and comfortedthe lonely and the sorrowful; everything was in accordance to the fulfillmentof the Scripture, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. He has chosen me tobring Good News to the poor and sight to the blind” (Lk 4:18). Ultimately hisgoal was to create a just society from “dead bones” to a “living people”.However, the price he had to pay for his prophetic vocation was high. As acost of commitment to the Church and to Bethany he had to pay doubleshare that is the Crown he bore as the “lot of Prophet”. By valuing thegiftedness of the life of a prophet and his unique gift to the 20th centuryworld and his figure of reverence within the contemporary New Age movement,mostly due to his holistic view of life, as well as his status as a prophetic priest,occupy a special place in the history of our Church and the world. Thus, heoffered his precious contribution to the growth of the Church of his time,employing the gifts received from God and showing himself to be a man ofbrilliant intelligence, deep sensitivity and recognized spiritual authority.

14 Letter of RFC Mascarenhas, dated 23 February 1941.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Farewell Address to Mgr Mascarenhas given by Parishioners of Bendur on July23, 1931.

John Fernandes, “Father Mascarenhas - A Pastor who was a Prophet”, in theJoskiran: Journal of Religion and Thought, March 2013.

Kathleen Coyle, SSC, “Prophetic Mysticism: The Call of Empowered WomenReligious”, in In Christo, July 2008.

Letter of RFC Mascarenhas, to Bishop of Mangalore dated 23 February 1941,Bethany Generalate Archives, Mangalore.

Theresine, M and Esuria, M, BS, Reminiscences, Bethany Publications,Mangalore, 2009.

M Violette BS, Unless the Seed Die, Bethany Publications, Mangalore, 1985.

M Bertha BS, Mgr Raymond: A Mystic and A Prophet, Bethany Publications,Mangalore, 2007.

Painadath, Sebastin, “We are Co-Pilgrims: Towards a Culture of ReligiousHarmony”, A Journal of ISPCK, Delhi, 2006.

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Favours Received

BETHANY’S BIRTH - IN THE WORDS OFMGR RAYMOND MASCARENHAS

The Congregation of the Sisteres of the Little Flowerof Bethany was Founded on 16 July 1921. Here is anextract from first report of the then Parish Priest ofBendur Rev Fr RFC Mascarenhas, the Founder ofBethany presented to Rev Dr Paul Perini, SJ, dated 19March 1925 on the feast of St Joseph.

s

My Lord,

I respectfully beg to lay before you the report of a work of mine, herein Bendur, - a community of lady-teachers- which I have brought together,and which, on account of the name which I have given to the house theylive in, and is the centre of their activities, I shall call “Bethany.”

Your Lordship will remember what I spoke to you with regard to thismy intention about January 1920. The need of a work of this kind was longfelt and freely expressed among us - Priests. It was also strongly suggestedto me by some to begin such a thing. Although I endorsed the need ofsuch a work, yet I felt that I was not meant for it and that I could not do it,and so I said. However, as the schools I opened in Bendur began to develop,I found myself more and more in circumstances, which not only convincedme of the necessity but furnished me with the opportunities of doing it. For,it was a necessity to employ a large number of lady-teachers.

Lady-teachers who came in to keep themselves occupied until theycould marry at the first opportunity were a source of great inconvenience,even for personal reasons, apart from the frequent changes that were theconsequence.

Similar difficulty was caused by those lady-teachers, also, who madeour schools a stepping stone to better prospects in other schools, especiallythose of Government.

Hence, it was necessary to secure teachers who would not think ofleaving in order to marry, or for the sake of better emoluments elsewhere,

Mgr RFCMascarenhas

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but would stick and work for higher motives. While I began to feel theinconveniences from the employment of teachers of the former kind, I washappy to find a few of the last desirable type. But soon a new difficultyarose with regard to these latter. They, after a time, began to expressanxiety about their future. They exposed to me the difficulty they wouldhave of continuing for long this work by remaining in their family, and askedof me to find a place for them in some convent outside, as their circumstanceswere not suitable for our convents. It would not have been difficult tosatisfy this last request, but I saw that we were thus losing our best teachersand in this way the work of schools was being seriously paralysed; andsecondly, it seemed a pity and a religious drain on our Diocese that chosensouls of this kind, who were daily growing numerous, should not be able tosecure the object of their desire here, but should be obliged to go elsewherefor it; and this, while there was so much work for God, not only of educationbut other kind too, which was left undone and which they could very welldo.

It was in these circumstances that I had the above-mentionedconversation with your Lordship about January 1920 which was repeated ata later date, in which, after giving my reasons, I expressed my desire to tryto do something in this line; adding “quasi in insipientia dico.”

Your Lordship spoke to me of the misgivings you felt about the successof the work but told me to act if I felt an inspiration to do so, and make useof the opportunities I had. You added that these works are not made toorder as it were, but have to commence from simple and unostentatiousbeginnings and have to develop gradually. You illustrated the same by thehistory of beginnings of the Society of Jesus as also of the Congregation ofthe Sisters of Charity, Jeppoo. You explained to me how the Foundress ofthe latter with her first companions worked for many years as lay peoplebefore their Congregation was recognised. Similarly, you suggested to methat what I may do by way of commencement would be to get a few ofthese to live together in a house of their own and follow a simple rule of life,and await developments.

Having thus talked the matter over with your Lordship, I began towork towards this end.

It will be in place here to quote what I wrote to your Lordship, June24, 1920, with reference to the erection of a Sodality of the Children ofMary in the Parish. I wrote: “Let me subjoin here the other particular reasons

50

which I mentioned to your Lordship when I asked for your consent to startthe Sodality. They were *** To develop among the select ones, ascircumstances permit, and as Providence helps, a religious spirit which mightgradually bring some of them to live together and form themselves into acommunity which might be the nucleus of a Congregation doing unpretentiousbut solid work in the way of education etc. This is indeed a large order butif ever it should come to pass, it must be from small beginnings such asthese.”

How the work was actually begun.

Among the lady-teachers of my school, I found three, and there wasa fourth one who wished to undergo training and join the staff, who allwished to live together and form themselves into a community and devotethemselves to any work that might be required of them. Here I found thematerial to begin with.

Next was to provide a house for them, which, in my financialcircumstances was a serious difficulty. I was thinking of renting a house, buta suitable one could not be found; besides, it seemed to me that the veryinstability of the material house would stand in the way of success. I thenwished to procure some land whereon to build a little house on the otherside of the road; but my efforts were fruitless. While I was thus uncertain asto what to do, there was advertised for sale a small piece of ground, half anacre in extent with a newly-built decent little house very conveniently situatedfor the purpose I had in view. The price of Rs 3,000 was rather too big, butthe circumstances appearing providential, I trustfully went in for it; and itcame about, without any prearrangement, that I got possession of it on StJoseph’s Day, March 19, 1921. Both to thank Almighty God for the unexpectedfavour and at the same time to secure His blessing on the new venture,through St Joseph, the first thing I did was to enter the house with thepersons concerned, whom I had called for the occasion and held somedevotions in the new house.

Some months elapsed before the house could be suitably furnished,and what was more difficult, consent of the respective parents obtained forthe four intended inmates to live apart from their family with a view to theirfuture life. It did not seem possible that they all would be able to comebefore Christmas of that year, 1921. However, there was a combination offavourable circumstances which enabled the four to come and begin their

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new life in the house on July 16, the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.Your Lordship was then in Europe. The coincidence of this particular day onwhich I was enabled to begin this work has always strongly impressed mewith the thought that Our Lady, the Patroness of the Order of Carmel doesnot see in the new venture anything prejudicial to the works of herCongregation of Carmel, and that she looks on it with favour.

The first four members of Bethany Congregation

A loving tribute to Our Lady of Mount Carmel

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FAVOURS RECEIVED

HEALING FROM MULTIPLE AILMENTS

Just 6 to 7 months back I came to know about Fr Raymond. Beforethat, I had never heard of him; but now I have devoted myself to dearFather, because so quickly I have been healed of multiple ailments. In my lastletter I had written about my severe back, neck and shoulder pain; now thatpain has vanished completely. Received many favours through the intercessionof Bethany Founder Mgr Raymond Mascarenhas. My sincere thanks to thetrue Servant of God. His miracles are amazing.

- Francis Gonsalves, Belgaum. 18.1.2013

THANKSGIVING

Mary Rathna II PUC student of Jawaharlal Navodaya Vidyalaya CBSE School,Galibeedu, Madikeri, has scored distinction in her final exam through thepowerful intercession of RFC Mascarenhas.

- Mary Rathna, Mother Gracy Mani, Kutta

MIRACULOUS CONCEPTION

Thanks for the favours of a good life partner and miraculous good newsof conception of a baby through the powerful prayers of RFC Mascarenhas.

- Jacintha D’Souza & Ivan D’Souza Mulund (Mumbai)

ECZEMA ALLERGY HEALED

ªÀÄíeÁ ªÀiÁAAiÀiÁÑ÷å ¥ÁAAiÀiÁPï eÁ°è J®fð/SÉÆgÉÆeï gÉÊªÀÄAzï Á¥ÁZÁªÀÄdw£ï UÀÆuï eÁªïß sÀ¯Á¬ÄÌ ªÉÄ¼Áî÷å vÁPÁ eÁAªï CUÁðA. (zÁPÉÛgÁA¤UÀÆuï eÁAªÉÑ «²A ¸ÁPÉÆð sÀªÀð¸ÉÆ ¢ÃAªïÌ £Ávï¯ÉÆè)

vÀ±ÉAZï ªÀÄíeÉ sÁªÁ£ï ¨ÁAzÀÄAPï J«Ó¯Áè÷å WÀgÁZÉA PÁªÀiï gÉÊªÀÄAzï¨Á¥ÁZÁ ªÀÄdw£ï ¨sÉÆÃªï §gÁå xÀgÁ£ï ¸ÀA¥ÁèA. vÁPÁ D«ÄA ¸ÀªÁðAºÉÆUÁî¥ï ¢vÁAªï. ªÉVAZï D¯ÁÛjZÉÆ ªÀiÁ£ï ¥sÁªÉÇ eÁAªï ªÀÄíuï ªÀiÁUÁÛAªï.

- ªÉgÉÆÃ¤PÁ PÀÄn£ÉÆ(Translation)

My mother was suffering from the Eczema allergy on her foot. The doctorswere unable to give us any hope of her cure. Through the intercession of Fr

53

Raymond her allergy got cured and her health restored. Thanks be to FrRaymond.

Likewise, the work on the construction of my brother’s house has beencompleted without any hitch. All of us praise Fr Raymond and pray that hemay be elevated to the honours of the altar soon.

- Veronica Cutinha, Puttur

G¥ÀPÁgÀ ÀägÀuÉPÀ¼ÉzÀ ªÀgÀÄµÀ £À£ÀUÉ vÀÄA¨Á ºÉÆmÉÖ £ÉÆÃªÀÅ GAmÁV ªÉÊzÀågÀ §½ ºÉÆÃzÁUÀ¸ÁÌ÷å¤AUï vÉUÉAiÀÄ®Ä w½¹zÀgÀÄ. vÀPÀët £Á£ÀÄ ¥sÁzÀgï gÁÊªÀÄAzï ¥sÁæ¤ì¸ï PÁ«Ä®è¸ïªÀÄ ÀÌgÉkõï EªÀgÉÆqÀ£É ¥Áæyð¹ ªÉÊzÀågÀÄ ¤ÃrzÀ ªÀiÁvÉæUÀ¼À£ÀÄß ÉÃ«¹zÁUÀ £À£ÀßPÁ¬Ä¯É UÀÄtªÁ¬ÄvÀÄ.

- °Ã£Á r’¸ÉÆÃd PÉÆqÀUÀÄ f Éè, PÀÄlÖ, ZÀÆjPÁqÀÄ.

(Translation)Last year I had sever stomach pain. I went to the doctor and he suggestedto have a scan. Suddenly I prayed to Fr Raymond Francis Camillus Mascarenhasand took the tablets, my pain was healed.

- Leena D’Souza Kutta

SURPRISED HEALING OF THE TOE

I most gratefully and humbly would like to place on record and testify tothe favours received through the intercession of our Father RaymondMascarenhas, the Founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of Little Flowerof Bethany.

My husband Narendra Gurung (non Catholic) was suffering from severeinfection on his right toe for which he was even hospitalized for 9 days inFebruary 2012. Doctors diagnosed it to be cellulites. The infection got worse.Despite being treated by several doctors and skin specialists for months evento the extent of surgically removing the nail off the toe, there was no sign ofcure. The toe continued to ooze out pus causing excruciating pain. He couldnot walk even.

I, being a member of the Bethany Lay Associate in Kolkata, was giventhe Prayer for the Beatification of the Servant of God Father RaymondMascarenhas. I prayed to Father Raymond every night for the healing of myhusband’s toe. To our utter surprise thanks to God and Father Founder, my

54

husband’s toe is totally healed. This was manifested when we consulted ageneral surgeon – he asked us to remove the bandage and said not tobother as nothing was wrong and advised us to just take an x-ray of the toe.The x-ray revealed only a fracture in the toe. Miraculously without even atablet or ointment the toe totally got healed on its own.

I have deep faith, gratitude and love for our Father RaymondMascarenhas. This is more so after reading the touching life story of FatherFounder. I, till date, continue to pray every day to Father Raymond and for hisintercession for my two sons, particularly for my elder son, Abhishek AugustineGurung (who is suffering from confused identity), for God’s guidance andright direction in life!

I am confident and with deep faith in God and Father Raymond I willsoon testify many more favours of his powerful love and miracles.

May God’s Goodness soon be showered over all mankind through theCanonization of the Servant of God Raymond Mascarenhas.

- Agnes Gurung, Behala, Kolkatta 29.4.2013

LOST AND FOUND

My niece’s son, thirty two year old boy, was lost for the past one year andfour months. I prayed through the intercession of Mgr Raymond FCMascarenhas. Two months ago he is found as he was. I strongly believe thisis the miracle which can be attributed to Father Founder.

- Sr Marie Paul

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FAVOURS RECEIVED THROUGH THEINTERCESSION OF THE SERVANT OF GOD

RAYMOND FC MASCARENHAS AND PUBLISHEDIN RAKNNO, THE KONKANI WEEKLY OF

MANGALORE DIOCESE

2009/20 Received favour through the intercession of Servant of GodRFC Mascarenhas. My heartfelt thanks to him. Please continueto pray for other favours.

Celine D’Souza, Mannagudda

2009/21 Received favour through the intercession of Servant of GodRFC Mascarenhas. My heartfelt thanks to him. The delay isregretted.

Sandra Baretto andfamily, Honnavar

2009/22 Received favour through the intercession of Servant of GodRFC Mascarenhas. My heartfelt thanks to him.

Lancy, Shilpa, Bajpe.


Sr Paula BS


Gracy Rodrigues


Dolfy D’Souza, Venur


Cynthia Rodrigues

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2009/27 My heartfelt thanks to the Servant of God Mgr RFC Mascarenhasfor the favours received through his intercession.

Sr Helen Rebello, BS, Mudigere

2009/28 My heartfelt thanks to the Servant of God Mgr RFC Mascarenhasfor the favours received through his intercession.

Sr Joseph Mary, BS

2009/29 My heartfelt thanks to Mgr RFC Mascarenhas for the favoursreceived through his intercession.

Sylvia Pais, Bejai, New Road


Sr Amrita, Kolkata

2009/31 My heartfelt thanks Mgr RFC Mascarenhas for the favoursreceived through his intercession.

Sr Victoria, Ankola


Monteiro Family, Belman

2010/02 Our heartfelt thanks to Mgr RFC Mascarenhas for the favoursreceived through his intercession. We pray that we may getcomplete health and happiness.

Rita and Valerian Menezes, Shimoga

2010/03 I have received all the favours I had asked for through theintercession of Mgr RFC Mascarenhas. My heartfelt thanks tohim.

A devotee

The compassionate Pastor - July 2013

Documents

Transcript of The compassionate Pastor - July 2013