Vamanjoor: 3rd December 2017: 3rd December 2017 marked the 31st Province Day of Mangalore Province. The Province being dedicated to Mother Mary – our lady of Immaculate Conception, her intercession was sought over the celebration of the day. Sr CiciliaMendonca BS, the Provincial Superior of Mangalore Province, in her keynote address, called on the sisters to thank God for his marvellous blessings on the Province. Our role to be a joyful witness and a mystic was depicted through the examples of Bethany models and specially in imitation of Mary. She thanked her Councillors, superiors, formators and the entire band of Sisters and formees for their whole hearted cooperation in the administration of the Province.
Sr Lillis BS the Asst Superior General, was the Resource Person of the day. She shared her reflection of the theme of the Province day. Focussing on living joyfully our life of consecration, she said, we are to live by the promptings of the Holy Spirit, and make our actions as anointed actions. When we are gripped by the Spirit, we become joyful witnesses of the Gospel, was the key sentence in her talk.
Rev Fr Paul Melwyn D Souza Ofm Cap, the President of CRI Mangalore Unit and the Superior of Capuchin Friary, Jail Road, Bejai, officiated at the thanksgiving Eucharist. In his homily he enumerated the names, qualities, virtues of Mary Our Blessed Mother and her role in the history of salvation. Festive meal was prepared by the community of St Raymond’s. The cultural programme was colourfully presented by different communities of the Province. The presence of Sr Anitha D Souza BS from Africa, Sr Juliana Lasrado BS from Germany, Sisters from the Province, added a holistic outlook for the celebration. Indeed it was a joyful day for all of us and we ended the day with a joyful tone saying. “Indeed it is good for us to be here,” in Mangalore Province.