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Compassionate Pastor

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Compassionate Pastor - July 2015

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Page 1: Compassionate Pastor
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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 Jessy Rita, BS

Sr M Virginia, BS

Sr Mary Naulak, BS

ContentEditorial Board

THE COMPASSIONATE PASTORJULY 2015

1. Editorial

2. Vision of R.F.C. Mascarenhas On

Consecrated Life to Wake Up the World

- Sr Namrita BS

3. He Clothed Mother Earth with Green Attire

- Sr Shalet Mendonca BS

4. A Seed that Dared to Die - Sr Anitha

Stephen BS

5. Servant of God RFC Mascarenhas, a

Wounded Healer - Rev Fr Thomas C.D., O.P.

6. The Sprouting of Religious Vocation Within

Me - Sr Marie Ange BS

7. From the Horse’s Mouth - On Our Saint in

the Making - Mgr Raymond F C Mascarenhas

- Mr James D‘Souza

8. Favours Received

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Inspiring sayings of The Servant of GodRaymond FC Mascarenhas

Be a child of prayer. May all your thoughts, words and actions,be an unceasing prayer to Our Lord. Do this, and then everything

will be well with you.

***

A fervent religious does each one of her duties, perfectly well,without distinguishing between big or small.

***

All the little things you do such as an act of charity, an act ofhumility, patience, or a Hail Mary said well, will purchase you life

everlasting.

***

Anything done for the Missions is very pleasing in the sight ofGod.

***

As many talents and gifts God has given us, so many are ourobligations to Him. However, sometimes honors and offices aregiven in a religious community to those less qualified and not to

those who are better qualified.

Sometimes God prefers us to sacrifice our talents, rather thanmake use of them, for a higher purpose.

***

Never go for recreation with a sour face.

***

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EDITORIAL

The Masterstroke of the Compassionate Pastor

“I am counting on you ‘to wake up the world’,since the distinctive sign of consecrated life isprophecy,” said Pope Francis addressing the religiouson the occasion of the declaration of the Year of theConsecrated Life.

I find it an occasion to focus on the masterstroke of Servant of GodRaymond Mascarenhas namely, the founding of Bethany, an indigenousreligious Congregation.

Mgr Raymond Mascarenhas, a visionary far ahead of his time, believedthat religious men and women, if captivated with the spirit of the Gospel,could wake up the world. That was his dream when he founded a newindigenous Congregation with four lady teachers, 95 years ago at Bendur,Mangalore, on July 16, 1921. His action sprung from an inner urge towake up the world by preaching the Gospel to the peripheries. Being aprophetic compassionate pastor, what he conceived and shaped hadprophetic characteristics which enthralled the local community.

Recently I came across the following news item on ‘Bethany’ foundedby Mgr Raymond published in the bulletin of Mangalore CatholicAssociation, in January 1935:

The Bethany Sisters- “It is refreshing to note that the Bethany sistersare not confining themselves to beaten tracks. Industrial education,teaching of tailoring, making of Church vestments, and a weavingestablishment…are some of the activities they are engaged in. …. Thedevelopment of this Congregation of sisters is indeed a remarkableachievement. It is growing like the proverbial grain of mustard seed. …Letus hope that this congregation will spread its network over the wholedistrict and help to bring education to the doors of the Catholic villagesand promote rural reconstruction which is the great need of the day. Ourcommunity owes Rev. Mgr R F C Macarenhas a deep debt of gratitude forinaugurating and developing this Congregation.”

After 95 years, one finds that this small undertaking of Mgr Raymondhas spread its network not only all over India but to the continents ofAfrica and Europe as well. The Congregation has 1382 professed members

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hailing from all over India striving together to wake up the world throughnumerous creative ministries. Undoubtedly, it is the flowering of theCharism of Mgr Raymond who planted this seed in the Immaculate heartsof Jesus and Mary.

While considering the contribution of Mgr Raymond to the UniversalChurch by founding an indigenous Congregation, it is worth noting that ifhe had not dared to take up this venture, many less educated girls ofSouth Canara, Kerala and Goa would not have a chance to become areligious. The institutions he set up especially for the rural people becamecradles of religious vocations.

Mgr Raymond’s zest in promoting religious life in general is visible inthe support that he rendered to Fr. Faustine D’Souza of the Archdioceseof Goa, in founding the Congregation ‘Holy Family of Nazareth, Sancoale,Goa’. The first batch of novices of this Congregation was trained alongwith Bethany novices in Mangalore. The retreats that he preached to thestudents of St. Agnes, Bendur and the sisters of cloistered Carmel spotlightMgr Raymond’s endeavors in the promotion of religious Congregations.

This issue of Compassionate Pastor gratefully acknowledges theoutstanding contributions of Mgr Raymond in promoting religious life.

The article of Sr. Namritha highlights the profound reflections of MgrRaymond on Consecrated Life. The brief reports on the Platinum Jubileecelebrations of the two Bethany schools in South Canara and Dharwarexpound the endeavors of Mgr Raymond to spread Catholic education tothe remotest areas. Mr. James D’Souza, an eye witness to the virtuouslife of Mgr Raymond has two short articles to express his deep sentimentsof love and admiration for the person and his writings. Rev Fr. ThomasCD, OP depicts him as a compassionate healer. Sr. Shalet Mendoncaillustrates the eco- spirituality of Mgr Raymond and indicate that MgrRaymond considered Bethany his masterstroke as “a tree planted by therunning waters…”. Sr. Anitha Stephen speaks of Mgr Raymond as a seedthat died so as to bring fruit. The personal testimony of Sr Marie Ange isan inspiring one. It tells the reader how a simple encounter can spark areligious vocation.

May the articles of this bulletin inspire the readers to make their lifesublime.

Sr Lillis BS

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Introduction

Throughout the history of the world, religious men and women haveplayed a great role to wake up the world by shedding light on obscure orignored passages of the Scripture and called the people to live accordingto these truths. They knew the pulse of their day, the historical situationthey were in. Jesus asked his people that they should know how to interpretthe present time (Lk 12:56). Servant of God, Raymond Mascarenhas’primary task was conferring revelations to the people of his time. He feltanointed by the Spirit of Jesus. He found incentives for his missionaryvocation in the prophets and above all in Jesus. Servant of God, RaymondMascarenhas’ impressive passion was to become identified with Jesus inall things (Lk 4:18-19). The love of God, devotion to the Blessed VirginMary and care and concern for his neighbor was his lifetime passion, thevery reason for his service to humanity. He was clairvoyant, creative, andenterprising. God granted him a strong sensibility in facing the evils of histime. He thus founded the Congregation of the Sisters of the Little Flowerof Bethany, precisely to fulfill his desire of marching ahead in the serviceof humanity. Consequently, to wake up the people from the ignorance ofeducation, teaching and learning. He wakes up the parents from thereluctance of educating the girl child. His apostolic zeal also led him todedicate himself with a special interest to the spiritual renewal of allforms of Christian life (families, laity, priesthood and religious life), towake up the agents of evangelization everywhere and promote initiativesto meet the most pressing needs of the people. Eventually, he conceivedthe idea of founding a Congregation (Bethany) with the double aim ofmaking religious consecration possible for many young girls and in doingso, he prepared apostles to transmit the Good News of Christ’s Kingdomto all parts of the country.1 Servant of God, Raymond Mascarenhas wasan instrument in the birth of the Congregation of the Sisters of the HolyFamily of Nazareth.2

VISION OF R.F.C. MASCARENHAS ONCONSECRATED LIFE TO WAKE UP

THE WORLD

Sr Namrita BS

1 Violette D’Souza, Unless the Seed Die (Mangalore: Bethany Publications, 1981) p. 28.2 F. 123.13/11 Bethany Generalate Archives.

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“I do not pray that you should take them out of the world, but thatyou should keep them from the evil one” (John 17:15). We are to be in theworld but not of it-to be separated internally, not externally (John 17:16).We must never allow anything to interfere with the consecration of ourspiritual power. Consecration (being dedicated to God’s service) is ourpart; sanctification (being set apart from sin and being made holy) isGod’s part. According to Raymond Mascarenhas, a person consecrated toGod is the one who will serve Him and imitate Him as closely as possible.A consecrated person is an imitation and a reproduction of Christ.3

In the first part of this article I have tried to present in brief the term‘consecration’ and the purpose of this consecration to God. This study isan attempt to understand the ‘Vision of RFC Mascarenhas on ConsecratedLife to Wake up the World’. My focus here is on his unadulterated visionon consecrated life as he lived, taught, and directed Bethany Sisters, hisspiritual daughters including the Congregation of the Sisters of the HolyFamily of Nazareth. An earnest effort has been made to show how theServant of God, RFC Mascarenhas is an authentic missionary, one whowas well aware of the need of the people of his time, connecting all theperspectives of mission by awaking the whole world to proclaim the Reignof God. Thus, he dedicates himself and his spiritual daughters to theservice of humanity by being in the world but not of it.

1.1 Consecrated Life: The Term Consecration

To ‘consecrate’ means to ‘dedicate’,4 ‘to set apart’, ‘sacred’5 or‘dedicated for a special purpose’, ‘to make sacred’. The term ‘consecration’signifies the action of consecrating; setting apart as dedicated to thedeity; dedication with religious purpose or the state of being consecrated.Vatican Council II in its document Lumen Gentium uses the word‘consecration’ in the sense of total self-gift. Christ is consecrated (Jn.17:19)and sent by the Father into the world (LG. 28).6

The people of God are consecrated to form a holy priesthood (LG.10).Bishops, priests are consecrated for the service of sanctification, teachingand preaching (LG. 21, 28). Lay people are consecrated by the Holy Spirit(LG. 34) in baptism and confirmation. In fact the world itself is consecrated3 Bertha BS, From the Lips of the Founder (Mangalore: Bethany Publications, 1981) p. 168.4 I.B. Sykes (ed.), The Concise Oxford Dictionary, (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1978) p. 215.5 Ibid., p. 215.6 Vatican Council II, Lumen Gentium, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Promulgated by His

Holiness Pope Paul VI on November 21, 1964 (Here after cited as LG) no. 28.

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by God (LG.34). Further Vatican II calls it, being set apart and traditionhas called it ‘flight from the world,7 or renunciation from the worldpredominantly through the practice of the evangelical counsels, which isradically different from the renunciation of the world.

Consecration expresses the dynamic religious aspect of belongingentirely to God. Hence, consecrated men and women are called to bealways joyful. It is the joy of freshness, the joy of following Christ, the joygiven by the Holy Spirit, not the joy of this world. However, in the followingpages I shall try to illustrate the term consecration as precisely understoodand noted by Raymond Mascarenhas.

1.1.1 Religious Consecration

Raymond Mascarenhas calls religious consecration a state ofperfection. Further he says that the imitation of Christ is the best way ofmoving along the way to perfection. By ‘perfection’ he means practicingthe teachings of Christ, mainly, love of God and the love of neighbor whichis the entire law of perfection. Love of God and the love of neighbor8 is thefundamental insight for consecration; the religious is one who offers herselfwholly and entirely to the service and worship of God. A religious thusclings to God, adheres to God.9

On the other hand, the word ‘religious’ is derived from ‘religion’ whichmeans, the worship and homage which is God’s due. They leave everythingfor the love of Christ. This speaks about religious consecration as theprofession of the evangelical counsels. RFC Mascarenhas rightly quotes,“the religious has to practice the virtues of poverty, charity etc. for theyare the means that leads one to perfect the love of God.”10 In addition, thevisible sign of religious consecration is the profession of the evangelicalcounsels, namely: consecrated chastity or celibacy for the Kingdom ofGod, poverty and obedience. These three evangelical counsels areindispensable to religious life.11 In fact the evangelical counsels are ofdivine origin as they are found in the Gospel teaching (Mk 10:21) and inthe life of Christ. They are the divine gift and inalienable elements of theChurch. This authenticity is very much reflected in the teaching of RaymondMascarenhas. He was an expression of the living signs of the Gospel. He7 Basil Cole and Paul Conner, Christian Totality (Bombay: St Paul Publications, 1990) p. 30.8 Bertha BS, From the Lips of the Founder, p. 175.9 Ibid, p. 174.10 Ibid. p. 17411 Ibid, p. 175.

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has emerged as one of the champions to show that consecrated life takesits original inspiration from the message of the New Testament, of followingof Christ who was chaste, poor, and obedient.

1.1.2 Following of Christ

Raymond Mascarenhas’ outlook on religious consecration is a responseto an invitation of Christ. ‘You lack one thing; go sell, what you own, andgive it to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come,follow me’ (Mk: 10-21). For him religious life is a training school forheaven; a religious is just a holocaust to God, for he or she devotes heror his whole life to God. It is a total self-oblation to Christ who followedthe Father’s will completely. In addition, our Fr Founder, RaymondMascarenhas assures us that all our offerings will thus be made morefruitful and draw down upon us a torrent of blessings and graces.12 Infact, our consecration is unitary as it is expressed in two ways: bothdedication to God and others. This dedication to others is expressed inour mission, which is a basic part of consecrated life.

On the 1st of February 1942 in one of his talks to his spiritual daughtershe mentions: the Kingdom of heaven in Bethany are like virgins inhabitingthis holy house.13 These virgins are of two categories-wise and foolish.Each one of them had a lamp with them. The same could be said of anauthentic religious whose oil can be her rule of life and vows to light upher path.14 Like the wise virgins who had oil with them, he expects thereligious to fill their hearts with oil. The oil is going to be perfumed withthe oil of charity, which includes love of God and love of neighbor. WhenMary Magdalene anointed the feet of the Lord with oil, the perfumepervaded the whole house. Likewise, the saints were on their watch to filltheir vessels with perfumed oil to spread the fragrance to the entire Church.We are called to be fervent religious, ready to wake up ourselves so as towake up the world. Wake up the world from the slumber of laziness,sorrow, suffering, and transform it into a world of love, peace and joy.This can be done by being faithful to our commitment, to our mission;thus, we can be a blessing to all if only we constantly hear Christ’ssummon15 to serve humanity.

12 Bertha BS, From the Lips of the Founder p. 176.13 Ibid, p. 159.14 Ibid, p. 15915 Ibid, p. 25.

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Servant of God, Raymond Mascarenhas is a wonder of the past, ahistorical phenomenon in his own right, and a direct challenge to all thosewho slumber in their life of commitment. He not only encouraged andprepared his spiritual daughters to consecrate themselves totally to Christbut also encouraged and became an instrument in promoting vocationsas well as directing them towards religious life. Awakened by the Spirit ofGod he encouraged religious vocation in the family. But he never pointedout where to go, wherever God calls you, there you go, was his mind.16

Surely, this statement applies to Founder’s own experience with theCongregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth. A few lettersfrom their documentation express that RFC Mascarenhas, fully awarethat one day they would be going out of Bethany Novitiate to found a newCongregation of their own in Goa, received four of their novices intoBethany Novitiate to prepare them for the religious life. Padre Faustino deSouza writes in his letter dated 29th February 1960:

I consider that Bethany Father is our Father also. We can never forgethis favors towards us and also those of Sr Magdalen (who was the novicedirectress) will ever be remembered and which can never be repaid byus. I always pray for Father, Sr Magdalen and for the Bethany Convent atleast 5 times a day.17

Even many letters from the Genesis of the Congregation of the Sistersof the Holy Family of Nazareth states that not only Bethany Sisters trainthem in their own novitiate, in Mangalore, but with special permissionfrom Rome they deputed two of their sisters to accompany the Goan girlsback to Sancoale and help them to start their novitiate along proper linesand so continue to attend to their ongoing formation.18

Sr Mary Pia, S.F.N. writes:

On that day the above mentioned girls came back as the 1st fourfounding Sisters as Sisters Joana, Josephine, Nativity and Edith. Theytook up the residence at Sancole in the ancestral house of the greatApostle of Ceylon, Ven. Fr Joseph Vas (Now St. Joseph Vas). The choiceof Sancole is explained by the fact that at that time Fr Faustino was theparish priest in this village. A few days later he had brought the four16 Olinda Pereira “Detached - But there when needed”, The Compassionate Pastor, no. 10 (July

2013) p.16.17 Padre Faustino De Souza, A 115. 2/39, Bethany Generalate Archives.18 Carlos Merces de Melo S.J., In the beginning was the Father, 50 Years (Goa: Golden Jubilee

Souvenir of the Sisters of Holy Family, 1935-1985) p.15.

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sisters from Mangalore. Mgr. R F C Mascarenhas, the founder of the Sistersof the Bethany Congregation, and four of his sisters accompanied ourfour pioneers and saw them installed in the quarters which were to remainas the mother house of the Congregation.19

In addition, a number of other letters do bear witness to his nobletask of encouraging vocations to consecrated life. He thus awakens themen and women of his time and even now invites all of us for a fartherhorizon of living our call to participate in the following of Christ.

2. Evangelical Counsels and Consecrated Life

The evangelical counsels are advisory directives of Christ found inthe Gospels for the following of Christ and for the pursuit of charity andconsidering the social set of the Church, three counsels - chastity, povertyand obedience are selected as evangelical counsels.20 On the other handconsecrated life is a gift which the Father has given to the Church bymeans of the Spirit so that, in faithfulness to the Gospel, the mostcharacteristic traits of the life of his Son Jesus, the chaste, poor andobedient one (Mt. 8:20; Phil. 2:8), and the unfathomable riches of hismystery (Eph. 3:8), might be present in the world and might draw everyonetoward the Kingdom of God. According to RFC Mascarenhas, evangelicalcouncils contained in the New Testament have been an inspiration toinnumerable Christians who had the desire to follow Christ. As a responseto the gift of God, the vows are a triple expression of a single ‘yes’ to theone relationship of total consecration.

2.1 Witnessing to the Gospel

RFC Mascarenhas being a true promoter of the Gospel value affirmsthis truth in one of his letters to the Right Rev. Dr Paul Perini, SJ, mentioningon the importance of this truth. He writes;

But what I find particularly satisfactory about the increase of vocationsis the fact that the increase has followed in the wake of the invitation toBethany to serve in the Mission; and readiness on our part to accept itunder proper condition; This invitation I mentioned as one of the twothings which make me feel that the Blessing of Providence rests on thiswork.21

19 Carlos Merces de Melo S.J., In the beginning was the Father, 50 Years (Goa: Golden JubileeSouvenir of the Sisters of Holy Family, 1935-1985) p.15.

20 Antony Barnabas, Religious Consecration (Mysore: Dhyanavana Publications, 2005) p. 33.21 R.F.C. Mascarenhas The Letters of Fr RFC Mascarenhas, No. BHAB. 14/13, Bethany Generalate

Archives.

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Nevertheless, he was empowered by God in the wake up of Bethanyeven before anyone thought of waking up the world. Of course, to ventureinto the task of serving in the mission of the Church was the need of thehour. He strongly felt that the love of God must be made visible andexperiential in the midst of the then society.

2.1.1 Chastity: Loving Response to the God of Love

According to Fr. Founder only those who have been transformed tosome degree can be agents to wake up the world. Transformations usuallyrelie on the ordinary formative episode of our lives. Their life shows anextraordinary degree of uniqueness, imagination and pristine individuality.The Chapter II, rule, no.12, 13,22 of the Constitutions of the Congregationof the Sisters of the Little Flower of Bethany, speaks of how the vow ofchastity invites the religious to give her total self-gift of heart, body and torenounce the companionship of marriage, natural motherhood, and humanfamily. Consecrated chastity thus appears as a joyful and liberatingexperience. Chastity is a loving response to the call of the Lord of love. Afollower therefore renounces everything and lives in a new vision of life,in order to follow Christ closely. In a new sense and in this new joy he orshe finds hundreds of brothers and sisters and houses instead of onlyone.

2.1.2 Poverty: A Voice to Wake up the Voiceless

The profession of the evangelical counsel of poverty intrinsicallyincludes the mission of witnessing, and love for the poor. With referenceto the vow of poverty, RFC Mascarenhas pertinently says that, Jesus, theKing of kings and the Lord of lords was born poor lived poor and diedpoor. He practiced poverty before He could preach. In the Sermon on theMount this was the first beatitude. The simple apostles, the poor people,the sick and the unwanted were the ones who heard him speak,23 whilethe rich pharisees, and the teachers of the law hear Him only to criticizeHim. The mission of Jesus that he proclaimed in (Lk.4:18-19) is indeedfor the whole world. Therefore our mission is to wake up the world fromethnic hatred, violence, religious atrocities, and create a globalconsciousness and a sense of interconnectedness of the whole planetand its solar system including human beings.22 Constitutions of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Little Flower of Bethany (Mangalore:

Bethany Publications, 1971, Nos. 12, 13.) p. 7.23 Bertha BS, From the Lips of the Founder, p. 92.

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RFC Mascarenhas was not born poor by Indian standards, but hemade himself poor in order to identify with the people Jesus loved themost. In one of his conferences to Bethany sisters he would express incataloguing the blessings of poverty, and how it is the highest expressionof humility. Poverty, he would say, is the first class ticket to the heart ofour Lord which always went out to the poor and the humble.”24 We arethus called “To live locally but think globally.”25

2.1.3 Obedience: Freedom to Redeem the World

God sent his Son to redeem those under the Law (Gal. 4: 4-5). Ourlove for Christ who became obedient unto death (Phil 8:8) invites us toshare in the life of Christ. We thus imitate Christ who did His Father’s will.Jesus has declared, ‘Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven ismy brother and sister and mother’ (Mt 12:50). In the life and ministry ofour Fr Founder, we see how obedience unfolds in the interpretation of amystery at the discovery of a mission and responsibility. At a time whenfew girls were educated, he read and responded to the signs of the times.His final goal was to transform the society, to commit himself to do justicefor the earth and the Church. For him, ‘his good pleasure’ was a concretereality.26 Before any undertaking he would spend hours and days prayingto discern the will of God or seeking to find out, ‘what our Blessed Mother’has to say about it.27 Our vow of obedience frees us to search the will ofGod, as RFC Mascarenhas proved it by his life. Thus, our ministry asreligious is to read the signs of the times and understand the need totransform the existing social and economic situations particularly of thepoor and the marginalized.

3. Set Apart for the Service of Humanity

The path marked out and followed by the Servant of God Raymondreveals with special clarity the radical nature of his commitment tohumanity. We are set apart from the world (John 17: 14-15). This is themeaning of being holy and living a holy, righteous life. Being “in” theworld also means we can enjoy the things of the world such as the beautifulcreation God has given us, but we are not to immerse ourselves in whatthe world values, nor are we to chase after worldly pleasure, rather worship24 Violette D’Souza, Unless the Seed Die, p. 74.25 Catherine M. Harmer, Religious Life in the 21st Century; A Contemporary Journey into Canaan

(Mumbai: Pauline Publications, 1995) p. 11826 Violette, D’Souza, Unless the Seed Die, p. 72.27 Ibid, p. 72.

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God. Jesus’ true followers have not only been crucified to the world, butalso raised to new life and sent back to free others, to offer a new hopeof salvation. Therefore, we are called to be men and women of valor andbe prophetic and capable of ‘waking up ourselves’ from the slumber ofour ignorance, self-centeredness, selfishness, and our spiritual lethargy.RFC Mascarenhas was awakened to reveal to humanity the compassionatelove of the Father. Thus, he sends out his spiritual daughters to the wholeworld as Christ sends his disciples to the entire world. The Founder’svision was the Reign of God that Jesus came to proclaim. He was alsoinspired to send the sisters to the remotest parts of Karnataka to have theGospel preached to the poor. Consequently, with great zeal they movedout from a sheltered cocoon place to the realities of life, offering themselvesto the service of God’s people.28 Indeed we are chosen by Jesus andanointed by the Spirit; feel called to carry on today this admirable missionaryand prophetic action. We live authentically when we live “in” Christ Jesus.Hence, we must ‘keep our gaze fixed on Christ, imitate him, and be sosteeped in his Spirit, and say along with St. Paul, that it is no longer wewho live, but Christ who truly lives in us.

Conclusion

To live a dedicated life is to commit oneself to all the realities of life.The ‘wake up’ call given by Pope Francis to all the religious men andwomen, in this year dedicated to consecrated life, amounts to a call toconversion.29 Therefore we are called to renew, recharge, and revitalizethe consecrated life. Indeed, a lifestyle of good work requires awarenessof the times, discernment of the good, choice of a course of action and itsexecution. Hence, we need to wrestle with our feelings concerning ourown inner voices beckoning us to plunge into action. Indeed, Servant ofGod, Raymond Mascarenhas, our founder himself is a prophet whoseimmediate vision and mission was the introduction of a social revolutionthat called for a deep spiritual awakening and wellbeing.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Annette BS, To Proclaim Your Love- Bethany in Karnataka, Goa,Maharasthra 1950-2010 (Bangalore: Asian Trading Corporation, 2013).

Barnabas Antony, Religious Consecration (Mysore: DhyanavanaPublications, 2005).28 Annette BS, To Proclaim Your Love (Bangalore: Asian Trading Corporation, 2013) p. 2.29 John Sagaya, “A Challenge to Live”, Word & Worship 48, no. 1 (Jan-Mar 2015) p.1.

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Bertha. BS (Ed.), From the Lips of the Founder (Mangalore: BethanyPublications, 1981).

Cole Basil and Conner Paul, Christian Totality (Bombay: St Paul Publications,1990).

Constitutions of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Little Flower ofBethany (Mangalore: Bethany Publications, 1971).

Harmer Catherine M., “Religious Life in the 21st Century; A ContemporaryJourney into Canaan (Mumbai: Pauline Publications, 1995).

Sykes I.B. (Ed.), The Concise Oxford Dictionary (Oxford: Clarendon Press,1978).

Sagaya John, “A Challenge to Live”, Word & Worship 48, No. 1 (Jan-Mar2015) pp.1-3.

Vatican Council II, Lumen Gentium (Dogmatic Constitution on the ChurchPromulgated by His Holiness Pope Paul VI on November 21, 1964).

Lillis BS and Tressilla BS, “A Champion of Education MGR Raymond FCMascarenhas”, The Compassionate Pastor, No. 08 (July 2012) pp. 11-26.

Holy Bible: The New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition for India(Bangalore: Theological Publications for India, 1993).

R.F.C, Mascarenhas The Letters of Fr RFC Mascarenhas, No. BHAB. 14/13(Managlore: Bethany Generalate Archives).

Pereira Olinda, “Detached - But there when needed”, The CompassionatePastor, No. 10 (July 2013) p.16.

Pia Mary, S.F.N. and Merces De Mello Carlos, The Genesis of theCongregation of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth, Golden JubileeMagazine.

RFC Mascarenhas’s Letter to Right Rev. Dr Valerian J. D’Souza, Bishop ofMangalore, 31 August 1928, No. A 101. 3/11 (St. Sebastian’s Church,Bendore).

The Post-Synod Apostolic Exhortation Vita Consecrata on the ConsecratedLife (25th March 1996).

D’Souza Violette, Unless the Seed Die (Mangalore: Bethany Publications,1981)

De Souza Faustino Padre, Sancoale, Goa (Congregation of the Holy Familyof Nazareth Publications, 1960). A 115. 2/39.

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Introduction

For centuries it has been seen that giants of spiritual life have foundthat exposure to the beauty of the earth is a way to experience God’spresence powerfully and closely in one’s life. This Eco-spirituality is acontemplative attitude that makes one open and docile to God’s presencein every human being, every event and in everything in nature. It puts usface to face with God through His creatures. Recognition of and respectgiven to His creation becomes praise and honour to the divine artist Himself.An authentic environmental spirituality can rise from a genuine experienceof God in nature. It teaches that divine life extends to all reality, and thatcosmos is an integral part of God’s self-revelation. It emerges from theawareness of the immanent presence of God in His creation.

The present ecological crisis clearly indicates that environmentalprotection is one of the pressing needs of the time. Many have contributedtheir share in restoring the vigor of Mother Earth. Raymond Mascarenhasis second to none in his approach to nature and through it to its creator orrather in seeing the beauty of God in nature and enhancing it by hiscontribution through a green revolution. He was a prophet and ecologistof the 20th century. The wonder and awe that he experienced in beholdingthe beauty of God is indeed marvelous. Here I wish to highlight Msgr RFCMascarenhas’s enormous contribution to create God consciousness aswell as social consciousness in the use of earth’s resources andtransforming the Mother earth.

Why an Eco-Spirituality?

We are desperately in need of eco-spirituality today in order to restorea sense of sacredness to God’s creation. The best way to treat creation inthe way God intended human beings to do is to develop an integratedspiritual approach to creation. This would help in developing acontemplative attitude to God’s presence in the universe. Since, “all thingscame into being through Him, and without Him not one thing came into

HE CLOTHED MOTHER EARTH WITHGREEN ATTIRE

Sr Shalet Mendonca BS

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being” (Jn 1:3), this becomes easy access for us to see God’s presence inHis creation. There can be no respect for our place in the environmentand the environment’s place in us without a spirituality that teaches usreverence for the cosmos in which we find ourselves. At this juncture itmust be said that in the heart of RFC Mascarenhas there was deep respectand love for nature because of his great love and admiration for his Creatorand Lord.

The Earth is Precious to God

In the Priestly creation account, each and every part of the creationis seen by God as “good.” God called the dry land ‘earth’, and the watersgathered together he called ‘seas’. God saw that it was good (Gen 1: 10).The command ‘be fruitful and multiply’ was first given to the creatures ofthe sea and the birds (Gen 1:22) as a gift and blessing. In the climax ofhis creation, God makes even a greater blessing to human beings: “Befruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominionover the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every livingthing that moves upon the earth” (Gen 1:28). Finally in the second creationaccount, dominion given to human beings is presented as a command to“till and keep” the earth”. Thus it is clear that God is the sole author andowner of everything that exists, visible and invisible. In His work of creationGod did not simply make the world, but He chose the creation andestablished a relationship with it. As the sovereign creator and sustainerof the universe, God’s personal will is at work in creation. We see alsothat God has created human beings to relate, to till the earth and keep it-as beautiful as God created it or rather, enhance that beauty. But today,humanity seems to dominate the earth and gradually exploit it, leading todestruction because of his/her selfish interests. If we want to have apeaceful existence on this planet earth we need to protect and use theGod given resources with responsible freedom for the common good ofall members of the earth. True respect for the environment requires seeingall of creation as a reflection of God the Creator.

God’s earth is a loving earth, patient, nurturing and self-giving. Theearth is precious to God and to us His creatures. God was the first toappreciate the worth and the wonder of the earth. And He is inviting us todo so. Our founder has wholeheartedly hearkened to God’s call and seeing

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the present condition of mother earth his heart is moved to pity and heleft no stone unturned in his efforts to transform the mother earth bybringing newness in creation and making it a blooming garden of Godonce again. Founder took the example of Jesus in his approach to nature.Naturally his spirituality began to be molded on the lap of mother earth.

Place of ‘Nature’ in the Life of Jesus

Jesus the Son of God was no doubt an ecologist by the fact that hemade himself one with the mother earth. Jesus was an ordinary humanbeing who walked on this earth, crossed the rugged mountains and deepvalleys, the dreadful desert, and was familiar with plants, trees, flowersand fruits, birds and animals of the locality and at home with the variedseasons of the year and with extreme climate. As a son of the soil, atNazareth, he was in close touch with all that the Palestinian landscapeoffered. From birth to death he was moulded by the Palestinian earth, air,and water which stand revealed in all his preaching and teaching. As alittle boy he would stand on the hilltop of Nazareth observing the Romanroads where troops marched or people walked and merchants carriedtheir goods on camels. He watched valleys and other hills around, thefields where the sower would sow, pick up weeds or reap at variousseasons. His eyes never escaped the little bird that flew around which Hisheavenly Father fed in abundance from the grains in the fields. He admiredthe beauty of the flowers that His heavenly Father clothed which did outshineSolomon in his regal splendor. Jesus used these childhood observationsand examples when he explained the truths of the kingdom in parables,fables and stories.1

Just like Jesus, the founder, in all his teaching and instructions to thesisters, would often take examples from nature. His penetrating insightbrought forth in his listeners love and reverence for all created realities ofGod. He loved nature and often used the imagery of nature to explainhow the divine presence is everywhere, and how everything is connectedin God’s loving care and arms. Once when it was raining heavily and hetold a sister who was standing by: “When you look at the showers of rainfalling down on the ground and making it fertile, think of the showers ofgraces God sends on you and thank Him for them”.2 Again on another1 R.J Raja, Eco-Spirituality (Bangalore: Seva Sadan Training, 1997) p. 43.2 Bertha BS (ed.), From the Lips of the Founder (Mangalore: Bethany Publications, 1996) pp. 306-307.

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occasion, in his exhortation to the sisters on the 20th anniversary of thefoundation of Bethany, he compared Bethany to a garden, Mary’s gardenof loving choice and said: “another point to be taken into consideration is,Mary herself is the gardener. She waters the plants with celestial watersof grace”.3 He further made the sisters reflect whether their roots makeuse of this water of grace or whether they turn away from the heavenlymoisture. And again he says describing Mary’s delight in Bethany howhappy will she not feel, when Jesus will say to her “Look Mother, yourplant yields sweet flowers, the perfume of which entices me, the beautyof which attracts me”.4 Yes, we are beautiful flowers in the garden ofBethany. Therefore it is our bounden duty to defend against the injusticedone to the entire cosmos. Ultimately, he compared Bethany to a tree,and on the 30th anniversary of Bethany’s foundation he said “Let it increase(crescat)-let it flower (florescat) and let it bear fruit (fructuescat)”.5 Thisevinces his deep encounter with God through creation and that he wasnaturally drawn to find God in nature.

RFC Macarenhas - a Man of Green Revolution

Environment is a sacrament of God, a sign of God’s enduring presence;God is everywhere means that He is present in our environment frominside it. The United States Bishops’ document ‘Renewing the Earth,’ (08January 2001), mentions that creation “is from God and reveals God,” andcan be “a sign and revelation for the person of faith, a moment of grace.”This statement clearly brings out the sacramental character of God’screation.

RFC Mascarenhas a man of vision and a lover of nature saw theimmanent presence of God in creation, and in his exhortation, he advisedhis daughters to respect and protect mother earth. He was a great loverof nature and always encouraged people to love nature and conserve it.He saw a great deal about every tree, every plant and he treated naturewith great respect and care. He further advised the sisters ‘never to cut atree but to plant more’. Even with the little land that Bethany owned atBendore he would encourage the sisters to cultivate a garden which would

3 M Lillis and M Miriam (eds.), To You My Daughters (Bangalore: Asian Trading Corporation, 2014)p. 464.

4 Ibid, p. 465.5 Ibid, p. 477.

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be useful in various ways besides beautifying nature. This clearly indicatesthat he was a man of ‘green revolution’.

Further we have a greater example in what he achieved at a placecalled Gurpur, about 18 km from Mangalore. It was around1932, whenthe founder received a plot of 50 acres of land as dowry of a sister fromMangalore city named Sr Dulcis Rego. It was nothing but a barren hillwithout human habitation. On February 11, 1932, Rev. Fr RaymondMascarenhas, Founder of Bethany opened a branch house here and namedit Rosa Mystica, and called it Mary’s garden, as a token of his love for ourBlessed Mother.

Rosa Mystica- A Proof of His Eco-Spirituality

True to the title, the founder did turn the barren hill into a flourishingbeautiful garden which today is a feast to the eyes of the beholder. Underthe guidance of the Founder, unlike in other places, sisters began at RosaMystica, agriculture instead of education, as per the need of the place.Inspired by the Founder, the young sisters and housemaids worked hardand co-operated with him to make it ‘a garden of delight’. The initialitems of cultivation were maize, ginger, pulses (togari), paddy, papaya,chickoo and sugarcane. Gradually, coconut seedlings, grafted mangosaplings and cashew seedlings were also planted. They planted, theywatered and God gave the increase. At a time when religious life meantto be in neat dress, praying piously in the choir and doing only white-collared jobs, here were a group of simple nuns moving about in the fielddirecting and guiding workers as also planting, watering and doing otherchores to the consternation of some and the appreciation of others.” 6 Hechose the saplings and when the pits were dug he himself wouldsometimes get down into the pit and plant them. Founder’s love for thenature was such that even at his old age he would remember the placewhere he planted the particular saplings and knew every tree by nameand location.

To substantiate this I would quote Sr Esperie : “Fr Founder was 84and he came to Rosa Mystica to attend the vestition ceremony. After theceremony when father came out he noticed that two or three drumsticktrees were missing from their places in the compound. His keen sense of

6 Theresine BS, “The Story of Rosa Mystica”, Platinum Jubilee Souvenir, 1932-2007, p. 23.

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perception and attention to details at this age is to be admired. He askedme, “Esperie, who cut the trees?” I accompanied father till the chaplain’scottage. There again he noticed another tree was cut. He said, “Herethere was a matti tree. Tell them not to cut such trees. In case it dries upor needs to be cut, another sapling must be planted.”7 This indicates hisunion with God was combined also with love and care for His creation.Today a bird’s eye view of Rosa Mystica today shows a beautiful piece ofland of 61.37 acres of land studded with different institutions in carefullyplanned spots, perched splendidly on the hill top across Gurpur River. Agrotto of our Blessed Mother at the convent gate give the feelings ofwelcome by the beautiful lady at the Rose bush. The once haunted barrenland is today a place teaming with life in the midst of beautiful greeneryall around. This is the realization of the dreams of our Founder.

Eco- Spirituality Implies Manual Work

Our planet earth is one of the most beautiful creations of God and Heentrusted it to you and me to cultivate and enjoy its fruits. Our body ismade up of this earth. Thus to love the mother earth is to love manualwork. Fr Founder always believed in doing manual work and instilled inthe Bethany Sisters to take up agriculture wherever possible. In his speechon the occasion of the celebration of his Twin Jubilee he said, “Let us notbe ashamed of manual work. Let us take the example of the Holy Familyand do manual work. I hope Bethany will outlive all these prejudices againstagriculture and manual work.”8 Thus his very vision was that every sisterwould work with the poor, the less marginalized and inspire them to usetheir own land and God given earthly resources to cultivate what theyneeded for their daily sustenance. He took an active interest in agricultureas already mentioned.

On another occassion, speaking of the land at Gurpur he wrote aletter to the sisters at Lisieux Convent, Puttur, “If any of you are willing,come and remain here. If you come, you must know how to dig, plough,to take ‘latiche udak’, also to cut stones and build. Send me your applicationsoon.”9 Thus he invites the sisters to interact with nature and preserveand beautify nature. And in this beauty find the beauty of the creator.

7 Esperie BS, Bethany My Joy and My Crown (Mangalore: Bethany Publications, 2003) p. 38.8 Ibid, p. 59.9 Letter of Msgr RFC Mascarenhas, September 16, 1931, Bethany Generalate Archives.

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Practical Solutions in Developing Ecological Consciousness

Since the environmental problems are human made, solutions to thismust come from us. From our value system we construct our attitudes,and our life style depends on this. Environmental spirituality calls forchanges in life style and attitudes. Therefore, ecological consciousnessamong us is necessary to safeguard the universe. It should challenge themechanical perception of the world. Cultivating an apt ecologicalconsciousness would help us to acknowledge the whole creation as anexpression of God’s love and our need to care for it. It should help us togive up our greed and selfishness to enable us to be sensitive to theharmony that exists in the community of earth. We are challenged by aclarion call which resounds in our hearts to refresh and bring new life tomother earth. If our founder were to revisit the world today he would saythe following to us:

1. Train yourself in Faith Aspects

Our faith in God as the creator must define our relation with ourenvironment. It must be seen in our attitudes and in our living. Inliving out our faith actively we need to train and attune ourselvesspiritually.

2. Re-read Scriptures in Ecological Perspectives

Our reverential attitude towards earth stems from scriptures. Howeverwe need to be careful not to read them taking out of their context. Inour efforts to free ourselves from our ‘anthropocentric’ and‘dominating’ attitudes we must read the scriptures through anecological eye. So far we read the scriptures keeping human personas the centre, from now on let us read keeping God and His creationas the centre.

3. Faith in Action

To respond to the problems of environmental crisis we must exerciseour faith in concrete actions. Viewing crisis as an opportunity bringsour faith in action. Faith should prompt us to get involved in the planet-saving deeds. Besides praying psalms, put the psalms into practice.

4. Leading an Eco-sensitive Life-style

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A new way to relate to this bountiful but fragile planet is to adapt aneco-friendly life style. As Christians we must acknowledge ourresponsibility and reorient our life. Let us never be forgetful of thefact that we are ‘co-workers’ with God in protecting and restoring Hiscreation entrusted to us.

5. Change in Consumption Pattern

First priority must be avoiding the unnecessary use of material.Persons in this regard have to take personal responsibility. Manyaspects of life like clothing, food are to be monitored. Clothing shouldbe simple as per need and not as per the passing trends of fashion.Food should be taken for our need and not for greed

6. Avoid use of Plastic

Use of plastics is very hazardous for environmental health as well asfor individual health of humans as well as animals.

7. Plant a Tree

Finally I would say our founder would be happy if each one couldplant a tree not for beauty or shade alone but plant it with pridebecause a single tree can absorb approximately one-tenth of carbondioxide during its life time.

Conclusion

Recalling the title of our founder’s life story given by Sr Violette “Unlessthe Seed Die”, I would say that he was a seed that fell into the bosom ofthe mother earth and died that all may have a renewed life, spiritually,ecologically and psychologically bringing forth fruit abundantly for thekingdom. Hence, let us love, sing and glorify God being together with allHis creation. Love all of God’s creation, the whole and every grain of sandin it. Love every leaf, every ray of God’s light. Love the animals, love theplants, and love everything. Finally if we love everything, we will perceivethe divine mystery hidden in His creation. To conclude I would quote theinvitation of Pope Francis “let us be protectors of creation, protectors ofGod’s plan inscribed in nature, protectors of one another and of theenvironment.” Let us also be the passionate lover and protector of animalsand the environment and be responsible guardians of creation.

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Bibliography

R. J. Raja, Eco-Spirituality (Bangalore: Seva Sadan Training, 1997).

Bertha BS (ed.), From the Lips of the Founder (Mangalore: BethanyPublications, 1996).

M Lillis and M Miriam (eds.), To You My Daughters (Bangalore: AsianTrading Corporation, 2014).

Esperie BS, Bethany My Joy and My Crown (Mangalore: BethanyPublications, 2003).

Theresine BS, “The Story of Rosa Mystica”: Platinum Jubilee Souvenir,1932-2007.

Letter of Msgr RFC Mascarenhas, September 16, 1931.

THE COMPASSIONATE PASTORPublished 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- Postulator

Cause of the Servant of God Raymond Mascarenhas

Bethany Convent, Kankanady Post

Mangalore – 575002

Karnataka, India.

Managing Editor

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A SEED THAT DARED TO DIE

Sr Anitha Stephen BS

‘A journey of thousand miles begins with a tiny step’. Similarly asmall seed gives rise to a mighty tree. This has come true in the life ofBethany, especially through the instrumentality of the Servant of God MgrRFC Mascarenhas. In the Gospel of St John we read “unless a grain ofwheat falls into the earth and dies it remains alone, but if it dies, it bearsmuch fruit” (Jn 12: 24). Here, Jesus speaks of the grain of wheat fallinginto the ground and dying and producing much fruit. It brings forth theidea of Jesus’ passion, death and its result the Resurrection. Through Hisgreat sacrifice, sin is conquered and the Father’s love for humanity ismanifested. Therefore death is nothing but the glorification of the Father.This great sacrifice tells us that falling into the ground and dying is theonly way for a fruitful living. Every seed has the potentiality for growth init, which is God given. We are called to sow the seed of love in the heartsof others; sowing the seed of love with a friendly smile, a kind gesture, awarm welcome, a little support, a little encouragement to the neglectedwill slowly lead to the growth of God’s kingdom in others.1 That is whatour Lord Jesus Christ has done and taught us. And the same method isfollowed by many great saints and personalities. Mother Teresa took adaring step in her life, to work for the poor, seeing the miseries of thepeople in the slums of Kolkata, had to strip herself of a comfortable andsecure life. She is known as the saint of the gutter, friend of friendless,angel of mercy and the hope of the destitute. 2 John Bosco recognizedand loved and served God in the street urchin, whom he befriended.Francis of Assisi jumped down from a horse to kiss the leper.3 How canwe forget the great deeds of our beloved Founder the Servant of God MgrRFC Mascarenhas? As iron is fashioned by fire in the oven, so in the fireof suffering and under the weight of trials, he had to sacrifice himself.

Our Founder had shown to his spiritual daughters through his lifethat pain and suffering is the key to real joy, without it there is no life. Hislife was like that of a seed which has gone through continuous death and

1 Cf F Santhumayor, The Power of the Word (Orissa: Amar Vani Biblical Centre, 2007) p. 141.2 J Moniz, No Greater Service Mother and Mahatma (Bandra: St. Paul publications, 1998) p. 60.3 L G Lovasik, Saint Francis of Assisi (New York: Catholic Book Publishing Co, 1980) p. 9.

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brought life to others. Like the seed which is fallen on the ground to breakforth into life in hundred fold, our Founder had to die to himself in manysituations to begin the Congregation of Bethany in order to help manyyoung girls to do God’s work. He gave birth to Bethany in the face ofwarm appreciation and bitter criticism. Along with Founder it is good tolook at the heroic steps of the younger four candidates who willingly gaveup their family, their sweetest, deepest and tenderest of human ties andbroke themselves for the sake of the kingdom. Founder recommendedthe four into the hands of our Blessed Mother saying “O Blessed Mother,protect these children whom you have entrusted to me in all confidence,for the extension of your Son’s Kingdom.” And the four under her caremultiplied into thousands to work in her Son’s kingdom. I believe that ourbeloved Founder continues to bring his spiritual daughters into the careof the Blessed Mother. He took heroic step, to leap into the unknownfuture to begin this mission under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. NowBethany has grown into a sturdy tree in God’s garden, “like a tree plantednear running streams,” irrigated by the waters of sorrow and afflictions.It is inspiring to listen to the words of our Founder who remarked “Bethanyis the garden of our Lady, and I am only the gardener for the time being.”This statement is thought provoking to all of us. As the world is cravingfor recognition, name and fame, here, our Founder walked anti clockwise and showed the world the great virtue of humility and simplicity. It isan apt time to examine our lives - how I magnify my little deeds in orderto get recognition, name and fame. Here RFC Mascarenhas becomes thegreat teacher especially for all those who hunger for recognition. 4

Aristotle says “suffering becomes beautiful when anyone bears greatcalamity with cheerfulness not through insensitivity but through thegreatness of the mind.” This was true in the life of our Founder. He becamea father and a doctor to the poor and needy who were suffering due tosmall pox and cholera. He enjoyed being with people and liked to engagein pleasant and uplifting conversations. In the event anyone became sickor suffered bereavements at home, he was always at hand to comfortthem. Even at midnight there would be a knock on his door and he wouldhurry to the bedside of the dying and sorrowing family. The bond wassuch that they never hesitated to go to him when in need. The name of Fr4 Cf Violette D’Souza, Unless the Seed Die (Mangalore: Bethany Publication, 1982) pp. 33- 37.

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Mascarenhas is still fresh in the memory of many. People at Udyavar onthe occasion of his departure described him as “a good shepherd, whosacrificed his life for his flock.” 5 After Founder’s death one of hisparishioners from Bendur reminisced, “It requires no efforts of theimagination for us who knew and loved him, to go back in spirit to thosebygone days and see Father Mascarenhas walking along the crookedstreets and hidden alleyways where there was so much poverty. We canstill see him entering the homes for those in need and bringing them thesmile of his love and charity.” A Compassionate person does not standstill or ignore problems. We see in Founder a man who never turns awaywhen someone is in need. With compassionate heart he put his sympathyinto action and work to ease the suffering of others by helping to pay therent of families who were about to be evicted by their landlords, soughtwork for the unemployed who were at their wits’ end, found homes forchildren of indigent families, and when no schools were willing to receivethese children, he himself opened new schools and orphanages.6

Founder was like a seed which was broken while hearing the remarksof the people “Fr Mascarenhas’ sisters will die when he dies.” Thisstatement must have pierced the heart of the Founder. Suffering due tolack of resources, poverty, ill health and criticism of the people in and outof the church, became part of Bethany’s growing process, a sure signthat it was the work of God.7 What a painful statement it was for him!When the young sisters were stricken with Tuberculosis and were dying,what might have been the agony of our Founder? Is it not the painfulexperience of the seed which falls to the ground and dies? It was hisundaunted courage and deep faith in the Lord that sustained him to facethe bitter criticism and the raging anger of the people.8 Even when besetby the difficulties and anxieties caused by lack of funds or other problemshe always spoke with kindness. This is very obvious when Sacred HeartHigh School building at Kulshekar which was almost completed collapsedin heavy rain. The sister headmistress gave the Founder the distressingnews, but his kind and calm reply was: “My child, if the Lord does notwant it, we do not want it either. Let us see what he wants from us. Let us5 Cf Violette D’Souza, Unless the Seed Die, pp. 17- 19.6 Ibid, pp.74- 75.7 Ibid, p. 36.8 Ibid, p. 19.

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offer him the collapsed building, brick by brick.” He was never discouraged;rather he went into his bed room, sat at his desk, put his head in hishands and stayed there praying for an hour. Finally He looked up andasked about the extent of the damage of the building. He was told that itwas beyond recovery, that everything was a big pile of destruction. Whenthe sister pointed out to him that the bills on the collapsed building werestill due for payment amazingly the Founder smiled and said, “We alwaysdraw from our bank in heaven. Our Lord and Blessed Mother are very richand their wealth is ours for the asking.”9 His filial trust in our Blessedmother is astonishing that he used to tell the sisters “when we feel wearyof life’s problems, let us pick up the rosary and pray it meditatively”. 10 Hisdeep faith in God is noteworthy all through his life especially when he wasin the work of creating a parish. When he was in financial distress onewould see him praying before the tabernacle or saying the rosary, expectingin full trust that his need would be taken care of. He proved that he whoknows how to suffer can dare everything. Founder had adapted and madehis own, the saying of his favourite saint, Teresa of Avila: “Raymond anda couple of rupees can do nothing; but Raymond, a couple of rupees andGod, can do everything.” 11 Therefore he could say, “I have planted Bethanyby the running waters, waters of sorrow and affliction have continuouslynurtured Bethany. What an agony he had during the Second World War,since money and food was rationed. 12 But his confidence in God wasoutstanding. As the farmer faces several setbacks to harvest the yield sothe Founder faced the same in his life.

The measure of Founder’s sacrifice is the measure of his love. LikeSt Paul he constantly drew attention to the fact that “the suffering of thepresent time is not worth compared with the glory to come.” And henever tired of reminding his spiritual daughters that when we suffer weare sure of being close to Jesus and our Blessed Mother. 13Towards theend of his life when surrounded by many controversies and subjected toa great deal of humiliations, the thought of his sorrowful mother standingon Calvary at the foot of the Cross strengthened and consoled him. To

9 Ibid, p. 77.10 Ibid, p. 7111 Ibid, p. 23.12 Ibid, p. 86.13 Ibid., p. 95.

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one of the sisters who wrote to sympathize with him a year before hisdeath, he replied: “don’t worry, my child, about my sufferings. It is truethat I am going through very difficult times, but I am not alone. I am atthe foot of the Cross on Calvary with my Blessed Mother.” Who can saythese precious words at such a distressing situation? It is only the onewho is attuned to God and who has strong faith in God who can utterthese holy words when he or she is going through agonizing situation.There was nothing in this world that he really desired, except God. 14

Deprived of all human consolations he sought comfort in prayer beforethe Eucharistic Lord and his Blessed Mother.

Mgr RFC Mascarenhas is a great model for each one of us. Heteaches that every Good Friday is followed by an Easter. So his lifechallenges us to die to our selfishness, self righteous attitude, individualism,likes and dislikes and so on and become other centered persons. Thatwill bring hope, life and happiness to the other. Therefore, like the seed,I am called to die to myself in order to give life to many. When we endurepatiently, it builds up our character, purifies our hearts, expands our souls,and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be called thechildren of God; and it is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation,that we gain the education which will make us more like our Father andMother in heaven. In the hour of trial faith brings light, while sufferingand weakness make it evident that “we do not proclaim ourselves; weproclaim Jesus Christ as Lor” (2 Cor 4:5).

Faith is not a light which scatters all our darkness, but a lamp whichguides our steps in the night and suffices for the journey. To those whosuffer, God does not provide arguments which explain everything; rather,his response is that of an accompanying presence, a history of goodnesswhich touches every story of suffering and opens up a ray of light. InChrist, God himself wishes to share this path with us and to offer us hisgaze so that we might see the light within it. Christ is the one who, havingendured suffering, is “the pioneer and perfecter of our faith” (Heb 12:2).

14 Violette D’Souza, Unless the Seed Die, pp. 71- 72.

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SERVANT OF GOD RFC MASCARENHAS, AWOUNDED HEALER

Rev Fr Thomas C.D., O.P.

The theme of the wounded healer is central to understanding the lifeof Jesus. He made his wounds-both-physical and mental- channels ofhealing and salvation for humanity. In and through his wounds he savedus. This we proclaim on every Good Friday. United with Jesus, everyChristian is called to convert the wounds he/she is privileged to experienceinto opportunities of healing and grace.

In many of the Biblical personalities we can discover such grace filledmoments. In the life of Abraham we can see two special moments whenhe took painful decisions- wounded decisions- so that there might begreater areas of growth and peace. Separating from Lot was in view ofmore peaceful existence as the two families were growing in numbers.Sending away the slave girl with her son, with his son was a painfuldecision in view of peace in the family - that his wife may be at peace andrelaxed. In Moses too we can see a similar moment when he was toldthat he would not step into the Promised Land, but rather he would begiven an opportunity to view this land from mount Nebo. He did not curseGod for being so cruel, rather he only praised God for being just andfaithful (Dt 32, Ex 15). He was a wounded man- not really completing thework of leading the Israelites into the Promised Land. But his wound wasa healing wound.

In the New Testament we have Peter being warned that he would failbut after his rising, his getting up, he should be an instrument forstrengthening the brethren. “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has desired tohave you…” (Lk 22:31). Peter is asked to convert his weakness into anopportunity of strengthening his companions, in a spirit of understandingand supporting, keeping in mind that he himself had fallen and the Lordwas very kind and understanding. St Paul also experienced that call to bea wounded healer. When a thorn was given him to keep him humble, hemade three attempts to get rid of it, but the Lord told him that he was nottaking away the thorn, rather his grace was enough for him (2 Cor.12:7). In other words the Lord was helping Paul to be a wounded healer.

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So, we are in good company of people who were wounded healers. MgrRaymond Mascarenhas too was truly a wounded healer.

The Book of Hebrews tells us something about the faith of greatpeople. “These all died in faith, not having received what was promised,but having seen it and greeted it from afar and having acknowledged thatthey were strangers and exiles on earth” (11:3). Having seen it from afarthey were satisfied and were at peace.

Mgr Raymond Mascarenhas wanted some real changes in the life ofthe Church. There were also many other holy men and women who wantedchanges and growth in the Church. St John XXIII was one of them. Hecalled for the II Vatican Council, in order to renew the Church. The Councilis God’s answer to the dreams of these people. But before the beautifulrenewal plans of the Council were brought in, Raymond died. But, he sawthese “’from afar’ and rejoiced.” He wanted to give importance to locallanguage, local culture and spirituality, local religious Congregation adaptedto the needs of the people and the place.

But, to be able to “see from afar and be satisfied” needs courage andfaith. One has to be a “wounded healer.” He knew that his waiting, hisattempts, his dreams would bear fruit, because he had shared in thevision of the Lord.

In founding a new religious Congregation in view of the needs of thelocal Church he had to wait in patience for the full realization. Here again,he saw “from afar and rejoiced.” He was a wounded healer. There washealing in his wound of courageous and peaceful waiting.

As disciples and daughters of this great visionary, every Bethany Sisteris invited to share in this experience of being a wounded healer. Theyshould have plenty of opportunities for “seeing from afar” and waitingregarding their mission, the areas of apostolate, community organizationand personal matters. It would be a pity if they miss a privileged opportunityand grace to be a wounded healer, in imitation of their father and founder.May this great holy man, be raised to the honours of the altar at theearliest.

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THE SPROUTING OF RELIGIOUSVOCATION WITHIN ME

Sr Marie Ange BS

The Servant of God, Mgr RFC Mascarenhas started Bethany Conventand Primary School at Mudigere in 1951. My parents had settled thereafter they moved from Belthangady, my birth place. They shifted mefrom Government Primary School and admitted me there to Class II. Alongwith some other children, I too was selected to welcome our Fr Founderas he was going up to the stage on the inauguration day. Dressed in awhite frock with a plate of flowers in hand, I was made to stand alongwith other children. He came along with some sisters and eminentpersonalities, smiling. He was clad in a long, black cassock, a speciallypatterned black cap and had long, flowing, white beard. It was a grandsight for us to behold!

As the gathering gave a thunderous applause, we strew flowers onhim, as a sign of warm welcome. Some of the tiny flowers got stuck inhis long, flowing beard. Seeing that, we children began to laugh. He toojoined us in our laughter, and took notice of me. When he reached thespot where I was standing, he stopped. He lifted me up, kissed me andblessed me and placed me down. Oh, what joy I felt then!

Adjacent to our class room, there was a chapel. Above the tabernacle,the sisters had fixed a big and a beautiful picture of Bethany Saints, withJesus seated on a chair. Mary was sitting at His feet, on a stool, gazing atJesus. Martha stood close to Jesus, with a basket in one hand and pointinganother hand at Mary. Lazarus could be seen through the window, busywriting. Everyday at prayer time and during the Holy Sacrifice of the Massonce a week there, I used to gaze at that attractive and beautiful picture.I used to tell Jesus to make me sit at His feet like Mary. It was this pictureand the incident of welcome to Mgr Raymond which created in me adesire to be a Bethany Sister. This desire grew in me, year after year.Later, I learnt that, that picture was selected by our Founder to be keptand honoured in every community of our Congregation.

What I am today, I gratefully attribute it to that desire, which mademe join this Bethany Congregation, founded by my beloved Mgr RaymondF C Mascarenhas. May God raise him soon to the honours of the altar, ismy earnest prayer.

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Emotion had the better of me for a moment as I wrote ‘I shed a tearfor you….for I know what you missed.’ It was addressed to reveredSuperior General of Bethany, Sr Wilberta while thanking her for thecomplimentary copy of the book ‘To You My Daughters’ which she hadsent me.

To begin with, her comments in the Foreword to the book ‘ I did nothave the privilege of seeing him’ had moved me to tears, while a coupleof days later I came across a similar regret expressed by the AssistantSuperior General, Sr Lillis, in her editorial to the July issue of TheCompassionate Pastor. My thoughts went back to the year 2010commemorating the 50th death anniversary of the Founder, at the end ofevery lecture that I delivered at the Provincial Houses, both in Mangaloreand in Bangalore, the hundreds of Bethanyites – aspirants, postulants,novices, professed sisters – et all – that came to hear me from all parts ofthe two provinces, flocking around me chanting in a chorus “Tell us moreabout our Founder; tell us more about our Founder.” It was overwhelming-their insatiable hunger for more and more knowledge on the holy manthat made me accept the reality that my humble attempt at satisfying thishunger, even partially, through my writings on the great man over the lastfive years has been trifle inadequate, as is evident from an e-mail I justreceived from the superior of one of the houses in the Foreign Delegationbased in Europe wishing me speedy recovery from my present illnessand ‘waiting to read your articles in the Chronicle for more and more realknowledge to increase our love for our Founder.’

To be in his presence was sheer bliss! Yes, that is what you missed,or, was it? No, wait a minute. Let us go down to Bethany Motherhouse –to Mgr Raymond‘s cottage which had been his residence for nineteenyears, the cradle of all his thoughts and activities as also the crucible forhis sorrows and tears.

This cottage has a main entrance facing North and a side - doorfacing the East that leads directly to his office-cum-bedroom. I almostalways used this side-door whenever I went to meet him. At the main

FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTHON OUR SAINT IN THE MAKING -

MGR RAYMOND F C MASCARENHASMr James D‘Souza

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entrance allfootwear remainsoutside indicatingthe sacredness ofthe place. Enter, anda large life – sizecut-out of Mgr RFCgreets you and youdrop to your kneeswith the profoundfeeling of havingencountered theperson you came tosee, in flesh and forreal. Such is the power and the charisma, the depth of holiness thatradiates from him and envelopes you (Something I witnessed andexperienced seventy five years ago). Then the bedroom - and the feelingis ecstatic as if some supernatural spirit is surrounding you; his all-pervading presence everywhere and in everything you encounter, as ifyou expect to see him any moment; maybe at his book- shelf looking forsome book or file or just relaxing on that large antic of an easy-chair (Ihave glorified this room in two of my writings published already).

Through the side-door, look towards the Generalate building, andthere you see the full-size, snow- white figure staring straight into youreyes and you are elated with joy and animated with self belief that youhear yourself whispering ‘Thank you and Good-bye, Father,` and a ̀ GodBless you` from him in response. And you return asking yourself loud“wow… what is it I have missed?”

Am I contradicting myself? I would eagerly solicit my readers’ viewson this article and the very delicate, very emotive but beautiful subject Ihave touched upon. It could be the basis for another piece on the subject,God willing. The unwritten message, if not caught your imagination already,is my earnest desire, knowing the mindset and aspirations of the youngmembers of the Congregation that each one of them is afforded theopportunity to visit the Bethany Mother house to get a feeling of theirFounder as out-lined or caricatured by me in this write-up. It is, however,heartening to learn that this is happening already.

Meanwhile, may our beloved Servant of God, Mgr RFC continue tointercede for us and May God Bless you all.

Mgr Raymond‘s cottage which had been his residence fornineteen years, the cradle of all his thoughts and

activities as also the crucible for his sorrows and tears.

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We prayed through the intercession of Fr Founder to grant agood job to our nephew Vijay. He has received this favour in November2014.

From the bottom of our hearts we thank God and our Founder forhis intercession. In gratitude we have offered Holy Mass.

With grateful hearts we remain ever faithfulSr Susheela BS and Sr Luisa BS

FAVOURS RECEIVED

Job Obtained

I Noela T. Correia, a student of Presentation Convent High School,Margao, scored distinction in my S.S.C exam through the powerfulintercession of Servant of God, RFC Mascarenhas. My heartfelt thanksto him.

I pray to God to grant him the honours of the altar soon.

Noela Tereza CorreiaH.No. 828/I, Mugalli

Sao Jose de ArealSalcette, Goa.

Thanks for Good Result

Our God is great!... Finally good news... I got permanent visa tostay back in Australia. Thank you so much for upholding me in yourvaluable prayers.

GishaAustralia

(Sent via email)

Permanent Visa Obtained

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SR NAMRITA BS

Sr Namrita BS hails from Ernakulum, Kerala.She was involved in teaching and formationministries ever since she completed Bachelor of Arts(B.A.)degree at St Agnes College, Mangalore, andBachelor of Education (B.Ed) at St Ann's College,Mangalore, respectively. She obtained a degree inTheology (B.Th) from Kristu Jyoti College, Bangalore and a Master`sdegree in Spirituality from Jnana Deepa Vidyapeeth, Pune. She hasalso done Canon Law for one year at St Peter's Pontifical Institute,Bangalore.

Sr Namrita was Pre-novitiate directress at Nazareth Home, Bajpe,for four years and Novice Directress at Rosa Mystica Novitiate, Gurpur,for two years. Presently she is Assistant Tertian Directress, at RosaMystica Tertiate, Gurpur, Karnataka.

SR SHALET MENDONCA BS

Sr Shalet Mendonca hails from Belman, Karnataka. She holds aBachelor's Degree in Theology from St Joseph'sInter-diocesan Seminary, Mangalore, and Master'sDegree in Ethics from KU Leuven University, Belgium.She did Formator's Course for three consecutivesummers under the Institute of Formation,Bangalore.

Sr Shalet has worked in the fields of educationand formation. She was Asst. Novice Directress and Superior at BethanyNovitiate, Bogadi, for three years and as Directress for the three monthsJuniorate Programme at Bethany Motherhouse, Mangalore.

Presently, she is pursuing Doctorate Degree in Eco-Spirituality atJesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University, Berkeley, USA.

CONTRIBUTORS

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SR ANITHA STEPHEN BS

Sr Anitha Stephen BS, hails from Kerala. Sheobtained a Bachelor‘s Degree in Arts (B.A) at RoshniNilaya, Mangalore and a Bachelor‘s Degree inTheology (B.Th) from Institute of Mater Dei, Goa.She has done the Formators Course under theInstitute of Formators, Bangalore.

She has rendered services as a clerical staff in the school and asAssistant Pre-novitiate Directress. At present she is doing Licentiatein Missionary Spirituality at Urbaniana University, Rome.

Mr James D’Souza is a devoted elder andoctogenarian admirer of the Servant of God. He knewMgr Raymond as a young boy and was his altarserver at Bendur Church for long; later too he had alively contact for a long time. Mr James D’Souzaexerts every effort to make Raymond known to thepeople. Now living in Bangalore he contributes muchto the Cause of Mgr RFC Mascarenhas and is eager to see MgrMascarenhas raised to the altars early. His enthusiasm is unique.

Sr Marie Ange BS was born at Belthangady, buther family migrated to Mudigere in her childhood.She has been an educator all her life and served asHeadmistress in many schools in Karnataka. Shewas also a councilor to the Regional Superiors forfourteen years. A gifted writer, she contributes toseveral newspapers and magazines in Konkani andKannada. She has published a book of Kannada poems last year. Atpresent she lives at Bethany Motherhouse, Mangalore spending hertime in praying, reading and writing.

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