Bethany Nuns reach out to Destitute People

(December 18, 2010) The Sisters of the Little Flower of Bethany launched six projects across India to mark the 50th death anniversary of their founder, Monsignor Raymond Francis Camillus Mascarenhas. Archbishop Bernard Moras of Bangalore opened the Western Province project at Chittur of extension of Dr Ohm’s Indo German Hospital at Chittapur. The North East Province opened a human resource development centre for tribal people at Umsning in Meghalaya. Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo of Shimoga, who launched the centre, said it would provide leadership training for young people and enhance their cultural, skill and integral development. Other projects include two homes for destitute, one in Simla-Chandigarh diocese for Northern Province and another in Kannur for Kerala Province. Bishop Lawrence Mukkuzhy of Belthangady opened Karuna Matha Holistic Health and Palliative unit care’ at Gadenahally and Bishop Aloysius Paul D’Souza of Mangalore launched ‘Alternative Systems of Health Care’ at Shubhada in Mangalore diocese. Bethany Superior General Sister Wilberta said they are opening a centre with medical and social apostolate in Senegal in northwest Africa. “We have tried to keep the spirit of our founder alive and hence reached interior mission stations,” she added. Monsignor Mascarenhas started the congregation in 1921 with four members to participate in the mission of the Church by responding to the prevailing needs of the times. The Pontifical congregation was founded chiefly for the Catholic education of the rural poor, especially girls, teaching of catechism in parish communities and schools.