Udupi: Fr. Paul Sequeira given emotional send off by St. Lawrence Educational Institutions

By Eugene DSouza
Pics by Alphonse Mendonsa
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi/M’Belle, 29 Aug 2015: Fr. Paul Sequeira, who had served St. Lawrence Composite PU College as Principal for the last 13 years from 2003 to 2015 was given emotional send off by  St. Lawrence Educational Institutions in a function held in his honour in St. Lawrence Church Hall, Moodubelle on Saturday, 29 August 2015. Fr. Paul Sequeira has opted for Voluntary Retirement Scheme(VRS) and will be proceeding to Mangalore Diocese to take up pastoral responsibilities that would be assigned to him by the Bishop of Mangalore.

 

The farewell function that began at 10 am was presided over by Rev. Dr. Lawrence D’Souza, Secretary of Catholic Education Society of Udupi Diocese (CESU). The chief guest was Rev. Fr. Gerald D’Souza, Secretary Catholic Board of Education (CBE) Mangaluru. Other guests of honour included S.S. Sindha-Retired Deputy Director, Department of PU Education, Ramesh-President of Principal’s Association, Udupi District, Mrs. Ranjani Hegde-President of Belle Grama Panchayat. Rev. Fr. Clement Mascarenhas-Correspondent of St. Lawrence Educational Institutions, Devdas Hebbar-President of Old Students Association, Alphonse K. Alva-President of PTA and Vice President of Parish Pastoral Council, Rev. Fr. Victor Fernandes(OFM Cap)-Co-pastor, Mrs. Leena D’Silva-Headmistress of St. Lawrence Kannada Medium High School and SPL of St. Lawrence Kannada Medium High School and CPL of St. Lawrence PU College were also on the dais.

 

Soon after the prayer song and  welcome address by Rev. Fr. Clement Mascarenhas, Rev. Fr. Paul Sequeira was honoured by the dignitaries on the dais by offering him shawl, garlands, memento, citation and fruit tray. Mrs. B. Chandrakala, senior lecturer of St. Lawrence PU College read the citation prior to the felicitation programme.

 

 

As Rev. Dr. Lawrence D’Souza had to proceed to Shirva to attend another function he addressed the gathering and said that any farewell function brings in mixed feelings. However, the farewell  function of Fr. Paul is a memorable event as after 13 years of dedicated service as the Principal of St. Lawrence PU College this is the occasion to express our thanks for his service, appreciate his achievements and wish him well in his future mission.  Though Fr. Paul retires as the Principal of St. Lawrence PU College, he will be serving the people in different capacity as priests do not retire.

 

A number of speakers expressed their admiration for Fr. Paul Sequeira, his service to the institution and his achievements which included the introduction of Midday Meal Scheme, opening of NSS Unit in the PU College, celebration of Silver Jubilee of PU College and Golden Jubilee of St. Lawrence Kannada Medium High School, opening of Science PU Section, conduct of State Level Girls NSS Camp and various other achievements. During his tenure as the Principal, the results of both PU College and Kannada medium high school have been consistently good.

 

The various speakers included :Miss  Swathi  on behalf of PU students, Shanbagh on behalf of PU College teaching staff, Mrs. Leena D’Silva from St. Lawrence Kannada Medium High School, Alphonse K. Alva-President of PTA, Devdas Hebbar on behalf of the Old Students, P.D. Kamath and Srinivas Ballal on behalf of retired teachers, Ramesh-President of Principals Association, Udupi District, Rev. Fr. Gerald D’Souza on behalf of the CBE and S.S. Sindha-Retired Deputy Director, Department of PU Education.

 

Teachers and non-teaching staff and student representatives of various educational institutions felicitated Rev. Fr. Paul Sequeira by offering him flowers. All the students of PU College, retired teachers as well as other invitees, guests and well-wishers greeted Fr. Paul and wished him well for his future endeavours. On behalf of Bellevision Media Network, Dr. Eugene D’Souza and on behalf of Bellevision Global, Elias D’Souza felicitated Fr. Paul.

 

In his reply to the warm farewell function organized in his honour, Rev. Fr. Paul Sequeira said that  though he was the Principal of St. Lawrence PU College for the past 13 years he felt quite sad last year 2014-15 when he had to arrange send off functions for five teachers. He felt the same way as he himself was given the farewell by the staff and students of the institution which he had served with sincerity and dedication.

 

Rev. Fr. Paul Sequeira further said that as he lays  down his office as the Principal after opting for VRS, he felt that it was his duty to recall to mind all those who had supported and helped him through the journey as the Principal and express his gratitude. First of all he thanked St. Lawrence, the patron saint of Moodubelle’s educational institutions. He expressed gratitude to the Bishop of Mangaluru, Most Rev. Dr. Aloysius P. D’Souza for having deputed him to Moodubelle first as aan English lecturer and later elevated him to the post of Principal.   He also thanked the Bishop of Udupi, Most Rev. Dr. Gerald Isaac Lobo for his support since the creation of the new Diocese of Udupi.  He also recalled the support rendered to him by the Secretaries of CBE and CESU. He expressed gratitude to the successive Correspondents of St. Lawrence Educational Institutions-Rev. Fr. Charles Lewis, Rev. Dr. Valerian D’Souza, Rev. Fr. Joswey Fernandes and Rev. Fr. Clement Mascarenhas. He was thankful to  various officials of the Education Department, heads of other educational institutions, PTA and Old Students office bearers and members and teaching and non-teaching staff members of St. Lawrence PU College and Kannada Medium High School. 

 

Fr. Paul further said that the various developmental work that he could undertake in the institution chiefly because of the generous donors including Bellevision (UAE). He had a special word of appreciation for  Bellevision Media Network, Bellevision.com which  has been instrumental in giving wide publicity to the activities and achievements in St. Lawrence Educational Institutions. Fr. Paul said that among various components that helped him to grow, the students were quite important along with the staff members who helped him in running the institution for the last 13 years.

 

Towards the end of the address, Fr. Paul became quite emotional and said that the new Correspondent, Rev. Fr. Clement Mascarenhas who has wide knowledge and experience in the field of education would take the institution to further height as he has a number of dreams for these institutions. Explaining the reason for his VRS, Fr. Paul said that when he had completed 10 years as the Principal, he had asked the Bishop of Mangaluru to assign him a similar post in Mangaluru Diocese as he belonged to that diocese. He waited for three years and as there was no such post  available, he had no other option but to opt for VRS and accept any assignment that the Bishop would offer him.  Speaking further, Fr. Paul sad that as the Principal he got more than what he deserved. During his tenure as the Principal he faced many challenges and had to take hard decisions. However, in all his decisions and actions he kept the interest of the institution at the top of his priorities.

 

Fr. Paul handed over a cheque of Rs. 25,000/- to Rev. Fr. Clement Mascarenhas requeting him to institute a prize for meritorious students in memory of his service in the institution.

 

Mrs. Sunita Kamath, senior teacher of St. Lawrence Kannada Medium High School proposed the vote of thanks and Mrs. Jacintha Lobo, Commerce lecturer of St. Lawrence PU Collegec ompeered  the programme.