Moodubelle, 24 June 2012: Bishop of Mangalore, Rev. Dr. Aloysius P. D’Souza, who is also the President of the Catholic Board of Education (CBE) on the recommendation of Rev. Fr. Joswey Fernandes, Correspondent of St. Lawrence Educational Institutions and Rev. Fr. Wilson V. D’Souza, Secretary of the CBE, appointed Commodore Jerome Castelino as the ‘Dean of St. Lawrence Degree College’. This announcement was made on Saturday, June 23, 2012 on the occasion of the Pastoral Visit of the Bishop to Moodubelle.
At the end of the solemn Mass during which 83 candidates were conferred with the Sacrament of Confirmation, Rev. Fr. Joswey Fernandes expressed the desire to the Bishop that in view of the services rendered by Commodore Jerome Castelino for the starting of the degree college and also to avail his services further for the progress and development of the institution he should be given an honorable position.
Felicitating Commodore Jerome Castelino with a bouquet of flowers, Bishop Dr. Aloysius D’Souza appreciated the work done by him prior to the starting of the college and made a special reference to the fact that he not only secured the sanction from the State Government within a day for St. Lawrence College at Moodubelle but also helped the Catholic Board of Education (CBE) in obtaining the approval of the extension of courses and additional seats in relation to colleges at Madanthyar, Puttur and Kallianpur.
In his reply, Commodore Jerome Castelino said that with humility he accepts the responsibility conferred on him as the Dean of St. Lawrence Degree College and assured the Bishop and the Correspondent as well as the parishioners that he will work for the progress and betterment of the college.
As the Dean of the college, Commodore Jerome Castelino as the representative of the Correspondent will be looking after the infrastructural needs and other facilities required for the students and staff and will streamline the administrative work, while Principal Dr. Eugene D’Souza will concentrate on work related to the functioning of the college and matters concerning to academics such as teaching, discipline, time-table, syllabus, library, co-curricular and extra-curricular activities, etc.
When the proposal to start the degree college in Moodubelle was accepted by the Finance Committee and Parish Pastoral Council, a College Committee with Commodore Jerome Castelino as the Convener was constituted in the month of September 2011. He took the lead in approaching the Mangalore University, the Catholic Board of Education (CBE) and other colleges to find out the feasibility of starting a degree college in Moodubelle.
After submitting the project report to the University, Commodore Castelino worked tirelessly to put in place the necessary infrastructure in the premises of the Higher Primary School by modifying the existing hall into classrooms, staff-room and office. Similarly, other rooms were also renovated and kept ready for the first visit of the Local Inquiry Committee (LIC) from the Mangalore University.
With the approval of the Mangalore University to start the Degree College, other requirements such as appointment of lecturers and acquiring furniture and other facilities were undertaken. Finally, Commodore Jerome Castelino was instrumental in getting the Karnataka State Government’s sanction to start the college within a day that shows his determination and ability to get the work done.
St. Lawrence College, Moodubelle has become a reality with the inauguration of the Academic Year 2012-13 on June 14, 2012 and the formal opening of the B.A. and B.Com. Degree courses on June 16, 2012 by Rev. Fr. Wilson V. D’Souza, Secretary of the Catholic Board of Education.
It may be pointed out that for the first time in the history of the Catholic Board of Education (CBE) the administrative post of Dean of a Degree College is being constituted. It would help in a great way to new institutions like St. Lawrence College, Moodubelle to secure the services of experienced, sincere and dedicated persons like Commodore Jerome Castelino.