Kundapur: Sr. Noreen and Rev. Dr. Valerian Fernandes celebrate Golden and Ruby Jubilees of Religious

By Dr. Eugene DSouza
Bellevision Media Network

Kundapur, 15 May: As a matter of coincidence, two siblings sister and brother celebrated Golden and Ruby Jubilee of their religious life on Wednesday, 15 May 2019 with thanksgiving mass at St. Pius X Church, Pius Nagar(Halehalve) followed by felicitation function at Shana Convention Centre, Koteshwar. The Jubilarians were Rev. Sr. M. Noreen (AC) and Rev. Dr. Valerian Fernandes of Aurangabad Diocese. The other two sisters belonging to this family are: Rev. Sr. Milliccent (AC) and Rev. Sr. Caroline (Holy Cross).

 

The solemn jubilee thanksgiving mass was concelebrated by three Bishops: Most Rev. Dr. Leo Cornelio (SVD)-Archbishop of Bhopal, Most Rev. Dr. Gerald John Mathias-Bishop of Lucknow, Most Rev. Dr. Ambrose Rebello-Bishop of Aurangabad along with Rev. Dr. Valerian Fernandes, Rev. Fr. Stany Tauro-Parish Priest of Holy Rosary Church, Kundapur, Rev. Fr. John Barboza-Parish Priest of St. Pius X Church, Pius Nagar and other priests.

 

Delivering the homily, Archbishop Leo Cornelio said that vocation is the gift of God and narrated the mission work that both Sr. Noreen and Rev. Dr. Valerian Fernandes have undertaken in their respective regions, especially in Uttar Pradesh and Aurangabad respectively. He thanked for their dedicated and sincere service and wished them well.

 

 

The felicitation function was held in Sahana Convention Centre Kotershwar at 12 noon. Rev. Fr. Louis D’Sa-Parish Priest of Little Flower Church, Mukkamar and a close friend of the family conducted the felicitation programme.

 

Following the prayer dance by children, Mrs. Matilda Fernandes, sister of the jubilarians welcomed the guests. Thereafter both the jubilarians along with three Bishops, Fr. John Barboza and  Robert Fernandes-brother of the jubilarians cut the jubilee cake.

 

Morvin Quadros, grandnephew of Fr. Valerian and winner of Gulf Voice of Mangalore singing competition sang the felicitation song.

 

Raising the toast to the jubilarians, Bishop Gerald Mathias highlighted the finer qualities of both Sr. Noreen and Rev. Dr. Valerian Fernandes. Speaking about Sr. Noreen, the Bishop said that she is calm, serene and deep in thought, spirituality and commitment to her work. He briefly narrated the contribution of Sr. Noreen in the field of education.

 

 

Bishop Gerald Mathias paid glowing tribute to Rev. Dr. Valerian Fernandes and said that the friendship between them that had started way back in 1969 when they went together to join seminary in Lucknow has blossomed into lasting friendship for the last fifty years. He further said that Fr. Valerian has contributed much to the development of the mission centre at Paithan in Aurangabad Diocese as well as in other regions of the district.

 

Both Sr. Noreen and Rev. Dr. Valerian Fernandes were felicitated by the Bishops and other dignitaries on the dais by placing ‘petas’ on their heads, shawls, garlands, fruits and bouquets.

 

The family members presented the felicitation song to the jubilarians.

 

On behalf of the parishioners of St. Pius X Church, the Vice President and Secretary of the Parish pastoral Council red the citation to Rev. Dr. Valerian Fernandes and Sr. Noreen respectively following which Rev. Fr. John Barboza honoured the jubilarians.

 

Rev. Dr. Valerian Fernandes, Sr. Noreen and other dignitaries felicitated the three Bishops by offering them ‘petas’, shawls, garlands, fruits and flower bouquets.

 

 

Archbishop Leo Cornelio while recognizing and thanking both Sr. Noreen and Rev. Dr. Valerian for their service to the church and society, wished them well in their future endeavours.

 

Speaking on this occasion, Bishop Ambrose Rebello recalled the great service rendered by Rev. Dr. Valerian Fernandes to the Aurangabad Diocese and developing different mission centers, especially Paithan.

 

Six priests who had especially arrived from Aurangabad for the ruby jubilee celebration of Rev. Dr. Valerian honoured both the jubilarians.

 

Rev. Dr. Valerain Fernandes in his reply to the felicitation expressed gratitude to the Bishops who participated in the thanksgiving mass and felicitation programme. He also thanked his family, brothers, sisters, nephews and others for arranging the felicitation programme.

 

Fr. John Barboza and Fr. Louis D’Sa were also honoured by Rev. Dr. Valerian Fernandes and Sr. Noreen for their cooperation and support in organizing the thanksgiving mass and felicitation programme.

 

Sr. Noreen in her reply to the felicitation programme  thanked God for the day and expressed her gratitude to all those who had supported her and her brother in serving the church through their missionary work.

 

Robert Fernandes, the eldest brother of Sr. Noreen and Rev. Dr. Valerian proposed the vote of thanks.

 

Sixteen lay persons who had arrived from Aurangabad to participate in the ruby jubilee function of Rev. Dr. Valerian Fernandes felicitated him by offering him shawls and flower bouquets.

 

About Sr. Noreen

Sr. Noreen was born on 2 November 1947 as  fourth among fourteen children of late Julian and Pauline Fernandes of Halehalve. After completing her initial education, Sr. Noreen joined the Apostolic Carmel Congregation on 15 June 1966. Following the initial training in religious life, Sr. Noreen made her First Profession on 31 May 1969. She studied Theology at Mater Dei Institute in Goa from 1970 to 1972 and made her Final Profession on 9 May 1974.

 

Sr. Noreen served in the Administrative Department of Patna Women’s College from 1972 to 1978. She completed graduation with BA degree in St. Xavier’s College, Ranchi in 1980. After serving for 2 years in Carmel Convent, Lucknow, Sr. Noreen acquired B.Ed. degree from St. Anne’s Women’s College, Mangalore.

 

 

Having acquired necessary academic qualifications, Sr. Noreen served as the Principal of Kumari Udyan Vidyalaya Aided School and PU College at Lucknow from 1982 to 2012. Meanwhile, she acquired MA degree in English literature from Kanpur University. 

 

For her dedicated service in the field of Education, Sr. Noreen was honoured with many awards, the most prestigious being the Best Teacher Award conferred on her by  the then President of India APJ Abdul Kalam in 2006. Other awards included Kanpur Vidhushi Award in 2007 and Kanpur District Best Teacher Award in 1993.

 

Sr. Noreen served as the Principal of Carmel School, Gorakhpur from 2013 to 2016. She has been serving as Regional Secretary of Education, Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh.

 

About Rev. Dr. Valerian Fernandes

Rev. Dr. Valerian Fernandes was born on 10 August 1950 as fifth among fourteen children of late Julian and Pauline Fernandes at St. Pius X Parish, Halehalve. He had his initial education at Kundapur and Koteshwar and joined Lucknow Seminary in 1969 and after various stages of seminary training he did Theological studies at Nagpur and was ordained a priest on 4 December 1979 at Aurangabad Cathedral.

 

Following his ordination, Rev. Dr. Valerian Fernandes was appointed as the Assistant Priest at Aurangabad Cathedral and Office-in-charge of Little Flower High School, Aurangabad (1980-81). Thereafter, he was deputed as Priest-in-charge of catholic Church and Social Centre, Bidkin in Paithan Taluk in Aurangabad District (1982-86). Later, he was appointed as the Parish Priest of the newly established church in MIDC, Paithan and continued his service till 2007. Rev. Dr. Valerian Fernandes served as the Vicar General of Aurangabad Diocese from 2007 to 2012. He was appointed as the Parish Priest of St. Paul’s Church, Paithan once again in 2012.

 

 

Besides acquiring graduation degree from the Marathawada University, Aurangabad, Rev. Dr. Valerian Fernandes continued his education and completed B.Ed., M.A., and Ph.D. in History from Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University.

 

The manifold achievements of Rev. Dr. Valerian Fernandes manifest his vision. Dedication and hard work. He was the founder and pioneer priest of St. Paul’s Church, MIDC, Paithan. He was also Founder Principal of St. Paul’s Primary and High School, MIDC, Paithan; Founder Director of St. Paul’s Hostel and Pioneer of St. Paul’s Mission Hospital with 25 Beds at Dorkhin, Paithan. Rev. Dr. Valerian Fernandes has been the Pioneer of a number of churches in the district of Paithan. These include: Our Lady of Fatima Church at Karanjikheda; Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Dorkhin;  St. Pius X Church and Parish House at Gevrai-Basi;  New School building of St. Augustine High School at Parbhani; Milan Auditorium at MIDC; and St. Paul’s Nursing College at MIDC.

 

For his service in the field of education, health  and community development, Rev. Dr. Valerian Fernandes was honoured with many awards that include: Ideal Teacher Award by Zilla Parishad of Aurangabad; Rashtriya Nirman Award; Jewel of India Award; Glory of India Award; Eminent Educationist Award The Best Citizen of India Award; Rajiv Gandhi Shiromani Award.

 

Besides his preoccupation with parish and educational activities, Rev. Valerian Fernandes actively participated in various activities of the Rotary Club of Paithan of which he was also president. He also served as the Chairman of DG’s Monthly News Letter. He also arranged and participated in a number of Blood Donation, Eye Checkup, Cancer Detection, Pulse Polio and various such Medical camps. He also actively participated in Flood and Draught Relief Camps.