Celebration of 80th Anniversary of the Parish and 100th Birthday of Sr. Crescentia at Nirkan

Report by Stephen Fernandes, Nirkan
Bellevision Media network

 

Nirkan 22 April 2010:The Nirkan parishioners celebrated 80th anniversary of the foundation of their parish and the birth centenary of Sr. Crescentia (BS) on Sunday 18th April 2010. Rt Rev Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, the Bishop of Mangalore Diocese was the chief celebrant of the feast Mass and also presided over the felicitation programme soon after the Mass.  Fr. Edwin Correa, the parish priest of Nirkan welcomed the gathering. Fr. Naveen Pinto, Sr. Mariette (BS) Provincial of the Mangalore Province, Mr. VP Lobo and Mr Stany Lasrado were also present on the dais. Mr Alphonse Fernandes compeered the program. The Parish Council Secretary Mrs Christine Lasrado presented the annual report of the activities in the parish. At the end of the programme Mr.Stany proposed the vote of thanks.

It is heartening to note that In the 80 years history of St Thomas the Apostle Parish, Nirkan, Fr Naveen Pinto was the first Diocesan Priest to be ordained from this Parish to the Diocese of Mangalore. The Bishop honoured him appreciating his desire to follow Jesus. The innovative and energetic Parish Priest, Fr Edwin Correa too was honoured for his loving services to the Parish. A well wisher of Sr Crescentia, Parishioner and a business man at Mumbai, Mr V P Lobo was also honoured by the Bishop.  Ward leaders, Parish Council members and all those who have been rendering distinguished service to the Parish and community were also honoured by the Bishop. Mr V P Lobo gave away the prizes to the winners of the Parish Day Sports. Meanwhile, all the parishioners congratulated and conveyed best wishes Fr Cyprian Pinto on the occasion of completing 25 year of service as a priest. He is the first priest from Nirkan who is presently serving in the Kolkata diocese.

Along with the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the foundation of the Nirkan Parish, the birth centenary of Sr. Crescentia was also celebrated on this occasion.   Sr. Mariette hailed Sr Crescentia as a woman of God who prayed, lived and walked the path of religious life as shown by Jesus. Further she said that Sr Crescentia is a model and light house of religious life. Her love and service went to all the needy and poor of the parish. She wished Sr Crescentia fruitful and happy years in the coming days.

Felicitating Sr Crescentia on the occasion of her birth centenary, Dr. Aloysius Paul D’Souza said that she is the woman of faith and service and is like a ‘grandmother’ to all the surrounding people.

Sr Crescentia completed a century of her life on 25th February 2010. Out of these 100 years she dedicated 74 years in the service of the Bethany Sisters Congregation. Sr Crescentia was born at Aldona in Goa on 25th February 1910 as the fourth child of Francis and Carlota. Inspired by the founder of the Bethany Sisters Congregation, Rev Msgr Raymond Mascarenhas, she joined the Bethany Convent in Mangalore at the age of ten. Known variously by the names such as Maria, Angelica and Camelina, she eventually assumed the name as Sr Crescentia after becoming a nun. Sr Crescentia who can converse fluently in English and Konkani understands Kannada though is not able to strike a conversation in that language. Since the past 32 years Sr Crescentia has been living in the Holy Family Convent at Nirkan.

Speaking about her earlier days as a nun, Sr. Crescentia said that during her time nuns had to undergo a lot of sufferings as they, unlike in modern days, had no support of the community. During the long tenure of her nunhood, Sr Crescentia has served at Gurupur, Puttur, Siddakatte, Kanajar, Dharwad and Kinnigoli convents in the state apart from neighbouring state Kerala. Though after her retirement she is spending her time mostly in prayers, Sr Crescentia is still active doing her own work and enjoys occasional walks.