Nuns celebrate platinum jubilee of Taccode convent

The Bethany congregation celebrated platinum jubilee celebrations of Genassano convent in Taccode.

The thanksgiving mass was celebrated by Rt Rev Msgr Denis Moras Prabhu along with eight other priests of the diocese, most of them being the former parish priests of Taccode.

 “Child is the joy and happiness of a family and today in the absence of children, joy and happiness are a distant reality,” said Bethany Congregation Superior General Rev Sr Wilberta at the formal programme organised as a part of the jubilee celebrations.
She also honoured the Parish Priests Rev Fr Jerald, Rev Fr Hilary Lobo and Rev Dr Fr Mark Castelino who attended to the spiritual needs of the sisters.

Mangalore Provincial Superior Rev Sr Mariette thanked the parishioners for offering 38 flowers (daughters, who are Bethany Sisters) to the ‘garden’ of Bethany congregation. The eldest among them from the Crasta family of Kajebail, Sr Sylveria BS of Taccode was honoured. Sr Sylveria has rendered 17 years of service in Taccode as a Bethany Sister.

The past superiors, Sr Prudence, Sr Dominica, Sr Felcine, Sr Norma, Sr Emerita, Sr Hazel, Sr Carita, Sr Lilly D’Souza, Sr Theresita and Sr Prefilda were also honoured by the Provincial.

MLA K Abhaychandra Jain said Bethany Sisters arrived at Taccode ‘Kugrama’ (most backward) in 1937 and taught to the people of this region the meaning of being human and selfless service with divine compassion. He applauded their service and said ‘Even today Bethany Sisters remain the same’.

75 year history
Bethany Sisters at Taccode have a history of 75 years. Rev Fr Piedade D’Souza, the then Parish Priest of Holy Cross Church, Taccode made a request to Rev Fr R F C Mascarenhas, the Founder of Bethany Sisters, to send his sisters to his Parish.

With the permission of the then Bishop Rt Rev Dr V R Fernandes, Sr Pia, Sr Pauline, Sr Purifica and Sr Justa were sent to Taccode in July 1937 for the mission of education through the Parochial School namely St Joseph’s Higher Elementary School.

The community Genazzano Convent was dedicated to Mother of Good Counsel. Sr Pia was installed as first superior of the community.  They resided in Mr Martin D’Cunha’s house in Kaikamba, Taccode (one kilo meter from the Parish) for a year.

Next, they moved to Raymond Crasta’s house, Kajebail at Karinje villalge. Later, they permanently resided at the present Genazzano convent. Bethany Sisters gratefully acknowledged the gesture of kindness generosity shown by the D’Cunha and Crasta families by honouring them.