REPORT on 150TH BIRTH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

REPORT

150^TH BIRTH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

OF

OUR FOUNDER MSGR. HERCULANO GONSALVES

JUBILATE! 150^th BIRTH ANNIVERSARY

Considering this Sesquicentennial celebration as a golden opportunity to commemorate the life and legacy of our holy Founder, Msgr. Herculano Gonsalves, and to make him better known near and far, various activities were planned and executed. In our beloved Founder, we see a holy man who navigated in the face of storm and articulated the vision for us, his Sisters. It was indeed a year of grace and Jubilation.

The Core Committee appointed for the year-round Celebration of the 150^th Birth Anniversary of our Founder is as follows: 

• Sr. Margarita Pereira, the Co-ordinator
• Sr. Perpetua Vaz
• Sr. Adrianne HC
• Sr. Loretta Vaz
• Sr. Wilber Coutinho
• Sr. Patricia Pereira

Varied Sub-Committees of our Sisters were also formed to carry out different responsibilities successfully and effectively.   

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE JUBILEE YEAR

THEME: ‘FIX YOUR GAZE IN HEAVEN, DIE TO SELF AND LIVE FOR THE OTHER’

• Inaugural Function: Eucharistic Celebration presided by Bishop Alwyn Barreto on 11^th Feb 2017 at 10.00 a.m. at St. Alex Convent, Calangute.
• Calendar 2017: Released on the Annual Day of Little Flower Primary School, Calngute on 17^th Dec. 2017 and our Founder’s Ordination Anniversary.        
• Logo: Presenting the face of our Founder with his gaze fixed in heaven and the image of the pelican depicting his self-sacrificing spirit.
• Art Exhibition: On the life and works of our Founder inaugurated at St. Alex Convent Hall. The paintings gifted by renowned Artists of Goa
• Handicraft Exhibition: Creative and resourceful exhibits by our Sisters on arborics, synthetic flowers, needle work and various eye-catching items were displayed.               

• Video: Life of our Founder
• Special Song: On our Founder by Prince Jacob in his Drama ‘Padri Monis Noim?’ Sung by Tiatrist Jose Fernandes from Benaulim.
• Documentary: Msgr. Herculano Gonsalves.
• Operatta

• Books:

1. A Mendicant in Red Buttons – Compiled by Rev. Fr. Savio Rodrigues S.J.  
2. The Hidden Treasures of our Beloved Founder – Compiled by Sr. Adrianne HC   

• Seminar on Founder: by Fr. Savio Rodrigues SJ, in 3 batches
• Inner Healing Annual Retreats: by Rev. Fr. Joe Santiago in 3 batches

• Articles published: on dailies, magazines and news bulletins
• Interview on HCN
• News items: On the Celebration on daily News Papers
• Operetta: “Die to Self, the ‘Herculan’ way”: by Rev. Fr. Allan Tavares
• Calendar 2018: Released on 30^th December 2017 at St. Alex Convent. Calendar being sponsored by Rev. Fr. Santan Fernandes

• Seminar on Liturgy: By Rev. Fr. Ayres Fernandes, in 3 batches

• Congregation/Community/School level Activities: Inter-School competitions were organised by Little Flower of Jesus School, Calangute. Various other activities were conducted in respective communities, in order to facilitate more profound understanding among our own Sisters, our collaborators and beneficiaries on the Life and Spirituality of our Founder.
• A prayer booklet: A booklet with special prayer services prepared by the Sisters based on selected themes in preparation for the closing ceremony.
• Acts of Charity: Keeping in mind the great event, we reached out to the poor, the prisoners and the needy, through concrete acts of charity. At the school level, Scholarships are being instituted in memory of our founder, for a girl child bearing good moral character.
• Documentary: On Msgr. Herculano Gonsalves
• Musical Drama: ‘Rise and Die’ Life of Msgr. Herculano Gonsalves
• Books:

1. Translated letters of our Founder by Can. Fr. Mario Saturnino Dias
2. A glimpse into the life of Msgr. Herculano Gonsalves, Edited and Published by Mr. Patrick Rapp.
3. Msgr. Herculano Gonsalves- Pankollie Sarkea Kallzacho Padri, By Sr. Perpetua Vaz. Sponsored by Rev. Fr. Santan Fernandes
4. Our daily prayers

• Installation: The Statue of our Founder was installed at St. Alex Complex on 11^th Feb. 2018

• Commemorative Souvenir: Enduring admiration and everlasting reminiscence, presenting the life, spirituality and legacy of our Founder.
• Grand Finale: Thanksgiving Mass presided by Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrão, on 11^th Feb 2018 at 4.00 p.m. at St. Alex Church Premises, Calangute in collaboration with the villagers and parishioners.

Collaborative Support

Like minded villagers and parishioners of Calangute, teamed up together with collective efforts in order to celebrate the life and legacy of Msgr. Herculano Gonsalves on his 150^th Birth Anniversary and to pay a fitting homage to the great visionary, by installing the Statue of this holy man who had extensive impact on this village.

The Committee consists of:

1. Mr. Michael Lobo – Dy. Speaker and MLA of Calangute Constituency
2. Fr. Cipriano  D’Silva -Parish Priest of St. Alex Church, Calangute
3. Sr. Faria Barreto – Superior General of the Congregation
4. Mr. Anthony F. D’Souza – Convener
5. Mrs. Maria Helena- Secretary
6. Mr. Sudesh Mayekar- Treasurer
7. Sr. Perpetua Vaz
8. Sr. Margarita Pereira
9. Mrs. Clothilda Bragança
10. Sr. Lumen Pereira
11. Mr. Datta Dabolkar
12. Mr. Anthony Menezes
13. Mrs. Rupa Chodankar
14. Mr. Illyas Rajabali
15. Mr. Filipe F. Dias
16. Mr. Benedict
17. Mr. Babu Shirodkar
18. Mr. Ciriaco Dias
19. Ms. Suzan Vaz
20.  General Team

God bless us all!