Gratitude is the memory of the heart

(At the Birth Sesquicentennial Celebration of our Beloved Founder on 11th Feb. 2018)

Every celebration is an experience, the external fades away, and the internal lingers and echoes in the inmost depth of our hearts.

The 150th Birth Anniversary of our Beloved Founder Msgr. Herculano Gonsalves is a significant milestone in the life of our Congregation and a timely reminder of God’s love and fidelity. Today our hearts are filled with Gratitude and joy that over flows within us as we thank the Almighty for the wonderful gift of our holy Founder who while he traversed his earthly Journey: ‘Fixed his gaze in heaven, emptied himself and lived only for the other’.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Most Rev. Filipe Neri Ferrao, Our Archbishop for presiding over the Eucharistic Celebration. Your grace, we are indeed deeply appreciative of your motivating words, your valuable presence, prayers and blessings. Our sincere appreciation to our own Bishop Alex of the Diocese of Port Blair, to Bishop Peter Mashado of Belgaum Diocese, to Bishop Derek Fernandes of Karwar Diocese, to Alwyn Barreto of Sindhudurg Diocese whose presence have truly added to the Solemnity in today’s function.

Thank you Bishops for your solemn presence prayers and blessings. I am truly grateful to our Parish Priests Fr. Cipriano Da Silva and his assistants Fr. Marcelino De Souza, Fr. Domnic D’Souza, Fr. Querobino Baptista and also our Chaplain Fr. Rocky Vaz. Thank you for being present to us, whenever we called upon you. A special thanks to all our Priests, religious sisters and brothers. Your presence has made a difference. A word of gratitude to Fr. Agnelo Pineiro who arranged for the Papal blessings.

My deep sense of gratitude to, Mr. Michael Lobo, the Dy. Speaker and MLA of Calangute Constituency, to Mr. Anthony Menezes, the Sarpanch of Calangute, and to the Panch Members for their financial assistance constant, backing and encouragement. All of them put in endless efforts particularly in the installation of Founder’s Statue.

I wish to warmly acknowledge the presence of our distinguished MLAs from different Constituencies of Goa, our Founder’s relatives, our family members, friends, our benefactors, well wishers, , neighbours, staff members from our different schools and all of you who are present here. Thank you for taking time off to celebrate with us. We do revere their presence amidst us.

My deep sense of appreciation to the Core committee, the Sub-Committees and the Committee of the villagers for the 150th Birth Anniversary of our Founder for their timeless efforts and generous contribution in making the celebration a memorable event. It’s no small amount of work, in editing a book and giving it a good dispatch.

I am deeply grateful to all those who have contributing in editing, Compiling and publishing the books. I am most grateful to the genuine and constant support of the General Team, my sisters from different communities as well as Mother House Community Superior Sena Viegas, Novices, Candidates, our children and all our helpers. Each one of them reached out with great love to make this day a great one. Sincere thanks to Rev. Fr. Bernard Cota and our Choir members. With your Celestial singing; you took us to Celestial heights.

Thank you so much. I am thankful to the parishioners of Calangute Church, to the Police security from Traffic Cell, Painters, sound system, Videographer, Photographer, caterers, pandal, sound system as well as other helpers who volunteered their time and energy for the systematic functioning of today’s programme. My sincere thanks to HCN Network channel, CCR Network Channel, Herald, Vavraddeamcho Ixtt and Navhind Times news Editors Love includes every one.

Each of you played a unique role in making this day a beautiful day. My special thanks to all of you my dear friends who are present here today. You have been a great source of strength to us through your prayer, sacrifices, support and various other kind of help. For this we remain ever grateful to you. Our beloved Founder Remains ‘PAI’ to all of us. He prays for all our needs.

God be with us all.

“May the LORD, the God of your ancestors, increase you a thousand times and bless you as he has promised!” (Deut 11:1)

-Sr. Faria Barretto