Mangaluru : The 55th Death Anniversary of Servant of God Raymond Francis Camillus Mascarenhas, the first Vicar of St Sebastian Church, Bendur and the founder of Bethany Sisters was celebrated Tuesday with a solemn Eucharist at 8.45 am. Most Rev. Aloysius Paul D`Souza the bishop of Mangalore was the main celebrant, with 9 other priests con-celebrating with him.

“Holiness is what happens when God meets with us,” said Rev. Fr Joe Tauro, OCD, the homilist of the day. Speaking about the Servant of God RFC Mascarenhas, Fr Tauro said that he was a man who focused on the goal and worked towards it single-mindedly, irrespective of what others said. “He worked for the glory of God and the good of others, specially the marginalized. It is our desire that he be canonized, but he himself did not work for self- glory,” he added.

After the Mass His Lordship and Sr Wilberta, Superior General of Bethany placed wreaths at the tomb of the Servant of God and prayers were made through the intercession of the Servant of God.

Fr Raymond Francis Camillus Mascarenhas, a priest of the diocese of Mangalore was born in Shimoga in 1875. He had his schooling at Milagres School and St Aloysius School, Mangalore. After passing the matriculation examination in the first class, he entered St Joseph Seminary, Jeppu and was ordained a priest on March 4, 1900. In 1914, he became the first parish priest of the newly formed Bendur Parish where he worked for 17 years. He founded the Bethany Sisters in 1921. He passed away on December 23, 1960. He was well known both for his spiritual life and the numerous works he undertook for the development of people. The Cause for his beatification and canonization was taken up in 2008. Every year the anniversary of his death is marked with solemnity and devotion.