“We give thanks to you O God, we give thanks as we invoke your name, as we recount your marvels” (Ps 75:1)
Mangaluru: With a joyful note, we recount the countless blessings of the Lord during the past 75 years and render thanks to God as we recall the history of Capitanio Institutions.
The grand finale of Capitanio Educational Institutions was held in glittering celebrations. It was presided by Dr. Sr. Matilda Monteiro, Provincial Superior of Sisters of Charity, Mangalore Province. Guests of Honour were U T Khader – Minister for Health & Family Welfare-Govt. of Karnataka, Captain Ganesh Karnik – MLC & Opposition Chief whip, Nalin Kumar Kateel – MP, Ivan D’Souza – MLC, Fr. Mathew Vas – Parish Priest of Angelore Church, Jacintha V Alfred – Mayor of Mangaluru City Corporation, Cyprian Monteiro – DDPI Development DIET, Jnanesh – BEO Mangaluru South, Sr. Grace Joseph – Secretary of Sisters of Charity Educational Society, Sudhir Shetty – Opposition Leader of Mangaluru City Corporation and Corporators – Praveen Chandra Alva, Asha D’Silva and Sabitha Misquith.
The cultural extravaganza started with a dance by Nursery kids and Lower Primary students – Save Animals. The main dance drama (Amritha Kirana) was on the life of Bartolomea Capitanio. It was a ballet with light and sound effect. The audience about 3000 in number, appreciated the ballet. It successfully depicted Bartolomea as a girl who had a vision for her life’s mission. She wanted to reach sainthood early, she would overcome her pride, she learnt values of neighbourly love and concern and helpfulness at home and in the boarding school. She had a thirst to help the young poor girls, the needy and the sick. She took pains to do all the good she could do for the most needy. With this thought, she dedicated her life to God and his service by doing good to the neighbour. Hence, she founded the Religious Institute called Sisters of Charity. This was the main message imparted to the audience through the ballet. All were very much impressed by the life of young Bartolomea and her vision.
The heads of various departments, the staff, students, their parents, ex-students, Parents-Teachers Association members and well wishers, all worked hand in hand and collaborated wholeheartedly to make this grand finale a great success.
As we march ahead into the last quarter of the century, we feel that much more remains to be done and we just cannot afford to rest on our laurels at this stage. We now need to take on the challenges of a relentlessly changing world with ever greater confidence and competence and unflagging spirit of service.
Our sentiments on this momentous occasion can be captured in these wonderful words of the eminent statesman Dag Hammarskjol “For all that has been ‘Thanks’ – For all that will be ‘Yes’.”
Seventy five years of hard work and dedication added with determination and love for the students should not be taken for granted. The nuns of Sisters of Charity deserve a strong applause with gratitude and thanks. Tens of thousands of children have gone thru their Educational process and many of them have prospered so well during their life span. The Nuns have given and continue to give their very best for the students, and many many parents have smiled at the nuns with a sense of satisfaction. “Capitanio” is a name that we have heard from our childhood, and the school facilities we have witnessed for the past 75 years. Thank you, dear nuns of Sisters of Charity. May God take good care of you always. We were at another Sisters of Charity School not too long ago and were impressed in the manner the nuns take so good care of their students and enrich them not only in their Educational discipline but also in their sports and athletic discipline. God bless.