Udupi: With the intention and mission of catering to the educational needs of the youth from rural background, 83 years old Late Monsignor Very Rev Denis J. D’Souza took a noble step. He had a dream that the boys and girls who worked as farmers should be able to go to the college straight from the paddy fields. It was with this divine will and power that Monsignor D J D’Souza founded the college in Kallianpur thus creating history, said Pramod Madhwaraj, Minister of Fisheries, Sports and Youth Empowerment, Government of Karnataka.
He was speaking during the Milagres College Golden Jubilee celebration at Kallianpur near here on Friday, January 13. He said, “The college has achieved its popular status in the locality for its outreach and philanthropic programmes. Its achievements in various academic and co-curricular activities are well acclaimed by people of the locality. The Karnataka Government has been supportive to educational institutions and has provided Rs. 50 Lakh to improve the road from Santhekatte to Kallianpur and Rs. 17 Lakh for the concretisation of College Road.”
The programme began with an invocation by college choir. Very Rev Fr. Stany B Lobo, Correspondent of Milagres Educational Institutions, welcomed the gathering.
Prof Archana Dabade presented the milestone of the college on Golden Jubilee year. Most Rev Dr. Gerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop and President of Catholic Education Society of Udupi Diocese presided over the programme.
Dr. Gerald Pinto, Principal of Milagres Degree College, Savitha Kumari, Principal of Milagres PU College and Helma Flemina Picardo, Secretary of Students Welfare Council, placed their annual report respectively.
Shirthady William Pinto and Very Rev Fr. William Gonsalves, persons who helped had the founder to establish the college, were felicitated by the Bishop. Meanwhile, Very Rev Fr. Marcel Saldahna, former correspondent of the college, past principals of the degree college as well as PU college were felicitated on the occasion. Rev Fr. Valerian Mendonca and Prof Sadashiva also spoke after the felicitation.
Meanwhile, retired staff from both teaching and administration, were honoured on the occasion. Supportive members of public were also felicitated. International Weight Lifter Karthik Poojary and other student achievers were honoured by Alfred Crasto, an alumnus of the college and chief guest of the celebrations.
Addressing the gathering Dr. Oscar Fernandes, Rajya Sabha member and former central minister said that Udupi was not only known for development in banking but also in the field of education. It is one of the top districts in India recognized for banking and quality education, he added. “Milagres College has filled the vacuum in providing quality higher education. It has been giving quality service to the society in this rural area since the past 50 years”, he lauded.
Chief Guest Alfred Crasto expressed his joy on returning to the college after 30 years and called on the students to keep visiting their college even after their studies.
Fr. Lawrence D’Souza, Secretary CESU, said that it was the day to remember the sacrifice of those who contributed towards the institution, look back with gratitude and see forward with good hope. He said that Milagres College had been declared as Pride of Catholic Church in India.
In his presidential address, Dr. Gerald Isaac Lobo said that Milagres stood for miracles. “We should remember former correspondents, principals and others who had a great vision for the development of the institution. The most important persons on the campus are the students for whom the college exists. We are proud of the college students who have excelled in various fields and shining all over the world in various positions of honour. Milagres forms students into persons of integrity and responsibility’, he expressed.
A souvenir of the golden jubilee was released by the Bishop on the occasion.
Msgr Dr. Baptist Menezes, Vicar General of Udupi Diocese and Vice President of CESU; Janardhan Thonse, ZP member; Pushpa Kotian, President of Kallianpur Grama Panchayat; Dhanajay Kunder, taluk panchayat member: Rev Fr. Prakash Anil Castelino, Campus Director; Dr. Neri Cornelio, Vice President of Milagres Cathedral Parish Pastoral Council; Ravichandra Nayak, Degree PTA Presidentl; Vishnu Prasad, PU PTA President; Rosalia Cardoza, President of SWC in degree section; Joyce D’Souza, President of SWC, PU section; Shalet Mathias, Staff Secretary in degree section and Matilda Lewis, Staff Secretary in PU section; Joseph Peter Fernandes, Organising secretary of Golden Jubilee celebrations and others were present on the dais.
Matilda Lewis proposed a vote of thanks. Students of both degree and PU conducted various cultural programmes in the afternoon.
