BETHANY EDUCATIONAL SOCIETY'S
ST. SEBASTIAN'S HIGH SCHOOL
LOLIEM, CANACONA, GOA

Brief Life sketch of RFC Mascarenhas

The Founder of the the Bethany Congregation Mangalore

 

Raymond Francis Camillus Mascarenhas as a young boy was called Raymond. He was born on 23rd January 1875.His parents were Lazarus and Joanna. They had 13 children. Raymond was the Seventh one in the family. He was baptized on 27th March 1875 at Sacred Heart church, Shimoga.  He received his first Holy Communion at Milagres Church Mangalore in 1885. Raymond received his earlier education at Milagres School. Mangalore. 

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He decided to follow the voice of the Divine Master calling him to priesthood. But there was one difficulty that baffled him, he could not sing a single musical note. But through the intercession of Saint Francis Xavier, he received the gift of singing and so he added the name 'Francis' to his baptismal name as a constant reminder of the favor. From then on he was known as Raymond Francis Camillus or familiarly RFC. On 23rd February 1891 at the age of 16 he entered the saint Joseph's Seminary in Mangalore and was ordained Priest at Rosario Cathedral, Mangalore on 4th March 1900 and on 11th March 1900 Father Raymond Mascarenhas celebrated his first Solemn Mass in Milagres Church Mangalore. In 1900 March to June he was appointed Asst. Vicar at Milagres Church Mangalore and from March 1901 - May 1903 at Mount Rosary Kallianpur. In 1903 he wrote the first literacy book in Konkani. In 1903 he was appointed the Vicar at St. Francis Xavier Church, Udyavar, and from 1910 May - 1914 August he was a Vicar of Most Holy Church Agrar. He was appointed the First Parish Priest of Bendure Mangalore from August 1914 to August 1931. 

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As a priest Father Mascarenhas encouraged young boys and girls to dedicate their lives to God. He worked for the education of children of middle and lower economic groups to get education. 

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He founded Bethany on July 16th 1921 on the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, with just four lady teachers of the Bendure 

Parish namely, Sr. M. Martha (Marceline Menezes), Sr. M Clare (Flora Mathias),  Sr. M. Loudes (Alice Mathias) and Sr. M Gertrude (Regina Gertrude Gonsalves.). 

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On 1st August 1931, Bishop Victor Fernandes appointed SD Servus Dei in Latin means Servant of Goad) Raymond, Vicar general of Mangalore. On 28th October 1935 there was a perpetual Adoration introduced at Bethany. The most outstanding work of Mgr Raymond was the translation of the Four Gospels in 1949 and The New Testament in 1952 into Konkani, the language of the majority of the Catholics of South Kanara. He received the honor by pope Pius XII as Domestic Prelate on 20th June 1955. On 4th March 1960 Fr. Raymond celebrated Sacerdotal Diamond Jubilee. 

He left for His eternal home peacefully on 23rd December 1960 and was buried at high altar of St. Sabastian Church, Bendur, Mangalore. Through his intercession healing take place and favours are received. He was declared as a 'Servant of God on 3rd June 2008 

We pray that Goad may grant to his servant, the honours of the alter for the "Greater Glory of God" and for the spread of His Kingdom. 

Definitely, Father Raymond will intercede for all those who seek his assistance. 

"Why should I be an instrument of evil? I would rather go about doing good." 

(Servant of God Raymond FC Mascarenhas)