It was drizzling on Sunday morning (17th July). I didn’t join my community for the Mass at the Post-Graduate block chapel, instead my classmate, Rajini Reddy and I went for Mass at the Church of Holy Family, near Gurudwara Colony, Lohegaon, Pune. It is situated in the Air Forces Camp of Pune which is about 10 kms from my college.
The parish priest in-charge, Fr Jayaseelan (msfs), who stays nearby our college drove us for Mass accompanied by 6 brothers. Fr Jayaseelan gave me the opportunity to celebrate Mass for his community. There were about 150 people who participated in the Mass concelebrated by 2 priests and a Deacon.
When I saw this little Church, it brought back fond memories of those chapels I used to go to for the outstation Masses when I was at the Church of Visitation, Seremban.
After Mass, my classmate and I went to Mount St. Patrick Academy (an institute of the Brothers of St. Patrick). Two of the Patrician Brothers – Bro. Dennis Joseph FSP, the institute’s principal since 2007 and Bro. Solomon who is doing his master’s programme with me took us to their place. After so many days in Pune and having a steady diet of Indian cuisine, I had a continental breakfast and really enjoyed it.
Bro Dennis explained about the establishment of the Mount St. Patrick Academy in Pune and gave a brief history of St Patrick Academy in India. The congregation of the Brothers of St Patrick or the Patrician Brothers began in Tullow, Ireland on 2nd February, 1808. The congregation was founded by Rt. Rev. Dr Daniel Delaney, under the patronage of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. In 1846, the Brothers laid foundation for mission abroad to USA, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Africa, etc. In 1875, the first foundation of the Patrician Brothers was laid in Cennai, India.
Today, the Patrician Brothers run schools, colleges, boarding houses, technical institutions and non-formal education centres.
In the year 2002, the then Provincial Rev. Bro Berchmans initiated the project in Pune because it is a rapidly growing industrial city, which was known also as the “Oxford of the East”. This high school is located at the foot of the hills of about 15 acres of land. It is about 15 km away from Pune town and is 20 minutes drive from the Pune Airport. The foundation was laid officially on 17th July 2003 by His Excellency Dr. Valerian D’Souza, the Bishop of Pune.
After visiting the institute, I was reflecting about what happened to our Missionary Schools in Peninsular Malaysia. The missionary schools and boarding schools in our country have closed down and many of them were acquired by the government. It’s really sad that in Malaysia, we have lost that great gift started by the Religious Brothers and Sisters and that our future generation will never have that experience of a Missionary school.
2 comments:
it is so good to hear that you are visiting other places as you often used to do here, this will enhanced your experiences as a priest and will be of assistance when you return. Am very happy for you, you deserve all this after your excelent work here in seremban.
God Bless, Fr
Thank you for your continued words of encouragement and God bless you.
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