Historical St. Aloysius College (SAC) marks patron’s feast day
Mangaluru: The Feast of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, Jesuit Saint and patron of the historical college of Mangaluru, St. Aloysius College (SAC) was celebrated by the Jesuits with a simple yet solemn mass at the antique St Aloysius College Chapel, Mangaluru on Sunday, 21 June. Fr Dionysius Vaz SJ, Rector of St Aloysius Institutions was the main celebrant. Fr. Praveen Martis SJ, Principal of St. Aloysius College (Autonomous) Mangaluru shared the word of God with an inspiring homily. Fr. Vinod Paul SJ, Finance Officer, St Aloysius PUC; and Fr. Pradeep Crasta SJ, Director of Loyola Pre-Noviciate, were concelebrated on the altar.
The melodious choir led by Ms Jennifer Pinto (Choir leader), Ms Wilma Fernandes, Ms Oshin D’Silva, Ms Meghana Saldanha, Sanjeeth Rodrigues and Fr. Sujay Daniel added to the prayerful ambience.
The Rector, Fr. Dionysius Vaz SJ gave an insightful and moving message. He wished everyone and called for an inner and outer journey just like St. Aloysius Gonzaga.
About St. Aloysius de Gonzaga :
St. Aloysius de Gonzaga ( 9 March 1568 – 21 June 1591) was an Italian aristocrat who became a member of the Society of Jesus. While still a student at the Roman College, he died as a result of caring for the victims of a serious epidemic. In 1591, a plague broke out in Rome. The Jesuits opened a hospital for the stricken, and Aloysius volunteered to work there. After begging alms for the victims, Aloysius began working with the sick, carrying the dying from the streets into a hospital founded by the Jesuits. There he washed and fed the plague victims, preparing them as best he could to receive the sacraments. But though he threw himself into his tasks, he privately confessed to his spiritual director, Fr. Robert Bellarmine, that his constitution was revolted by the sights and smells of the work; he had to work hard to overcome his physical repulsion. He was beatified in 1605 and canonized in 1726. Significant for our times of the Corona Pandemic.
-Ivan Saldanha
Photos: Stanley Bantwal