Celebration of 125th founding anniversary begins

Archbishop Paulinus Costa and other bishops unveil a plaque with the portrait of Mother Euphrasie Barbier on the St Scholastica's Girls' School premises in Chittagong yesterday marking the 125th founding anniversary of RNDM Mission and the school.Photo: STAR

The two-day celebration of 125th founding anniversary of RNDM Mission and St Scholastica's Girls' School began here yesterday.
Reverend Archbishop of Dhaka Paulinus Costa was the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony held on the school premises.
On the first day, sisters of the mission celebrated 125th anniversary of the arrival of RNDM founder Mother Euphrasie Barbier in Chittagong who established here the first centre of the mission in Asia in 1883.
Archbishop Paulinus said mission sisters had played a great role for the development of the distressed children in the region through their service and dedication by establishing and conducting school, hostel and orphanage side by side preaching the holy teachings of Jesus.
He hoped that the sisters would continue their work to build fraternity and harmony among all and foster among the students the spirit of honesty, justice, love and humble service for all.
RNDM Superior General Sister Maureen McBride said, “Today we celebrate the vision and courage of our founder. On this day we honour the woman of faith who founded this mission and loved the people of this land.”
Mentionable, Euphrasie Barbier of France along with five companions Sister Marie du Sacre-Copeur, Sr Marie de la Nativite, Sr Marie St Stanislaus, Sr Marie Philppe and Sr Marie St Verinique arrived in Chittagong on March 24 of 1883 in an Austrian ship to establish the first RNDM mission in India.
Soon they set up a school for poor children, an orphanage, a hostel for young widows and a school for young ladies.
St Scholastica's Girls' High School has now become one of the best schools in the port city, said the Headmistress Sr Mary Palma.
RNDM have also established five high schools, 10 primary schools, four free primary schools, two orphanages, nine hostels and five clinics in different parts of the country while they are carrying out different social, pastoral and spiritual works, she added.