Nothing is Impossible When We Have a Mission: Superior General
Port Blair, Jan 8: The yearlong Golden Jubilee Celebrations of Carmel School Port Blair concluded with a vibrant and colourful programme of music and dance on 7th January 2018 at Mother Veronica Auditorium in the school premises. The valedictory function began at 5.00 pm in which Sr. M Susheela AC, Superior General, Apostolic Carmel was the chief guest while Shri Bishnu Pada Ray, Member of Parliament and Shri Pradeep Banerjee , Secretary (Law) was the guests of honour.
Addressing the august gathering of Students, Teachers, Parents and Alumni of the school, Sr. Susheela narrated the ordeal, she and the other Sisters had to undergo while setting up the school. ‘Nothing is impossible, when we have a mission’ said Sr. Susheela encouraging the gathering to have a mission in our lives which has been gifted by the Almighty. She also said that there is no better investment than investment in education.
Sr. Susheela had first visited islands as a teen ager in the year 1973, when she and her young colleagues had to toil with the crisis situation in the islands. Nevertheless the Superior General said, if she is given a choice to live, she would always opt for Andamans, sighting examples of the welcoming and kind gesture of the people of Andamans which makes it stand apart from any other place in India. The Superior General had also served the Carmel School as the Principal later.
Speaking on the occasion, the Member of Parliament, Shri Bishnu Pada Ray congratulated Carmel Port Blair for successfully completing 50 glorious years in the field of education. He said that the school has been imparting quality education which fosters good moral values in the students in leading a meaningful life. Ray mentioned that the Government is providing grants to Minority Institutions and urged the management to set-up Carmel Schools in remote areas of the islands in order to impart quality education. He also had a mention about Sagritara School which received CBSE Affiliation after he had taken up the matter with the HRD Minister, Shri Prakash Javdear. The Ministry had amended the criteria for getting affiliation considering the remoteness of the islands and classifying it as backward area.
The MP also saluted the struggle of the Sisters in setting up Carmel School in such remote area of the nation and remembered his days when he too had to struggle when he had first decided to come to the islands. He also mentioned that over his three terms as the MP, he has been approached by several people to recommend for admission in Carmel but he never wanted to interfere with the functioning of the school under the Apostolic Carmel Sisters.
Earlier Sr. Maria Reshma, Principal of the School and Patron of Carmel Alumni welcomed the guests and the gathering. She had a word of appreciation for all those who had supported in establishment of Carmel Port Blair. A special souvenir was also released on the occasion by the Chief Guest and the Guests of Honor to mark the Golden Jubilee year of the school. The School Alumni under the leadership of Shri Manohar Lal, President had also felicitated the visiting dignitaries, the Sisters who had served in the islands.
Among the other dignitaries present on the occasion were Sr. M. Marcella A.C. Provincial Superior, Sr. M. Lancia A.C. Former Provincial Superior/ Former Principal, Sr. M. Mirabelle A.C. Former Provincial Superior / Vice Principal, Sr. Marie Ivy A.C. Former Principal, Sr. Marie Fay A.C. Former Manager/ Superior, Sr. Roselinda A.C. Manager & Superior, Sr. M.Leela A.C. Former Principal, Sr. M. Agnelita, A.C. Former Principal and Fr. Joe Rodrigues SFX.