Dear Staff, Parents, students and well-wishers of Joseph’s family - my prayerful greetings to all of you.
“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so
hard.”
First
and foremost I would like to express my deep sentiments of gratitude to every
one of you for your constant support, love and concern towards the college and the
Christian Brothers for last 40 years. This has enabled and encouraged us to
strive hard to carry forward our common mission. Our vision was not just to impart
knowledge to the children, but to help them cultivate authentic values, to empower
every student admitted to this great institution.
Education
is the vehicle of knowledge, self-preservation and success. Education not only
gives us a platform to succeed, but also the pathway to social conduct,
strength, character and self respect. The greatest gift education gives us is
the knowledge of unconditional love and a set of values. A good education makes
us complete : it makes us people of justice, and it enables
us to be decision makers for the common good of all. In the competitive world
of today, education ranks only just below food, clothing and shelter as a basic necessity for human life.
With
this in mind, the Christian Brothers have worked hard with the other members of
our staff to enhance the life of every student
at St. Joseph’s P U College, to transform the quality of our education, to
make it an education that develops personality, an education that generates
recognition and respect in the family and society - and
in oneself. It has been our privilege to watch this process of growth in the
students whom you have entrusted to us.
The Christian
Brothers are proud that St. Joseph’s has stood as firm as a rock, an
impenetrable fortress to carry forward its mission of bringing enlightenment to
many. It has played a stellar role in
giving the nation each year a crop of brilliant young men and women who have
brought laurels to our district, our state and the country, at home and abroad.
It holds high the banner of integrity, secularism and unity, setting an example of selfless service.
It was in the year 1977 that the Christian Brothers came to
Bajpe. For forty years many Christian
Brothers have given their service to this institution, and indeed given themselves.
Now it’s time for all the Christian Brothers to say ‘goodbye and thank you’ to the St Joseph’s family, for family is what
we have been.
It’s definitely a very emotional
moment for me to say good bye to my beloved students, staff and parents. Who I am today is because of St Joseph’s P U
College. I joined the Christian Brothers in the year 1980. I did my PUC in St Joseph’s. I have been a student, a teacher, High School
in-charge and then the Principal. It has been a jouney of growth, challenge and
nourishment for me. It is impossible to
forget the Bishop of the time, Rt. Rev. Basil D’Souza, who appointed me as the Principal
of this college when I was raw, inexperienced and lacked the confidence that he
obviously had in me. . If I have been
able to carry forward the vision of our school founder Fr. Leo Carvalho till
now, it is because I enjoyed his support and guidance, and that of his
successor, our beloved Bishop Rt. Rev. Dr. Aloysius Paul D’Souza, all the
secretaries of Catholic Board of Education, the Christian Brothers, the parish
priests and their assistants, the staff, students and parents. The Christian
Brothers have been fortunate to be surrounded by committed staff members who
shared our vision and dreams. It is due to their support, loyalty, commitment
and sacrifice that we have been able to achieve so much. It has been our aim to
admit all students irrespective of their caste, religion, marks or geographical
area ; and to give priority to the poor
students who could not afford high fees.
Leaving a school and
community I cared a lot about, and saying my final goodbyes to my beloved
students, staff and parents, is going to be difficult. Every year, the
experience of staff and students leaving has been heart-wrenching ; I am not sure if it will be easier for me,
now that it is my turn to say goodbye. I will be forever grateful for every
moment. In the end, I would like to
conclude with St Paul’s quote:
I have fought the good fight, I have
finished the race, I have kept the faith.
BR. HECTOR PINTO,
PRINCIPAL,
ST. JOSEPH’S P U COLLEGE, BAJPE
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