Udupi: Sr. Aurelia Gaga completes 25 years of religious profession

By Eugene DSouza
Pics by John Rodrigues, Shankarpura
Bellevision Media Network

Udupi/Shankarpura, 12 May 2014: Sr. Aurelia Jenevive Gaga of Shankarpura completed 25 years of perpetual religious profession in the congregation of St. Charles Borromeo. The Silver Jubilee celebration was held in St. John the Evangelist Church, Shankarpura on Saturday, 10 May 2014 with solemn thanksgiving mass offered by Rev. Dr. Leslie D’Souza, parish priest along with four other priests. 

Following the thanksgiving mass, felicitation programme in honour of Sr. Aurelia was held in the parish hall.  Following the welcome dance by children, Sr. Aurelia cut the jubilee cake along with her family members while the church choir sang the felicitation song.

Former Principal of St. Mary’s College, Shirva where Sr. Aurelia  had completed the graduation raised the toast in honour of Sr. Aurelia with a number of anecdotes and memories of Sr. Aurelia when she was a student.

Rev. Fr. Leslie D’Souza speaking on this occasion complimented Sr. Aurelia for having completed 25 years of fruitful religious life. He also lamented about the fact that in the parish which was known as the ‘cradle of religious vocations’ the number of youngsters joining priesthood or religious life has dwindled to a great extent and hoped that  the occasions such as the celebration of the Silver Jubilee of Sr. Aurelia would inspire young boys and girls to join priesthood or religious life. 

 

In her emotional response to the felicitation, Sr. Aurelia narrated the circumstances that led her to choose the religious life. She said that she was inspired by her parents, brothers and sisters, Sr. Leena FMM who taught her English in sixth standard and her cousin Rev. Fr. Maurice D’Souza belonging to the Holy Cross Congregation from Moodubelle who is presently in the United States.

 

At the end of the felicitation programme, Lawrence Gaga, brother of Sr. Aurelia proposed the vote of thanks.

 

 

 Sr. Aurelia was born on 23 October 1963 as the sixth of  eight children- four sons and  four daughters  of  late Antony and late Faustine Gaga. She had her entire education from primary to college at Shirva in Don Bosco Higher Primary School, St. Mary’s High School and St. Mary’s College. After joining the religious congregation of St. Charles Borromeo, Sr. Aurelia completed B.Ed. course from R.V. College, Bangalore and M.A. from Mysore University. She has also acquired Diplomas in Computer and Counseling. 

During the past twenty five years, Sr. Aurelia had served at different centers of her religious congregation in the field of education. These include Bangalore, Karwar, Bhadrawathi, Hoshngabad-Madhya Pradesh and Mangalore. Presently, Sr. Aurelia is the Principal of Our Lady of Perpetual Succor School in Chembur, Mumbai.