SD Raymond FC Mascarenhas
Msgr Raymond F C Mascarenhas founded the only indigenous religious order, the Bethany Sisters, in 1921. He also founded the Bendur Church and parish in 1914 – 1931. The Bethany Congregation has spread worldwide and comprises 1,400 nuns, 175 convents all over India, and 15 convents abroad. The nuns have rendered a lot of service in women’s welfare, healthcare, geriatric care, and so on.
Raymond was born on Saturday, 23 January 1875, on the feast of St Raymond of Penyafort in Shimoga, Karnataka. But later on, interestingly, he had the privilege of bearing the names of three saints – Raymond, Francis Xavier, and Camillus.
Pioneers
