Mangaluru: International Nurses Day was observed by Father Muller Charitable Institution on Friday.

The observance began with a solemn Eucharistic celebration at 7:30 am St Joseph Chapel thanking God for his showers of blessings on the nurses. Fr Richard Coelho, the director was the main celebrant. During his homily, the administrator of Father Muller Medical College Hospital, Fr Rudolph Ravi D’Sa preached that nursing is a call from the divine and a divine call to serve. He threw light on the life of St Mother Teresa of Kolkota as an example, to nurses, of sharing the love of the divine among the sick. The nurses offered their gifts during offertory procession and these were distributed among the low income employees of the institutions.

At 11:30 am the felicitation and finale of the Nurses’ Week was celebrated at the academy hall. A prayer dance performed by the nurses filled the ambience with awe. Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, the bishop of Mangaluru diocese and the president of the institutions graced the program as the chief guest and the president of the programme. The administrator of the Father Muller Medical College Hospital, Fr Rudolph Ravi D’Sa accorded a warm welcome to the gathering. It was followed by a tribute to two stalwarts for their services to the ailing society, Fr Augustus Muller, founder of Father Muller Charitable Institutions and Florence Nightingale, founder of modern nursing. Their portraits were garlanded by Bishop Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza, and Fr Richard Aloysius Coelho as a sign of respect. A report of the activities and events of the Nurses Week 2018 was read out by Malini Noronha, assistant nursing superintendent.

Sr Loredana Korah was honoured for her towards selfless contributions to the intellectual formation of the aspiring nurses at these institutions in various capacities.

She was full of awe to the Institutions and to the nurses who have sought distinctive recognitions throughout the world. She stressed that education is the heart and
the heart of education is education itself. She congratulated the nurses for their contributions in nursing education and nursing services.

The faculty of the Father Muller College and School of Nursing who contributed at the panel discussion were felicitated by Sr Jacintha D’Souza, principal of Father Muller College of Nursing. The highest scorers of the test on hospital practices and policies were congratulated. Among the nursing quality coordinators, Prescilla Lorriena D’Silva scored the highest. Elizabeth VT and Asha Castelino scored the highest marks among the assistant nursing superintendents, Wilma Goveas and Greeshma Sheetal D’Souza scored the highest marks among the ward in-charges. Sheral Crasta and Sandeep Dominic Savio scored the highest among the senior nurses and among the junior nurses the highest marks were scored by Clancy Luvina and Greeshma D, Jeena Susan and Patricia Rashmi and their choir of nightingales who sing at every liturgical celebrations and Institution programme were also congratulated.

Fr Richard Coelho congratulated the nurse saying that there is a triple reason for joy today for the nurses at Father Muller Medical College Hospital. Firstly, nurses comprise the largest working force next only to the IT professionals. Secondly, the nurses educated the Father Muller School and College of Nursing and who have worked in our Institutions are globally recognised and thirdly, the nurses at the Father Muller Medical College Hospital is recognised for their best nursing services in the country. The director blessed the nurses as he concluded his message.

Bishop Dr Aloysius Paul D’Souza further congratulated the nurses and vouched the director in uplifting the spirit of the nurses. The bishop added another feather to the hats of the nurses by saying that people and patient flock to Father Muller Medical College Hospital for the care provided by the nurses. The bishop was glad that the hospital is furnished with nurses in abundance and he acclaimed it as a blessing upon the Institutions by the founder Fr Augustus Muller. He explained the paradigm change brought in by Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. He also urged the nurses to reconsider their profession as not only as a salaried job but as a vocation and a mission. He insisted that nurses should always carry a smile on their faces while at the service of the sick and suffering and elucidate the importance of prayer in the life of a nurse.

The felicitation programme concluded with a vote of thanks rendered by Sr Janet D’souza, chief nursing officer and it was followed by a short cultural programme and lunch.