News n Pics : Eric Soans, Barkur
In a ceremony of deep emotion and lasting gratitude, the Golden Jubilee Committee felicitates the dedicated educators of a school that served the community for six decades.
Barkur, Karnataka— The corridors of Maryknoll High School, Barkur, which once echoed with the laughter of children and the quiet wisdom of devoted teachers, fell silent one final time as the institution prepared to close its doors. But before that silence became permanent, those corridors rang once more — this time with applause, with song, with shared tears, and with the warmth of a community coming together to say thank you. The Maryknoll High School Golden Jubilee Committee organised a special Felicitation Programme to honour the Headmistress, teachers, and staff who gave the best years of their lives to this beloved institution, in what became one of the most emotionally stirring mornings Barkur has witnessed in recent memory.
From Humble Beginnings to a Community Cornerstone
The story of Maryknoll High School is one of quiet, steady grace. Founded approximately six decades ago by the Sisters of Charity, the school was established not merely as a place of academic instruction, but as a sanctuary of knowledge, a home of values, and a cradle of character for the young people of Barkur. In its early years, it opened its doors exclusively to girls — a bold and forward-thinking step for its time — before evolving, at the milestone of its Silver Jubilee, into a co-educational institution that welcomed both boys and girls, and in doing so, extended its nurturing embrace to the entire community.
Decade after decade, the school quietly went about its purpose — teaching, guiding, inspiring, and shaping. Generations of students passed through its gates, carrying with them not just academic knowledge but the values, discipline, and sense of service that Maryknoll so carefully instilled.
The Golden Jubilee and a Community's Gratitude
In 2016, Maryknoll High School marked fifty magnificent years of service with the celebration of its Golden Jubilee. A devoted committee of former students rose to the occasion, channelling their collective gratitude into something tangible and lasting. Through their vision and tireless effort, the school premises were lovingly renovated and restored — a gift from those who had received so much, to the institution that had given it all. That committee, the Maryknoll High School Golden Jubilee Committee, has remained active ever since, and it is they who organised this final, unforgettable evening of felicitation.
The End of an Era — A Decision Made With a Heavy Heart
It is with deep sorrow that the school's management announced the closure of Maryknoll High School at the conclusion of the current academic year. The decision, taken for unavoidable reasons, was not made lightly. In her thanksgiving address, Headmistress Sr. Jasmita Crasta spoke with candour about the circumstances that led to this difficult conclusion, even as she expressed profound gratitude for everything and everyone the school had been blessed with.
Students have been thoughtfully placed in other institutions, and teachers and non-teaching staff have been accommodated accordingly, ensuring that no life is left without direction. The management of the Mother Mary Trust, the principal backbone behind the school's existence, has ensured that the closure is handled with the same care and dignity that defined the school's every endeavor.
A Morning That the Community Will Long Remember
The felicitation programme commenced with a prayer offered by the last batch of students — a gesture both symbolic and deeply moving, as the very children who would be the school's final memory lifted their voices in devotion. The distinguished guests, including Convent Sister Superior Clara and members of the teaching fraternity, were ceremonially welcomed onto the dais.
Former student and Golden Jubilee Committee member Praveen Carvalho extended a warm formal welcome to the gathering, while former student and ex-President of Barkur Gram Panchayat, Smt. Sheila D'Souza, received the guests with the traditional offering of flowers — a moment of elegance befitting the occasion. The introductory address was delivered by Ashok Poojary, who framed the morning's purpose with clarity and feeling, reminding those assembled of the debt of gratitude they owed to the school and its remarkable staff.
The arrival of Rev. Fr. Ronald Miranda, Parish Priest of Barkur Church, lent the morning a spiritual dimension that many felt was entirely appropriate for a school rooted in faith and service.
Felicitation of Sister Superior — The Guiding Light of the Convent
In a ceremony of particular dignity, Sister Superior Clara — the head of the convent and the guiding spiritual authority of the institution — was honoured under the leadership of Gerald Gonsalves, one of the Trustees of the Mother Mary Trust. She was draped in a shawl, garlanded, and presented with a memento — each gesture a symbol of the community's reverence for her leadership and unwavering dedication to the school's mission.
Honouring Those Who Gave Their Years — The Felicitated Educators
The soul of the evening lay in the felicitation of the school's teachers and staff — individuals who, between them, represent well over a century of combined service to Maryknoll and to the children of Barkur. The honours were conferred by the office-bearers and members of the Golden Jubilee Committee, and separately, a felicitation was also conducted by the Parent-Teacher Association, led by its President, Smt. Latha Ganesh. Presented here in order of their years of devoted service:
Swarnalatha G — 30 Years of Service
The most enduring member of the faculty to be felicitated that evening, Swarnalatha G dedicated thirty remarkable years of her life to Maryknoll High School. Her three decades of service stand as a towering testament to commitment, patience, and love for the teaching profession. Speaking on behalf of all the honoured educators, she shared her reflections with grace and warmth, her words carrying the weight of countless classrooms, countless students, and countless mornings spent in the service of learning.
Harry Hector Gonsalves — 24 Years of Service
With twenty-four years at Maryknoll, Harry Hector Gonsalves became a defining presence across multiple generations of students. His tenure, spanning nearly a quarter of a century, made him one of the most recognisable and beloved figures in the school's recent history — a teacher whose influence reached far beyond the classroom walls.
Ramananda Rao — 19 Years of Service
Nineteen years of academic rigour, mentorship, and steadfast dedication — Ramananda Rao's contribution to Maryknoll High School is woven into the fabric of the institution itself. A teacher of quiet authority and lasting impact, his years of service are remembered with deep respect by colleagues and former students alike.
Suhaila Manohar Kairan — 16 Years of Service**
As the school's Kannada language teacher for sixteen years, Suhaila Manohar Kairan did more than teach grammar and literature — he nurtured the mother tongue and safeguarded the cultural identity of an entire generation of students. His passion for the Kannada language and his dedication to his students made him a cherished member of the Maryknoll family. He too addressed the gathering, sharing heartfelt memories and reflections on his years at the school.
Sulochana — 10 Years of Service
Ten years of earnest, committed service — Sulochana's contribution to the academic and moral life of Maryknoll High School left an impression that those who learned from her carry to this day. Her decade at the school was marked by professionalism, warmth, and a genuine love for her students.
Gretta Futardo — 9 Years of Service
Nine years of dedication, diligence, and devotion — Gretta Futardo's service to Maryknoll High School represents the kind of quiet, consistent commitment upon which great institutions are built. Her contribution, though perhaps less visible than those measured in decades, was no less meaningful.
Sumithra — 4 Years of Service
Though her time at Maryknoll was shorter, Sumithra's four years of service were marked by sincerity and a genuine commitment to her students. The committee's decision to include her in the evening's felicitation was a reflection of the school's belief that every year of dedicated service deserves to be honoured.
Ms. Harshitha — Short-Term Service
In a particularly touching gesture, Ms. Harshitha — who served the school as a short-term staff member — was also presented with a loving token of appreciation. This inclusion spoke volumes about the spirit of the evening: that no act of service, however brief, goes unacknowledged in the Maryknoll family.
When Memories Came Flooding Back
One of the most moving segments of the evening was when former student Kishore Gonsalves took to the floor to share his memories. Opening what can only be described as a treasure chest of nostalgia, he spoke of school days long past, of teachers who changed lives, and of an institution that shaped not just careers but character. His words resonated profoundly with every person in the room, drawing laughter, tears, and the kind of warm recognition that comes from shared experience.
The Headmistress Has Her Say — Sr. Jasmita Crasta
In her address, Sr. Jasmita Crasta — who served as Headmistress for the final seven years of the school's existence — delivered a speech that was at once informative, reflective, and deeply emotional. She explained with candour the reasons behind the school's closure, holding nothing back from a community that deserved the truth.
She took a moment to remember those who had been instrumental in founding the school, praying for the repose of their souls and acknowledging that the institution they built had outlived its founders by decades — itself a tribute to the strength of the foundation they laid.
She then thanked, by name and in spirit, every individual who had contributed to the school's growth and success over sixty years — teachers, parents, students, well-wishers, and benefactors alike.
And then came the moment that broke the room. Sr. Jasmita invited all students and alumni present to sing the school anthem together. As voices — young and old, present students and grey-haired graduates — rose in unison to sing those familiar words, the hall was suffused with an emotion that no speech could have produced. It was the sound of a school saying goodbye to itself, and it was beautiful.
Presidential Address — Sister Superior Clara
In her presidential address, Sister Superior Clara brought the formal proceedings to a close with warmth and grace. She took the opportunity to specially congratulate the Golden Jubilee Committee — its office-bearers and every member — for organising a programme of such sensitivity and dignity. Her words were a reminder that behind every great institution is a community that refuses to let it be forgotten.
A Vote of Thanks, a National Anthem, and One Last Meal Together
The formal proceedings concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Smt. Vivette Lewis, whose words of appreciation on behalf of the school and committee were both gracious and heartfelt. Throughout the morning, the compering was carried out with remarkable skill and warmth by Satish Amin, whose anchoring gave the programme its unique rhythm, its moments of levity, and its moments of stillness.
The ceremony was brought to a close with the singing of the National Anthem — a moment of collective pride that reminded everyone present that however personal this loss felt, Maryknoll's graduates carry something larger within them.
Refreshments were arranged for all in attendance, and as the community lingered over tea and conversation, sharing photographs and promises to stay in touch, it felt less like the end of something and more like a long, warm embrace before a farewell.
What Maryknoll Leaves Behind
Schools are not made of brick and mortar. They are made of the teachers who stay long after the bell has rung, the students who return years later just to walk through the gate once more, and the quiet pride of a community that knows it has been made better by what happened within those walls.
Maryknoll High School, Barkur, may be closing its doors. But the lessons it taught — of discipline and devotion, of service and sacrifice, of the Kannada language and the English essay, of faith and fellowship — those do not close. They walk out of those gates in the hearts of every student who ever sat in those classrooms, and they will be carried forward, quietly and surely, for generations to come.
The lamp of knowledge that Maryknoll lit sixty years ago has not been extinguished. It has simply been passed on.