Loreto Rainbow Homes held the first commemorative celebration of Sister Cyril Mooney at Loreto Day School Sealdah on June 21 and remembered her countless good deeds. Sister Cyril Mooney came to India in 1956 when she was only 20. The Irish nun was a Sister of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary and she transformed the lives of several girl children by providing education and support. She passed away on June 24, 2023
All photographs by Suvendu Das
The Rainbow Project is the brainchild of Sister Cyril through which young girls from underprivileged families are imparted education. The students of the Loreto Rainbow Homes and other Loreto schools across Kolkata came together to remember her great works for the city and celebrate her selfless life. The event began with the lighting of the lamp, followed by a soulful Sanskrit sloka by Tathagatha Mishra, National Music scholar
Up next was a panel discussion by six students from different Loreto schools moderated by Sebanti Mukherjee, alumnae and deputy superintendent, Calcutta Pavlov Hospital. Students Advaita Rebecca Sengupta, Loreto House, Triparna Shee, Loreto Day School Sealdah; Alisha Anwar, Loreto Day School, Elliot Road; Sanjukta Nath, Loreto Day School, Bowbazar; Aishani Biswas, Loreto Day School, Dharmatala and Pinki Singh, Loreto House, spoke about Sister Cyril’s mission of providing integrated holistic education
The panel introduced the audience to the works of the former principal of Loreto Day School Sealdah and its long-lasting impact on the society. The students discussed about the ‘Each One Teach One’ programme, Rural Child to Child Village programme, Corporation School Teaching programme, Brickfield Schools Programme, Childline, Hidden Domestic Child Labour and many such programmes led by Sister Cyril
Speakers took turns to speak about how Sister Cyril inspired them. In pictures, (from left) Shaheryaar Ali Mirza, president, Reach Out Star Foundation, Michael Antony, founder of the non-government organisation TRACKS, Sister Antoinette Rodrigues, IBVM, former Loreto provincial and principal of several Loreto schools, Bishakha Sen, assistant director, Loreto Rainbow Homes. Sister Rodrigues said: ‘This is a good time to remember, renew and commit to the values Sister Cyril taught us’
The programme ended with a vote of thanks by Sister Priyanka Topno, IBVM, director, Loreto Rainbow Homes followed by the singing of The Loreto chorus joined by the principals, teachers, students, guardians and guests. ‘This evening was a celebration of our dear Sister Cyril's passion for service and education. We all are here because we aspire by her examples in our lives today,’ said Sister Topno
