Sr MARIA JYOTHI A.C.  –"A Special Mother of Special Children". Mostly people walk on the paths that are broad, smooth and trodden by many to reach their goals.  Rarely a person thinks of a new path to reach the goal. Sr Maria Jyothi A.C. is one among those rare ones, who firmly believed in a new way and was convinced of the fact that whatever good she has to do, should be done immediately for she will not pass this way again.

 Miss Edith Rose D’ Souza was born to a devout and wealthy couple Mr John Baptist D’ Souza and Mrs. Mary D’ Souza (Menezes) in Bendur, Mangalore on 16-12-1943. She was the 3rd child of the 10 siblings of her parents out which 7 were girls and 3 boys. One of her sister is also an Apostolic Carmel nun working in Africa. Her father was from the famous D’ Sozua family well known for textile trade in Mangalore. Having completed her Primary, Secondary, High School & Degree education she renounced blood related family life to join a bigger family of Apostolic Carmels to serve the Lord in 1965.  Her calling was to care for the Special Needs Children who are physically and mentally challenged and neglected ones.  Edith turned into Sr Maria Jyothi as she grew in age and wisdom in the portals of AC family.

Education: Having graduated with B.A. Degree from St. Agnes College, Mangalore, and the B.Ed. Degree from St. Ann's College of Education, Mangalore, she then did her M.A. in Special Education from Cardinal Stritch University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.A., to acquire special skills and to take care of the children with special needs.

Memberships:

• 2001 to 2004 Governing Body – Fr Muller’s Medical College Kankanady Mangalore.

• 2001 to date Governing Body – Community Based Rehabilitation Forum – Bangalore.

• 2001 to date Provincial Councilor – Apostolic Carmel Karnataka Province

• 2006 – Committee Member – Sarva Shiksha Abiyana, Public Education Department, Mangalore division.

Helped to open the Rehabilitation Facilities for the mentally challenged children:

• Lion’s Special School – Suratkal Mangalore

• Manasa Rehabilitation Centre – Pamboor

• Lion’s Special School – Venur – now Christ Raj Navachethana Special School Venur

• St. Mary’s Special School – Kinnigoli

• Carmel Vidhya Vikas Kendra – Bailhongal, Belgaum

• C.B.R. Programme – Bailhongal, Belgaum

Member of the inspecting team of RCI – Inspected the following institutions:

• AWH Institute for the Handicapped, Pavamani Road, Calicut, Kerala – 673 001.

• Pope Paul Mercy Home Residential Training Centre for the M.R., Permigandoor, Thrissur Dist. Kerala – 680 581.

• Mrs Ann Memorial Training Institute for Special Education, Maru Thorvaltour P.O. Cherthala, Salem, Tamil Nadu – 636 502.

• Prabodhini Trust, Old Pandit Colony, Sharanpur Road, Nashik – 422 002.

• Lokvishmas Pratishthan, Shantadurga Krupa Ashram, Kapileshurari, Dhavali Road, Goa – 403 401.

Resource Person:

• Integrated Education – Block Education Officers of Mangalore and Hassan Districts at Govt. B. Ed. College, Mangalore – 2001.

• Slide Presentation on Integrated Programmes.

• Slide Presentation on the Institutionalized and Home based mentally challenged senior citizen, seminar conducted by NIMH at Bangalore.

• Apostolic Carmel Special Educators Meet – Mapsa Goa – 2004.

• International A.C. Principal’s Meet – Bangalore – 2005.

• Community Based Rehabilitation and Assessment – Cheshire Home Pollibetta, Marcara – 2005.

• Inclusive Education – 4 Primary and High School Teachers of Kasaragod District 2005-2006.

• Causes & Prevention of Disabilities & Inclusive Education / Pre-University College / High School Staff and Students of Bailhongal Taluk Belgaum – 2006 Two 3 days programs on inclusive education to Primary Teachers 2

 Collaboration:

• Collaborated with the National Institute for Mentally Handicapped (NIMH) Secunderabad along with the DSE(MR) Trainees in the Project of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to provide services to the Endocelphan victims of Kasaragod Dist. Kerala.
   

 Achievements:

Sr Maria Jyothi is the Founder Principal of St. Agnes Special School who was chosen as a responsible and fitting instrument during Centenary Memorial Year of the Apostolic Carmel in India to pioneer this work for the congregation. She administered the school for 32 years as its pioneering Principal from 1970-2002. 

During her tenure the school bagged the title of The Best Special School of Karnataka State in 1993.

As a Silver Jubilee Memorial of the Institute an extension block was built and the same was inaugurated and blessed in 1994 by Most Rev. Dr Basil S. D’ Souza, Bishop of Mangalore. After her retirement she continues to be the Principal of St. Agnes Teacher Training Institute for Special Education and Coordinator for B. Ed. Special Education, Distance Mode.  St. Agnes Special School is a Study Centre of Madhya Pradesh Bhoj Open University. She is a member of the Provincial Council of the Apostolic Carmel Karnataka Province.

Honours and Awards:

Among the various honours and awards that she has secured the
 
prominent and rightly deserved Karnataka Rajyotsava Award from Karnataka State Government in 1993 was conferred on her by honourable Chief Minister Mr S. Bangarappa.

Rotary Vocational Excellence Award in 2004-05.

Honoured by Dr B.M. Hegde Ex Vice Chancellor of MAHE in 1993 at Special School Bendore.

Honoured by Mrs Vasanthi A. Pai President of Federation for the welfare of the mentally retarded (FWMR) in 1993 at Special School, Bendore.

Sr Maria Jyothi is well known in Mangalore for her simplicity, hard work, immense patience and persuasive traits.  Humility is her armour, service is her motto and compassion is her weapon to win the hearts of millions.  She is a down to earth person.  She cares for the special needs children and bestows her motherly love on them and hence deserves to be called Special Mother of Special Children.  She is the one who prepared these children for integration into society through transitional skills such as home skills like safety in home, shopping, using public transportation, personal cleanliness etc. to lead an independent life.

Sr Maria Jyothi is very much appreciative of the kind gesture of Kuwait Canara Welfare Association (KCWA-Kuwait) for volunteering to build a Computer Training Centre for the Differently Abled Persons. Sr Maria was inspired to work for these due to the influence of the life style of the Foundress of the Apostolic Carmel – Mother Veronica who was a blend of intelligence and spirituality.

Sr Maria Jyothi who was a real “Jyothi” (Light) to the life of the neglected children rightly deserves to obtain the credit of being the Super Star of www.konkaniworld.com.  Taking into consideration her personal qualities, passion for social service and care of the special needs children www.konkaniworld.com crowns her with the title Konkaniworld Super Star.  May her tribe increase.  May she live long.

When she was asked for the message to the viewers of the www.konkaniworld.com by me she said, “Opportunity lost is lost forever. It will not come again. Hence, utilize every opportunity to serve the less fortunate ones and make this life fruitful for you will not pass this way again.”

By: Rev. Dr Ronald Cutinha