Archive | April 2014
Season of Grace
Auxilium Dum Dum Community walks the journey of Lenten Season responding the Church’s invitation: fasting, praying and giving alms.
On Saturday, 12th April 2014, at 4.00 pm, 105 tired and worn-out cycle Rickshaw men of the locality were warmly welcomed to the school premises by all Sisters of the community and our provincial Sr. Maria Pettayil too was present. It was touching to see the expression of surprises on their faces – joy, wonder, shy, fear and many more…
The evening was special and the significance was tangible sharing of our Lenten saving with the young, middle aged and old cycle Rickshaw men. The Joy was mutual.
As the men sat comfortably on the chairs, in front of the school’s open stage, Ms. Martina Roy gave an overwhelming message, boosting the morale of the rickshaw men. She made them aware that God loves them and they are created in His own image and likeness. She said that as the hero and heroine perform their role on the stage and when out from the stage, they are rated according to their performances. And likewise each one of us has come to fulfill our duties and when we are committed we serve God and our work is God. She said: “You work to earn money but in doing so you are helping the society by taking the sick people to the hospital, children to the schools on time and others to different place. Render your services lovingly.” In her concluding message she said: “Jesus is the Saviour of the world who suffered, died and rose from the dead to give everyone eternal life.”
Community Sisters entertained them with a Bengali melodious song. Sr. Kanchan Bara thanked in a short prayer to the Almighty God for their services that is hard and fatiguing and implored God for peace, love and unity in their families. She said: “Society needs you and without you it is incomplete.” In the name of the community she then extended the Easter greetings to them.
They were then invited to receive a packet of rice, potatoes, onions, eggs and toffee. Every one of them gratefully appreciated the kind gesture of the Sisters.
Mr.Saiful Mondol one of the rickshaw pullers said “God bless the sisters and may they carry on their charitable enterprises.”
Mr.Ajit Chakraborty said: “This is the first time in our life; we received such a warm welcome in a school.”
Mr. Raju added: “The sisters have made our day special and we feel obliged for their love and support.”
Seldom had their presence made impact on the society, definitely their absence would make a difference. The initiative is insignificant but it’s our Lenten widow’s mite sharing.
“We Read the Word of God,
We Believe what you read,
We Preach what you believe,
We Practice what you preach”.
Sr. Lucy Kachira
FMA PAST PUPILS’ FEDERATION ASSEMBLY
AUXILIUM, DUM DUM: The FMA Past Pupils’ Federation General Assembly was held on 5th April 2014 at Auxilium Dum Dum. This event focused to motivate the participants for a better committed life in their homes and society where they live. Input sessions were conducted by the provincial of FMA, Sr. Maria Pettayil, Mr. Rajiv Tikmany the world Councillor , National president and president of the DB Alumni Liluah, Sr. Elizabeth Joseph the Provincial Delegate of the Federation and Sr. Leelamma Palliparambil the co-ordinator of NDF.
The day saw intense input sessions, questionnaires, discussions, drawing of Action plans, interactive session between Federation and Units, evaluation etc.
Sr. Provincial stressed on the importance of living a meaningful life with our commitments doing something beautiful for God and finding joy in serving the poor and the needy.
An enriching input session by Mr.Tikmany reminded the past pupils of their identity as committed persons and urged the necessity of living the quality education which they received in the institutions of FMA. He emphasised on being the light and salt in the society, contributing towards a better change in the world, as the past pupils are spread all over the country and in the world at large. He urged them to collaborate with the Salesian Family in the work of Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello and to be faithful to the Salesian charism in their service. The whole day programme created a lot of enthusiasm, insight and awareness and led the members to take concrete action plans for the future.
“Come and See” programme conducted
“Call and Response” was the theme of the come and see programme which was held at Aspirantate, Barasat from April 5- 11, 2014. The five young girls with six Aspirants took active part in these six days of come and see programe. The main focus was about our call and how do we respond to it. There were different passages taken from the Bible on the divine call, eg. the call of Levi and other apostles. Sr. Prisila Bara helped them to understand and deepen their own call. Meditations were animated very creatively by Sr. Leelamma Palliparambil which helped the candidates to experience Jesus’ love more deeply in their lives. They came to know our charism better by watching the video on Don Bosco our founder and Mother Mazzarello our co- foundress. Community life and prayer experiences enhanced their knowledge of the salesian way of life. The evening recreations added more colour to the day as they sang and danced in different languages. On 11th April at 12.00 noon we ended our programme with a short stage programme by the candidates. They expressed their love and gratitude to the sisters and the community.
Sr. Prisila Bara
The Health Camp organized to mark the World Health Day
BARASAT- KSSDS: On 6th April 2014, a free health camp was organized at Mazzarello Home Monsada by the KSSDS (Kolkata Salesian Sisters Development Society) under the leadership of Sr. Leelamma Palliparambil, the coordinator of Social Ministry in the Province. The close collaborators were Sr. Sherley Kalapurayil, Mrs. Rita Das, Dr. Prodip Chakroborty, Dr. Uday and sisters from the community of Monsada.
The patients eagerly waited for this day so that the doctors could relieve them from their physical ailments. The Medical Camp started at 11.00 am and ended at 3.00 pm successfully.
It was a day of knowing, understanding and realizing the pathetic medical conditions of the rural areas of West Bengal and our little effort to solve their problems.
HCA KICKS OFF ECUMENICAL JOURNEY
Holy Child Auxilium School – Vasant Vihar, initiated a new project; an Ecumenical journey with the students of various Christian denominations. The growing number of pupils belonging to various Christian denominations prompted the management to take this imperative step of cultivating awareness among the young people about the exigency of bringing about unity among various denominations of the Christian brethren. Hence, it is the need of the hour to sensitize the younger generation about the prayer and wish of Jesus. “That all may be one”.
On 4th April 2014, Dr. Teresa Joseph fma, secretary CBCI Office for Dialogue and Desk for Ecumenism encountered a lively and enthusiastic crowd of youngsters of class VIII who are open, eager and all set to explore into the prayer of Jesus: “That they all may be one.”
The vibrant youngsters in one chorous affirmed that each of them and the various Christian denominations are living and working for Jesus and Jesus alone. They did not know how to answer the question of Sr. Teresa Joseph: “If all of us are working for Jesus, then why are we so divided?” There was an outburst of joy when the youngsters heard that the Ecumenical journey is meant exactly to find links that unite us. The students were happy to get to know the precious document on Christian witness in multi-religious world: recommendations for conduct which will be taken up for study and implementation in the forthcoming meetings during the scholastic year 2014-2015. It was indeed an enriching hour of lively discussion, gaining of awareness, determination and commitment towards true unity. Yes, Jesus needs you and me to make his prayer for unity a lived reality in our homes, in our neighbourhood in our country and the world. Mrs. Sussan Jose, the teacher who assisted the youngsters did express her eagerness and desire to make unity a possible reality.
FMA INC News Update 