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Celebration of the World Day of the Poor

Nov21

KSSDS: The World Day of the Poor 2024 was commemorated with great commitment bringing attention to the struggles faced by the poor and marginalised. The event aimed to foster solidarity, uplift the underprivileged and encourage actionable responses to poverty.

The theme for this year, “Do not turn your face away from any of the poor”, resonated deeply, calling for compassion and practical efforts to address the challenges of poverty. Hence, Kolkata Salesian Sisters Development Society (KSSDS) marked this day with a special outreach initiative to support 36 migrant families near Dum Dum railway station.

The distribution included a thoughtful selection of necessities such as cooking oil, detergent, soybean, salt, biscuits, and bucket. These items were carefully chosen to meet immediate needs and to provide some relief to the families. KSSDS ensured that everything was well-organized and distributed to the beneficiaries. The event was graced by the presence of our Provincial, Sr. Leelamma, whose kind and encouraging words added a special touch to the day. Her presence brought a sense of care and compassion to the beneficiaries.

Each family member who came to collect the items expressed their heartfelt gratitude. Their faces lit up with happiness as they received these provisions, which they described as timely and valuable support for their households. The event provided material aid and lifted their spirits, showing they were cared for and not forgotten.

Celebrating first world day of the poor at Auxilium Bandel

Dec6

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On 26th November 2017, the community of Bandel celebrated the first world day of the poor. To mark this day the community decided to share the food items to the under privilege oratory children at Rajhat. Sr.Elizabeth Valliyil along with Srs. Jancy Pulickyathottil, Sosan Minj, and  Prema Francis set out to the village in the afternoon.

As usual the students were waiting for the arrival of the sisters; their joy was doubled on seeing four of us at the oratory. The children were divided into different groups and conducted various games and songs dedicated to Jesus which taught the students to keep away from sin by keeping themselves busy at all times.  As the day coincides with the feast of Christ the King, Sr. Sosan Minj gave them talk on the feast. She said that only a humble and simple person is worthy to enter into God’s kingdom through a meaningful story. She also exhorted them to value the importance of parents in their lives.

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The hallmark of the function was distribution of food items to thirty children who are regular to the oratory. The items included rice, potatoes, dal and a few packets of Maggie noodles. At the end, we all applauded the students for their faithfulness in coming to the oratory and we wished a better future. The celebration ended with a thanksgiving song.

Celebrating the first world day of the poor at  Nirmala Niketan, Jaigaon

Dec5

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On November 19, the community invited the parents, brothers and sisters of our ortorians to celebrate the day of the poor. All the workers were invited to give a helping hand to cook and distribute the food. The children came along with their parents by two in the afternoon.

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Sr. Alma Bilung from Barasat in charge of KSSDS was also present during this event with Sr. Deepa  Minj and Sr. Binita Bara from Auxilium New Chumta. The children entertained their parents with dances and action songs which they learn in the evening school. After their short program, all the children were given a packet with two kilos of rice and two kilos of atta with a packet of two minutes noodles. They were so surprised and their joy knew no bounds. After the meal they thanked everyone and left the ground with a note of appreciation and contentment.  We too enjoyed to be with them and to see their happiness.

The First World Day of the Poor is commemorated at Auxilium – Kurtumgrh

Nov30

 

“Let us love, not with words but with deeds”, keeping in mind the exhortation of  Holy Father  Pope Francis, sisters of Kurtumgarh community marked 19 November 2017, the First World Day of the Poor. The community prepared lunch for few poor families of the Mary Land, the neighbouring village, on 25th November 2017. They expressed their gratitude, acknowledged our kind gesture and thanked the community.  The community has decided along with Parish Priest to call the children of a poor backward village Soona shahi to have Christmas celebration.

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FIRST WORLD DAY OF THE POOR CELEBRATED AT ST. MARY’S CONVENT GEYZING

Nov27

The message of Pope Francis for the First World Day of the Poor was celebrated in accord with the theme “Love not in word, but in deed” at St. Mary’s Convent Geyzing. We had two weeks of spiritual and material preparation. As a community we renounced some food in order to contribute to the poor. We visited the poor families in the villages to know them and listen to their story.

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On 19th November special intention was placed during the Morning Prayer for the poor people and their families.  13 poor families were called to our house. They were given five kg of rice; two kg of potatoes, one big marie biscuit packet, one kg of refine oil and a blanket each. Thirty Sunrise Orphanage children were treated with a meal. It was a rich experience to live in solidarity with the poor.

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On 21 November Sr. Nirmala and Sr. Fulkeria went to a far away Melli village to distribute to nine poor families rice, potatoes, biscuits, oil, blankets etc.  Our parish priests too were present with us.

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The world day of the poor makes each one sensitive towards the people’s needs. We are called to draw near to the poor, to encounter them, to meet their gaze, to embrace them and to let them feel the warmth of love that breaks through their solitude.

The First World Day of the Poor – Auxilium Convent Dum Dum

Nov26

 

Responding to the invitation of the Pope Francis, the community of Auxilium Convent, Dum Dum took the opportunity to make the first “World Day of the poor” on 19th November 2017, a memorable one for a hundred of the most deprived children of God from around our locality. All the poorest ones around the parish church seeking alms from the church goers were specially invited for this special occasion.

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The members of the ADMA were to animate the prayer moment for them while the Past Pupils were already had supplied a snack packet each for every one of them. The Cooperators provided fruits for them and the community was the gracious hosts to get the least of our brothers and sisters feel at home and are comfortable away from the midday heat and traffic jams. The young prayer group from the school was in the list to present angelic hymns to sooth their minds and hearts.

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The poor have much to teach us also. They prayed for all those who have been instruments to give them such sumptuous meal on this day when we thank the Lord for the 140th anniversary of the first missionary expedition of our nascent congregation under the loving supervision of Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello. More over they prayed together the ‘Our Father’ though there have been just 3 Christians in the group of 100 needy persons present there. There were sparkling eyes when they prayed “Give us this day our daily bread”. The animator Sr. Teresa Adampakallel added a drop or two to the cup of joy of the day when she thanked every one of them for coming and being our guests on this day and for the happiness you give to us through this simple gesture of acceptance from your part making us sharers in this meal under the unique umbrella of being Created in His image and likeness to be his children from every nation and Tribes.

This day is to be recorded as indeed a day of ‘Love not in word but in deed’