St. John Bosco, the Father,
Friend and Teacher of young people, is remembered as a man who dedicated his
entire life at the service of the abandoned and marginalized young people.
Because of his passionate love for them, he challenged the way young people
were treated in the desperate poverty that reigned in Turin. He was determined
to change the conditions of the poor and abandoned young on the streets of
Turin.
It is this same Father of Youth,
we celebrated in this Bicentennial Year of his birth for the whole month of
January. The theme for the month was the same as the theme for our Provincial
Gratitude Day which is “Rejoice! Don Bosco’s monument of Gratitude, Come Alive
as Bread Broken and Shared”.
The month began in ushering in
the New Year 2015. During the Rosary animated by the Salesian Group, a
beautiful introductory note, followed by placing Don Bosco’s frame at the feet
of our Lady, marked the beginning of the Don Bosco month. In the evening, there
was the Grand Salesian Family Day, entitled, ‘Carnivale di Salesiani’ which
witnessed the coming together of the 5 Salesian Communities of Nashik –
Divyadaan, Salesian Training Institute, Maria Vihar, Don Bosco Bhavan and Sacred
Heart Training Centre.
During the whole month, there
were animated recreations, rosaries, and goodnights, all focusing on different
aspects of Don Bosco. As a community, we took up initiatives like watching a
movie on Don Bosco at least once a week and reading a spiritual book of Don Bosco
personally.
Just like Marian Nite, we had a
Don Bosco Nite on the 17th of January organized by novices Sr.
Monika Macwan and Sr. Pricilla Bhanga assisted by Sr. Jyothi Pinto. The DB
Quiz, prepared by the novices for the province, was thoroughly studied by us
novices and sisters. The Sisters of the Community of Maria Vihar also
participated in this event. All of us enjoyed the evening of togetherness,
cheer and family spirit.
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| Youth Fest at Ahmednagar |
During the novenas of Don Bosco,
we had special meditations on the dream of Don Bosco “The Ten Diamonds” guided
by Sr. Anelfreda Miranda. We joined the Parish for the novenas. These began
with the feast of Blessed Laura Vicuna. On the 23rd, 24th
and 25th, we participated in the AYM Youth Fest at Ahmednagar. Here
we staged a beautiful musical on the life of Don Bosco, entitled “Don Bosco,
With the Young, For the Young”. The youth were thrilled with this performance
and many were touched by the message it gave.
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| With the Parish Youth |
During the month, every oratory
had a day to celebrate Don Bosco with the young and each one animated this day
creatively and meaningfully. On the 26th of January, the 66th
Republic day of India, Sr. Anelfreda Miranda organized a throw ball match with
the Parish Youth Team. Both the teams put up a tough match but the novices won
gloriously.
On 29th of January,
the Salesian Communities anticipated the feast of Don Bosco and had a grand
Eucharist celebrated by Rev. Bishop Lourdes Daniel, followed by a Festive
Family meal at Divyadaan where all of us enjoyed the Family Spirit of Don Bosco
in each other’s company.
On 30th of January, we
celebrated Parents’ Day, wherein the parents of the novices were invited to
show the great role they play as the first benefactors of our Institute. The
novices put up a short program for the parents. In the evening on the same day,
we put up a short skit for the Don Bosco Academy in the Parish.
On the 31 of January SHTC woke up
to the sound of music to the great feast day of the Father and friend of all
youth – Don Bosco. A beautiful Morning Prayer service increased the fervor in
everyone to be more authentic in the following of our saintly founder.
The day was a festive one for the
whole Salesian family. As we conclude the Don Bosco month, we pray that Don
Bosco may bless each one of us with the zeal and enthusiasm he had for the
salvation of souls and for our personal sanctification.
