CONTENTS Page EDITORIAL
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CHRISTMAS MESSAGE
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PRIESTLY ORDINATIONS
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DB CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS
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BICENTENARY GLIMPSES 09 MARIAN PROCESSIONS
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SECRETARIES ‘ MEETING 14 ITANAGAR HONOURS DB 18
EDITOR Fr. Jonas Kerketta sdb Sub-Editor Fr. Joseph Thuruthel sdb Design & Layout Fr. Christudoss sdb Publisher Fr. Provincial Don Bosco Provincial House PB: 40, Dimapur—797112 Nagaland Circulation Manager Fr. Chittissery Joseph sdb Editorial Team Fr. R.K. G. Nicholas sdb Fr. Christudoss sdb Fr. Jonas Kerketta sdb Fr. Paul Panii sdb Fr. Kulathunkal Joseph sdb Printing N.V. Press, Kohima Editorial Office Bosco Communications Provincial House Dimapur, Nagaland +91—9436062842 E-mail: frjonassdb@gmail.com
THE GREAT DIVIDE Right from its inception mankind has experienced various types of divisions. Morally speaking we think of good people and bad people. For instance, among the first two siblings of Adam and Eve, Cain the bad man murdered his own brother Abel, the good man. Even among angels there are ‗good angels‘ (led by Michael, Gabriel and Raphael) and ‗bad angels‘ or the devils (headed by Lucifer). Racially speaking the ‗white race‘ has often considered itself superior to the ‗black‘ or ‗dark skinned‘ people and tried to subjugate them. In the social realm the scourge of racism has divided God‘s children into ‗high caste‘ and ‗low caste‘ or shudras. The practice of apartheid had made the whites dominate and oppress the natives of South Africa. Against this evil practice people like Bishop Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela fought prolonged battles. Or think of the slave trade being practiced by the rich and powerful from time immemorial. They ill-treated and even bought and sold human beings like beasts and objects. In the economic sphere the chasm is growing between the rich and the poor people. There are developed nations and developing countries often referred to as ‗third world‘ nations. There are industrialized and agro-based countries. As far as militarily defending self or subjugating others is concerned there are some countries which have nuclear armament while others do not. Regarding space science and technology we know that there very few countries which belong to the ‗nuclear club‘. Today in the age of information super high way, we still have the great divide. So we hear of the ‗information- rich‘ (haves) and the ‗information-poor‘ (have-nots). Even within the same society there are the so-called ‗digital natives‘ (the youth), the ‗digital immigrants‘ (adults) and some even speak of the ‗digital opponents‘ namely, those opposed to modern means of communication. The divide continues. As Natasha Singer says even in a technologically developed nation like the USA, the rich-poor digital divide is taking a toll on students. Vicky Rideout, who collated the findings of the study carried out by the Common Sense Media in the USA, says that the disparities in teenagers‘ technology access amounts to ‗digital inequality‘. As mentioned earlier the human divide existed since time immemorial. Even during the time when Jesus was born socio-economic and political disparity was rampant. In fact, Jesus had no place in the inn to be born except in a stable. Jesus, whose 2015th birth anniversary we are celebrating this year, had precisely this mission: to reconcile mankind with God and to eliminate the man-made barriers and divisions between people. Jesus earnestly prayed to his heavenly Father for unity of all mankind, ―I pray that they may all be one” (Jn. 17: 21). This is reaffirmed later by St. Paul when he says, “all of us, whether Jews or Gentiles, whether slaves or free, have been baptized into the one body by the same Spirit” (1 Cor. 12:13). On Bosco, whose 200th birth anniversary we have just celebrated, dedicated his whole life to bridge the gap between God and people and between the rich and the poor. He launched his mission for the welfare of the young, especially the marginalized with the goal of forming good ‘Christians’ and honest citizens. The mission of Jesus and of Don Bosco is now left to us to continue.
Jonas Kerketta sdb
CHRISTMAS MESSAGE
Christmas is not meant to be an isolated day, but a festival, a joyful celebration of the Mystery of the Incarnation in the midst of the Church‘s liturgical year. Christmas can be properly understood and meaningfully celebrated only after having live the preparation provided by the Season of Advent. In the midst of the secular excesses leading up to Christmas, Advent provides a welcome solace and an opportunity to continually re-orient ourselves to God‘s will as we expectantly wait with the patriarchs, prophets and kings for the true meaning of Christmas: the Incarnation of God the Son. We live in a world in which ‗bigger‘ and ‗better‘ define our expectations for much of life. We have become so enamored by ‗supersize‘, ‗super stars, and ‗high definition‘ that we tend to view life through a lens that so magnifies what we expect out of the world that we tend not to see the potential in small things. But as the prophet Zechariah reminds us (Zech. 4: 10), we should not ―despise the day of small things‘, because God does some of his best works with small beginnings and impossible situations. It is truly a humbling experience to read back through the Old Testament and see how frail and imperfect all the ‗heroes‘ actually are: Abraham the coward who could not believe God‘s promise; Jacob the cheat who struggles with everybody; Joseph the immature and arrogant teen; Moses the impatient murderer who cannot wait for God; Gideon the cowardly Baal-worshipper; Samson the womanizing
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Drunkard; David the power-abusing adulterer; Solomon the unwise wise man; Hezekiah the reforming king who could not quite go far enough; and finally, a very young Jewish girl from a small village in a remote corner of a great empire. God could have chosen ―bigger‖ things and ―better‘ people to do his work in the world, but amazingly he often begins with small things and inadequate people. Another truth proclaimed by the Old Testament is this that endings are not always endings but are opportunities for God to bring new beginnings. And the virtue that sanctifies the time before the ‗new beginnings‘ is one of ‗waiting in hope.‘ It is not just hope for a better day or hope for the lessening of pain and suffering, although that is certainly a significant part of it. It is more about hope that human existence has meaning and possibility beyond our present experiences, a hope that the limits of our lives are not nearly as narrow as we expect them to be. It is not that we have possibility in ourselves, but that God is a God of new things and so all things are possible (Isa 42: 9; Mt 19: 26; Mk 14: 36). I wish you all a very Happy Christmas and Blessed New Year 2016.
Rev. Fr. Nestor Guria sdb Provincial, Salesian Province of Dimapur
Christmas is the spirit of giving without a thought of getting. It is happiness because we see joy in people. It is forgetting self and finding time for others. It is discarding the meaningless and stressing the true values. …...Thomas S. Monson
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PRIESTLY ORDINATION CROWNS PARISH JUBILEE
In a glittering religious ceremony that commenced at 10.00 a.m. on 12 December 2015, His Grace Most Rev. Dominic Lumon DD, Archbishop of Imphal, ordained Deacon Lukhu Alayee sdb as priest. This was a crowning gift for the Silver Jubilee of St. Xavier‘s Parish, Makhan in Manipur. In all 42 Priests including Rev. Fr. Nestor Guria sdb, Provincial and Rev. Fr. Palackel Mathew (Nebu) sdb, Economer of the Salesian province of Dimapur, concelebrated, in the presence of large gathering of the faithful including the laity and religious. Belonging to the Mao Naga tribe, Fr. Lukhu Alayee Pius sdb is the 5th priest from St. Xavier‘s Parish of Makhan, being the third Salesian priest with Fr. Pfokhriihrii Kaisii Moses sdb (ordained on 20 Dec. 2008) and Fr. Kaihrii Anthony sdb (ordained on 12 Jan. 2013). ―He who calls you will do it…‖ (1 Thess 5:24) is the priestly ordination motto of Fr. L. Alayee Pius sdb. Dimapur Links heartily congratulates Fr. Alayee sdb and wishes him holy, effective, and happy Salesian priestly ministry in the Lord‘s vineyard. ….....DL Correspondent
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ORDINATION OF FIRST LOTHA SALESIAN PRIEST
In a historic event the Golden Jubilee celebration of St. Paul‘s Church, Wokha in Nagaland, was crowned with the priestly ordination of John Nchumbemo Kikon by Most Rev. Dr. James Thoppil DD, Bishop of Kohima Diocese, on 13 December 2015. Altogether 53 priests, including Rev. Fr. Nestor Guria sdb, Provincial, Rev. Fr. Mathew Palackel (Nebu) sdb, Economer of the Salesian province of Dimapur, as well as Fr. Anto Tharakan sdb (Rector cum parish priest), Fr. Thettayil Joesph sdb (Principal), Fr. Jose Chacko sdb (Administrator) and Fr. Romanus Ekka sdb (Vice Rector) concelebrated with the Bishop. Fr. John N. Kikon is the first priest from Nagaland as well as from the Lotha Naga tribe to be ordained priest for the Salesian Province of Dimapur. His priestly motto is ―I walk guided by your faithfulness‖ (Ps. 26: 3). In his homily Bishop James congratulated Deacon John Kikon for his courageous decision to serve the Lord and his people as a Salesian priest. He thanked the parents and relatives of John Kikon for offering him to God and to the Church. He also acknowledged the heroic work done by the Salesians for their pioneering work in the Lotha area despite all odds. Another significant event of the day was the reception of First Holy Communion by 54 boys and girls. Prior to the Jubilee Eucharistic celebration cum priestly ordination, Bishop James, in the presence of State Home Minister Shri Martin Y. Patton,
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Salesian Provincial Fr. Nestor Guria and a sizeable number of priests and religious as well as laity, solemnly declared the Jubilee Year Of Mercy through a meaningful prayer and symbolic opening of the door of St. Paul‘s Church. The Bishop added that five churches in the Diocese – Holy Cross Church (Dimapur), St. Xavier‘s Church (Jalukie), St. Peter‘s Church (Kiphire), Cathedral Church (Kohima) and St. Paul‘s Church (Wokha) have been declared as pilgrimage centres for this Year of Mercy. This was followed by the unveiling of the Golden Jubilee Monolith by the State Home Minister Shri Martin Y. Patton in the presence of a large gathering of people near Don Bosco Hr. Sec. School basketball court. In the brief programme that followed Fr. Anto Tharakan sdb, Parish Priest, warmly welcomed the Home Minister, Bishop James, Fr. Provincial, all other dignitaries, priests, religious and the people. The Chief Guest, Shri M. Y. Patton in his message expressed joy and gratitude for being invited to this mega event. He generously contributed a jubilee gift on the occasion. Rev. Fr. Provincial congratulated the people for their fidelity to the Catholic faith and encouraged them to share it with many others. Mr. Thomas E. Kikon, Addl. Director of Geology and Mining, spoke on behalf of the parents. Also present on the occasion included Mr. Robin Lotha (Deputy Commissioner of Wokha), Mr. Peter Lichamo (Deputy Commissioner of Peren), Superintendent of Police (Wokha), Col. Amit (Commanding Officer of AR 17), government officials, pastors, leaders of various churches, catechists and thousands of faithful from the Lotha region as well as from outside. During the brief felicitation programme after the Ordination Bishop James, Rev. Fr. Provincial as well as Mr. Thomas E. Kikon once again congratulated the newly ordained. They thanked God and all those who were instrumental in making him reach his priestly ordination. While delivering his message Fr. John Kikon made his own the sentiments of Our Lady expressed in her Magnificat.
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He thanked God for the gift of priesthood. He expressed gratitude to the Bishop for ordaining him a priest of God. He thanked his parents and relatives for their constant support. He thanked the Provincial and his council, all his past superiors who accompanied him in his vocational journey. He expressed gratitude to the Salesians of Don Bosco Wokha, to the Sisters, catechists, leaders ,Fr. Pithungo, Mr. Aremo Patton, the catholic community and all those who worked hard to make the Jubilee celebrations cum priestly ordination a grand success. DL Correspondent
DB BICENTENARY CELEBRATIONS IN DIMAPUR PROVINCE
Brief Chronology of Bicentenary Celebrations: The year-long Bicentenary Celebrations in commemoration of Don Bosco‘s 200th birth anniversary was launched at Salesian Provincial House, Dimapur, on 16 August 2014, in the presence of Mr. V. Z. Angami, SP Dimapur and chief guest of the day, and representatives of the Salesian Family. Besides prayer dances and songs, cultural items, power-point presentations on Don Bosco, Rev. Fr. Nestor Guria sdb, Provincial, relaunched the Dimapur Province website The Region of East Arunachal Pradesh including Salesian institutions at Bordumsa, Kheti, Longding, Mintong and Rajanagar held their Don Bosco
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Bicentenary celebrations at Don Bosco Tinsukia (Hijuguri) Assam on 14 February 2015. The Bicentenary Holy Eucharist was presided over by Rev. Fr. P. John Bosco, Vice Provincial and Bicentenary Coordinator. This was followed by various competitions: Cultural Dance, Choir Singing, Skit on Don Bosco, Speech on Don Bosco, Thematic Dance and Gospel Choreography. Rev. Fr. Maria Charles sdb, Secretary of AIDBES, South Asian Delegate for Youth Ministry (DBYA) and South Asian Coordinator for Educationa and Culture was the chief guest. The Manipur Region held the Bicentenary celebrations at Don Bosco Hr. Sec. School, Maram from 17 to 19 July 2015... The Competitions conducted to mark the occasion were: Choral singing, Speech on Don Bosco, Cultural Dance, Don Bosco Quiz, Skit on Don Bosco, Gospel Choreography and Thematic Dance. One special feature of the BC celebrations was ―An Hour with the Hon’ble Minister, Francis Ngajokpa‖ Minister for RD/PR, Eco. & Stats, Govt. of Manipur. Institutions run by the Salesian Family in the Nagaland Region celebrated the Bicentenary of Don Bosco‘s birth at Don Bosco Hr. Sec. School, Dimapur, on 20 and 21 August 2015. The inaugural function on 20 August was graced by the presence of Shri Kesonyii Yhome, District Commissioner of Dimapur, an illustrious past pupil of DBHSS Kohima. The main events of the celebrations included Choreography Competition, Skit Competition, Choir Competition, DB Quiz, Speech Competition, and Thematic Dance. In the Assam Region the day-long DB Bicentenary celebrations were held at DBHSS Dibrugarh on 22 August 2015. The main features of the celebrations were: Cultural Dance Competition, Speech Competition, Thematic Dance, Quiz Competition, Choreography, Skit Competition and Choir Competition. Rt. Rev. Joseph Aind SDB DD was the Chief Guest of the day.
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Moreover, local level Bicentenary celebrations were held at Don Bosco Zubza (30 January 2015 and 17 Sept. 2015), Bicentenary Football Tournament between Rajanagar and Bordumsa on 26 November 2014, Volleyball and Basketball Tournament at DBHSS Kohima on 23 May 2015, Football Tournament at Borduria on 14 June 2015, Drama on Don Bosco (Don Bosco the Dreamer) at DBHSS Jorhat with the Assam Chief Minister as chief guest on 18 July 2015, and other celebrations in many centres of Dimapur Province. Province Level Bicentenary Celebration: The Bicentenary Celebrations of the birth of Don Bosco were held at Don Bosco Hr. Sec. School, Dimapur, on 23 – 25 October 2015. The Inaugural Function was held in the evening of 23 October 2015. The invocatory prayer was led by Fr. Philip Magh, Principal of Holy Cross Hr. Sec. School, Dimapur. The girls of the brass band from St. Mary‘s Hr. Sec. School, Padampukhri, Dimapur, enthralled the audience with their smart display of talent. Fr. Chittilappilly Varghese sdb, Rector of DBHSS Dimapur and Chief organizer of the Province level Bicentenary celebrations warmly welcome the chief guest Mr. H. Atohke Aye (Administrator, Dimapur Municipal Council), Rev. Fr. Nestor Guria sdb (Provincial and President of the Bicentenary celebrations), Rev. Fr. P. J. Bosco (Vive provincial and Bicentenary Coordinator), Rev. Fr. Palackel Nebu Mathew sdb (Economer and Finance Manager of the Bicentenary celebrations), all the Principals, Headmasters, Headmistresses, Fathers, Sisters, Brothers, teachers, parents and the youth to the Bicentenary celebrations at DBHSS Dimapur. A melodious tribute was paid to Don Bosco by the students of DBHSS Dimapur. Rev. Fr. Nestor Guria sdb, Provincial, in his welcome message said the Bicentenary celebrations will have a real meaning only if we imbibe some of the qualities of Don Bosco. The Bicentenary Anthem ―Hail Don Bosco, Friend of the Youth‖ sang by the students of St. Mary‘s, Padampukhri, struck a right note for the celebrations.
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Shri Atokhe Aye (Administrator, Dimapur Municipal Council) in his message said that the Salesian Family is well recognized and accepted in the state of Nagaland and in Northeast India especially for providing vocational training and skill development courses for the economically poor and marginalized youth. These courses help youth to be skilled and useful human resources. He congratulated the Salesian Family for doing what the Saint of the Young had envisaged. Moreover, congratulated Fr. Joshua Gangmei sdb, the principal of the hosting school, for being awarded the state level ‗best teacher award‘ in 2015. Fr. G. J. Joshua sdb, Principal of DBHSS Dimapur and chief organizer of the DB Bicentenary celebrations pronounced the vote of thanks. The inaugural function concluded with a choral hymn to Don Bosco and the national anthem led by the brass band of St. Mary‘s HSS, Padampukhri. The programme was compered by Ms Smita and Ms Magdalene. The evening programme saw the wonderfully performed Gospel Choreography the results of which were as follows: 1st Little Flower HSS Kohima, 2nd Little Flower HSS Dibrugarh, 3rd Don Bosco HSS Dibrugarh, 4th Christ King HSS Kohima, 5th Don Bosco School Kheti, 6th Don Bosco HSS Maram, and 7th Don Bosco School Khoupum Valley. The chief guest of the event Dr. Stephen (Provincial President of the Don Bosco Alumni) said the participating schools performed so well that they all deserved to be first prize winner. In his message he welcomed all to be ‗living monuments of Don Bosco‘. Ms Kevifenuo Kire of LFHSS Kohima compered the programme. The day ended with ‗Night prayer‘ led by the Salesian College Brothers. In his ‗good night‘ talk Fr. P. J. Bosco sdb, Vice Provincial, referred to the Rector Major‘s message to youth at New Delhi, ―God wants you, Don Bosco wants you, your society wants you, your family wants you…so take care of yourself.Study well, come up in life, occupy good positions and help other youth to come up in life.‖ On 24 October the Holy Eucharist was presided over by Rev. Fr. Nestor Guria sdb, Provincial. The singing was led by the choir from St. Mary‘s School, Padampukhri.
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In his introductory words the main celebrant said, ―It is good to begin the day at the feet of the Lord as Don Bosco was a great devotee of the Holy Eucharist.‖ In the homily he said Mother Mary was present in the life of Jesus and in the early Church with the disciples. She continues to be with us praying for us and guiding us. In the Speech Competition that followed, the emerging results were as follows: 1st DBHSS Maram, 2nd St. Joseph HSS Shajouba, 3rd DBS Mon, 4th DBS Tuli, 5th DBHSS Dimapur, 6th DBHSS Itanagar, 7th DBS Longding, and 8th DBS Kheti. In his message Mr. Pius Lotha (Former Additional Advocate General, Nagaland) appreciated the informative speeches delivered by the students. He heighted the fact Don Bosco rose from his humble beginnings to be a great Saint and lover of youth. The programme was compered by Don Bosco Zubza. The next event was the Skit Competition the results of which were the following: 1st DBS Khoupum and 2nd DBS Zubza. In her message Mrs. Azenuo Concepta Pienyii (Project Director, DRDA Kiphire) invited all to thank God for the beautiful day. As a Don Bosco past pupil and Salesian cooperatress she is a great admirer of Don Bosco, she confessed. The programme was compered by Don Bosco HSS Maram. At 12.30 p.m. Mr. Francis Pelevituo Solo (Commissioner & Secretary of School Education Nagaland & former Provincial President of Don Bosco Alumni) inaugurated The Alumni Office in the DBHSS Dimapur campus. The next important event was the Don Bosco Quiz conducted and financed by the Don Bosco Past Pupils. The chief organizer was Dr. Stephen Kamson (Senior Medical Officer, Northeast Frontier Railway, Imphal & Provincial President of Don Bosco Alumni). The Quiz Masters were Mr. Cajetan Mahung, Mr. David Kamei and Mr. Bharat Prasad. The results were the following:
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Senior level – 1st Don Bosco College Itanagar, 2nd FMA Novitiate Kohima and 3rd Don Bosco College Maram. In the Juniors‘ category – 1st DBS Amguri, 2nd DBS Dergaon and 3rd DBS Tamenglong. Prizes were awarded also for the regional level DB Quiz conducted earlier: Assam – 1st DBS Dergaon, 2nd DBS Amguri, 3rd DBHSS Jorhat, 4th DBS Tinsukia and 5th DBHSS Dibrugarh & DBS Rangajan; Manipur – 1st DBS Tamenglong, 2nd DBS Khoupum, 3rd DBHSS Maram, 4th DBC Maram; Nagaland – 1st LFHSS Kohima, 2nd DBS Zubza, 3rd DBHSS Dimapur, 4th DBHSS Kohima and 5th DBHSS Wokha. Mr. Francis P. Solo congratulated the winners as well as all the participants. He specially thanked Dr. Stephen Kamson for his hard work in organizing and collecting funds for the handsome prizes for the DB Quiz winners at the regional and province levels. Rev. Fr. Provincial thanked the organizers, namely, Don Bosco Alumni and the Salesian Co-operators. He also thanked Fr. P. J. Bosco for preparing the 1,000 questions of the DB Quiz. Mr. Agay Joseph (Provincial Secretary of Don Bosco Alumni) proposed the vote of thanks. In the Choir Competition the results were the following – 1st CKHSS Kohima, 2nd DBS Khoupum, 3rd St. Mary‘s HSS Dibrugarh and 4th DBS Kheti. The chief guest, Mrs. Mezivolu Therieh (Chief Judicial Magistrate, Kohima & President of FMA Past Pupils‘ Association) congratulated all the participants. The programme was compered by DBHSS Itanagar. To conclude the programme Fr. Felix Irudayaraj sdb mesmerized the young audience with his skillful magic show. On October 25th morning Rt. Rev. George Palliparambil SDB DD, Bishop of Miao, presided over the Holy Eucharist.
He invited all to live like Don Bosco especially in reaching out to the needy youth. The singing of the hymns was led by the Brothers of Salesian College, Dimapur. One of the most important event of the DB Bicentenary celebrations was the Youth Rally that meandered through the commercial hub of Nagaland (Dimapur) with the theme ―Youth For Peace‖. The Rally was further enlivened by the special appearance of Don Bosco Band from Harmutty. In the afternoon there was a Panel Discussion in which the panelists were (1) Mr. P. F. Zeliang (IGP), (2) Fr. C. P. Anto (Peace Channel), (3) Dr. Mhabeni Ezung and (4) Dr. Rose Mary Zdiivichii. The theme of the panel discussion was ―Quality Education and Determination are the key to success‖. Prior to the Cultural Show in the evening, Mr. Bicky Singh, Asst. Teacher of DBHSS Jorhat kept the young audience spellbound with his skillful magic show. The Province level Don Bosco Bicentenary celebrations conclude with Cultural Extravaganza which not only honoured Don Bosco, the Saint of the Young but also exhibited the extraordinary qualities of the youth of our region. While proposing the Vote of Thanks, Rev. Fr. Perianayagam John Bosco sdb (Vice provincial and Bicentenary Coordinator) thanked the Provincial and his council, the FMA, MSMHC and SMMI provincials, DC of Dimapur and the Police, Salesian Family members especially the DB Alumni and Salesian Cooperators, all the well-wishers including the Bankers and Publishers, Sisters of various religious congregations, Rectors of various institutions, parents, the food department, the media, the communication department of the province, sound and light department, Salesian College and St. Mary‘s HSS, and very especially the Salesian community of Don Bosco Hr. Sec. School Dimapur together with the teachers and volunteers who worked hard to make the Province- level Don Bosco Bicentenary celebrations a grand success. ……..DL Correspondent.
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ST. JOHN BOSCO PARISH MARAM HONOURS MOTHER MARY WITH THE MARIAN PROCESSION
Mary‘s intervention. Mr. Pius is a great devotee of Mary. Rev. Fr. KV George, the administrator concluded the Marian Procession with the Exposition of Blessed Sacrament and the final blessing. He also deliberated on the powerful intercessory role of Mary in the Wedding Feast at Cana. Here is the order of the procession: DBHSS Maram, DBC Boys Hostel, Auxilium Girls, Vedruna, St. Monica, Assisi, Float of Mary, Maram Bazaar, Ramlong, Maram Centre, New Maram and Maram Khullen. Thus concluded October, the month of the Holy Rosary by the Catholics on a sentimental note to Mother Mary. …………...Fr. K. C. James sdb
William Wordsworth sang of Mary‘s praise, ―Tainted Nature‘s solitary boast‖, the best line ever written by a Romantic Poet. The sinful human nature has one sinless person to boast of the human depravity: ―Hail Full of Mary‖. Indeed, one need not be a scripture scholar or a theologian to grasp the singular place Mary: the Mother of Jesus occupies in the salvation history. That‘s what the parishioners of St. John Bosco Parish, Maram did on 31st October, Saturday by their devout Marian Procession at 10.00 am from Marian Hill to the Parish Church. All the 8 villages took active part. Young and old chanting Marian Hymns and prayers, their fingers running through the Rosary beads, with placards, tableau on Mary etc., helped the participants to have a blissful heavenly experience. The procession put on colour and luster by the prayerful-lively participation of the College hostellers. The whole congregation in two lines, marching prayerfully, to the uplifting ‗Our Father‘ and ‗Hail Mary‘ prayers, was a feast to the eyes and the varied melodies from different groups, a soothing music to the ears. There was no display of any sort, neither was there a mad rush to finish. Certainly, prayerful atmosphere enveloped the procession, in spite of the buzzing of the vehicles along the AH-2. Rev. Fr. KS Joseph, the Parish Priest and Rector, in his introductory talk dwelt on the intercessory role of Mary in the lives of the early Christians. He illustrated the miracle experienced by Mr. Pius a leukemia patient, and attributed the total healing due to
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GOD CARES FOR US
A good teacher will be glad when his/her students perform well. And when a student does well he/she is encouraged and promoted to a higher class with a harder syllabus. No teacher or parent will tell a child who has passed class II, ―My child you have done well, you have passed class II, now you can stop studying‖. No. Once a child passes a lower class, both a good teacher and good parents will send him/her up to the next class even though the child is going to find a harder syllabus and more work to do. God is the best teacher. As baptized persons we have all been admitted into God‘s school of sanctity. He teaches us and his syllabus are little problems and sufferings of life. Through these sufferings and problems we learn how to become saints. He uses people around us as our teachers to provide us with
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opportunities to practice virtues of patience, forgiveness, humility and charity. Therefore they who annoy us, those who offend us, those who humiliate us are not our enemies but God‘s teachers sent to help us. They are our benefactors, not our enemies as we often mistakenly think. And truly, one cannot practice patience unless someone annoys him/her. No one can practice unless someone offends him/her. And how will we learn humility unless someone teaches us that virtue through humiliation? So those who are eager to grow in sanctity will see in these persons who annoy or humiliate them, who speak ill of them or criticize them as persons sent by God to help them to learn the syllabus of sanctity planned by God. Once we accept willingly the little sufferings God sends, he will say, ―Congratulations! You have passed, go to the next class. And when we show willingness to accept the new sufferings he sends us, he makes us go ahead by sending us heavier crosses to carry and grow in holiness. As parents have great plans for their children to make them engineers, doctors, professors, leaders etc., God too has great plans for us. ―Yes, I know what plans I have in mind for you…plans for peace not disaster to give you a future and a hope ―(Jer. 11:29). But even though God wants us to ahead, we often tell God, ―My God, I have passed class II, do not ask to continue. The syllabus is too difficult for me. Let me stop.‖ And thus we often become dropouts, refusing the opportunity God is offering us to pass our Ph.D. in sanctity. A story narrated by Bishop Anthony Bloom, goes like this. Once a professor got married to a simple, uneducated girl. What he wanted was someone to cook his food and wash his clothes and not a companion. After marriage he found her not capable of doing all he expected of her and began to harass her, nag her and beat her. Ultimately after a year or so, under his cruel treatment, the poor woman died. As he could neither cook his food nor wash his clothes he wanted to marry again. He sought advice of his parish priest.
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Knowing his character the latter told him to marry an uneducated village girl who would submit to him and do whatever he would ask. He found a smart girl and married her. But this girl was too smart for him. When he beat her once she would beat him twice. She would cook the food and eat her share and give him the left over. She told him clear terms, ―You wash your clothes, and I‘ll wash mine. After six months of harassment he got fed up, went to the parish priest and told him, ―Father, I am fed up. The new girl, whom I have married, is not cooking my food nor washing my clothes, and worse still, she even beats me. I want to divorce her.‖ And the priest told him something very important, ―Don‘t send her away, she is a very precious gift sent by God.‖ ―A gift sent by God!‖ exclaimed the man. ―A gift like this. I prefer not to have a gift of this sort.‖ ―Now listen‖, said the priest. ―Your first wife could not make you understand the evil in you, your cruelty, your stubbornness, your pride. God has sent this one that you may realize your faults and correct them. Go home, take her for a walk and buy her a new dress. And when you return home as she pours tea into her cup put in a spoon-full of sugar and stirs it for her. Love her and you will see the change.‖ The man was humiliated but did what the priest told him to do. He told his wife that evening, ―Darling, let us go for a walk, we haven‘t seen the market for ages.‖ She agreed and both of them went to the market. He bought her a lovely new dress which she liked very much. And on reaching back, as advised by the priest, he put sugar into her tea and stirred it for her. Seeing the change of attitude in him she too changed and they became a happy family from that day. She was indeed a precious gift sent by God. He was able to realize his mistakes and overcome his arrogance and pride because of her. And because he changed, she too changed. People doing harm to us are helping us to change and grow in virtue. They help us and we help them by praying for them with a loving heart. ―Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you‖ said the Lord (Mt. 5:42-48).
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God wants all to be saints. Those who harm us, speak against us, suspect us or humiliate us are helping us to become saints, and we help them to be saints by accepting all these painful situations in faith, forgiving and lovingly praying for our offenders. Their evil deeds help us to practice virtue. And our loving prayer for them makes God intervene to touch the hearts of the offenders and make them realize their mistakes and help them to change and turn over a new leaf. The best examples are St. Stephen and St. Paul (Acts 7: 54-59), St. Maria Goretti and Alexander. Paul through persecution got Stephen stoned. And Stephen by forgiving and praying lovingly for him brings Christ powerfully into Paul‘s life. From being a persecutor Paul becomes a preacher of the Gospel and a saint. Alexander with his lustful desire and anger Maria Goretti a Saint and she praying for him lovingly and forgiving him helps him to change his life by living the life of a celibate. If we really want to be saints, the Lord will send someone to help us. But if we do not consider them as sent by God and as prophets sent to help us climb the ladder of sanctity, we will kill them (not physically) by grumbling against them, by quarrelling with them and chasing them away by our criticism. This is what the people of the Old Testament did with the Prophets God sent them. They killed all the Prophets of God. Prophets are sent by God to console the afflicted and afflict the consoled. Prophets are sent by God even now into our lives. Let us not kill them, rather, let us accept them and they will lead us to God. If we kill them we will have no one to help us in our effort to practice virtue. If we love God and honestly observe his commands he will never abandon us. As long as the people of Israel were faithful to God, he loved them and protected them, ―If you obey the commandments of Yahweh your God, you will live and grow numerous, and Yahweh your God will bless you in the country you are about to enter and make your own‖ (Deut. 30: 16). God loved Israel and even when they disobeyed and went astray God did not abandon them, but sent Prophets and Kings to bring them back,
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―Come back to the Most High, turn away from iniquity and hold all that is foul in abhorrence‖ (Sir. 17: 26). ―Come back, disloyal children, Yahweh declares, for I alone are your Master and I will take you, one from a town, two from a family and bring you to Zion‖ (Jer. 29: 11). When we begin to go away from him he will warn us, if we do not heed his warning he will have sterner means to bring us back. When Israel did not listen to his warning Yahweh sent them into exile under cruel conquerors. And when in exile they repented of their sins, he once again brought them back. He will do the same with us because we have promised to love him with all our heart. …………...Fr. Tom Karthik sdb HUMAN BODY: STARTLING FACTS A. When we are born, we have some 300 bones. When the brain reaches its maturity, the number of bones turn out to be 206. As we catch up with age and growth the bones get mingled with one another and are reduced to 94 in number. B. The number of muscles in human body is put at 639. C. The number of nerve cells of the brain is 1200 crores. D. When a man dies, the blood circulation in the brain halts after three minutes. E. The number of neutrons in the brain is put at1400. The bones in the back-bone system are 33. F. The brain of man weighs about 1.4 kilos. The tem perature of the human body is at 98.4 F. G. The amount of blood in the human body is about 5 liters. H. From the fat of the body, we can produce 10 soaps. I. In a minute, the eye closes and opens 25 times. J. When we speak one word around 72 muscles move on the face. K. The length of our tongue is 10 c.m. L. A man consumes, in his life-time around 60,000 li ters of water. M. In our feet, there are around 2,50,000 perspiration out - lets. N . The amount of food, that we intake in our life-time is amounting to 30,000 kilos. O. Our body is 9% of blood and 91% of water. P. One blood circulation in our body takes around 64 seconds.
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THE ANNUAL PROVINCE SECRETARIES’ MEETING
By the middle of the year most of the data from the provinces are expected to be uploaded. Other matters that were discussed were the possibility of networking with the Salesian Family Secretaries in the provinces and a proposal for a South Asia regional secretariat at SPCSA centre, New Delhi. Then time was taken by each secretary to share on-the-jobexperiences, clarifying doubts and suggesting ways of tackling some issues.
The annual Province Secretaries‘ Meeting this year was held in DBIDL Dimapur on 4-5 December. This meeting is called under the auspices of the SPCSA and the SPCSA secretary is the convenor. Besides Fr.Noel, the SPCSA secretary, the secretaries of Dimapur, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Delhi, Silchar, Tiruchy and Sri Lanka attended the meeting. Mumbai, Kolkata, Panjim and Chennai provinces were absent. Two resource persons present were Fr. Cleophas Braganza, Web Service and Technician, SPCSA, and Fr. Leon Rathinam from the IT Department of Don Bosco Kurla. On 4th at 9 am the meeting commenced with an inaugural programme in which our Provincial, Fr.Nestor, cordially welcomed the visitors. The economer, Fr.Nebu, and the rectors of Salesian college, B.Ed. College, DBVTC and Don Bosco HSS were also present to give a warm welcome to the secretaries. The Auxilium girls made the programme attractive by a welcome song and choreography. The provincial made the guests feel warm by presenting them a Naga traditional tribal waste-coat. All vested in this traditional attire posed for a beautiful photo with the provincial and all present.
On 6 December 10 members went up to Kohima for the Hornbill Festival. Along the way they stopped at Zubza Savio Home and Novitiate, War Cemetery and Cathedral. In the afternoon they reached Don Bosco Kohima for lunch and then went up also to Christ King. All were very appreciative of the warm hospitality of the confreres, fine accommodation, facilities for the meeting and the trip to see the Hornbill Festival. ………...Fr. C. M Joseph sdb
grow fonder
The meeting itself concerned first of all about the much talked about province wise Data Collection on all the Salesians, our works and our beneficiaries. There were two software options for this enterprise, but the group unanimously selected the simpler and cost effective software made by the IT Department of DB Kurla, Mumbai.
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BI - CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS AT DON BOSCO COLLEGE ITANAGAR
There was also a special Basketball Tournament organised to mark the bi-centenary. About 4 girls‘ team and 7 boys‘ team participated in the tournament. Another important event marking the bicentenary was the Don Bosco Quiz. Ms Tassar Ama emerged the winner with Ms Bombi Game and Mr. Terang Dada as second and third respectively. Ms. Tassar Ama and Ms Bombi Game went to participate at the province level too and secured the first prize.. ………...Fr. R.K. Guangdiat Nicholas
Pope Francis To Youth The Bicentenary celebration of the Birthday of Don Bosco was celebrated with great fervour. On the 31st January the Salesian Family of Itanagar celebrated the Feast of St. John Bosco remembering his birth bicentenary. There was the celebration of the Eucharist presided by Fr. C.D. Mathai the Parish Priest and concelebrated by other Salesians. The Mass was followed by the unveiling of the statue of Don Bosco by Shri Bamang Felix, an alumnus and Parliamentary Secretary of Education and spokesperson of the government of Arunachal Pradesh. The statue was erected by the Salesian Family and the Catholics and public of Jollang in homage to the Father and Friend of Youth. This was followed by a cultural programme and a fellowship meal. On the Birthday of St. John Bosco we had a special Mass in the village Church dedicated to St. John Bosco. The church was full to its capacity. Fr. R.K. Guangdiat Nicholas the Rector and Principal of the college presided over the Mass and Fr. Stanislas Xess concelebrated with him. In his homily Fr. Nicholas highlighted the life and works of Don Bosco with various anecdotes from his life and challenged the faithful to assist the Salesians to carry out their mission for the young. After the Mass, snacks was provided to all. In the Boys Hostel we had football matches and in the evening we had a small prayer service paying our homage to Don Bosco. This was followed by a Singing and Poetry Recitation Competitions.
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(Light of Truth 2013 August 16-31) “We need saints without cassocks, without veils. We need saints with jeans and tennis shoes, we need saints that go to movies, that listen to music an that hang out with friends. We need saints that put God in first place, ahead of succeeding in any career. We need saints who look for time to pray every day and who know how to be in love with purity, chastity and all good things. We need saints, saints of the 21st century with spirituality appropriate to our new times. WE need saints that have a commitment to helping the poor and to make the needed social changes. We need saints to live in the world, to sanctify the world, to sanctify the world and not to be afraid of living in the world by their presence in it. We need saints that drink Coca Cola, that eat hot dogs, that surf the internet and that listen to their iPods. We need saints that love the Eucharist, that are not afraid or embarrassed to eat a pizza or drink a beer with their friends. We need saints who love the movies, dance, sports and theater. We need saints that are open, sociable, normal, happy companions. We need saints who are in this world and who know how to enjoy the best in this world without being callous or mundane. We need saints.
TO THINK ABOUT ―The best kind of feeling is feeling good for no special reason. That kind lasts the longest,‖ says Theodore Rubin. He was speaking to youngsters who feel good only on occasions of great celebrations. He also advised them not to celebrate victories too exuberantly to cop up with defeat that may follow!
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