SCC at Thelma and Edward Rebello's place

Mabel De Souza's area had a prayer meeting at the house of Thelma and Edward Rebello, Serene Meadows. The meeting began at 2000 hours, and the text selected was the gospel of the day, with the title The Yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod. The group found the text difficult to understand, and the priest present had to explain that 'yeast' here meant the bad influence of the Pharisees and of the Herodians. Jesus gets extremely impatient with his disciples for their lack of understanding. Despite the recent miracle of the multiplication of loaves, they think he is worried about bread. They are certainly worried only about bread; they fail to understand Jesus himself.

A good invitation to all of us: are we worried only about bread and the daily necessities of life? Do we really understand Jesus?

Lent has begun. Lent forces us to focus on the difficult part of the life of Jesus: his suffering and death and then his resurrection. What sense does that make to me? "You seek me because you have eaten your fill of bread. Seek not the things that perish, seek instead the bread that endures to eternal life." "An evil and adulterous generation seeks a sign. No sign shall be given it, except the sign of Jonah." The sign of Jonah: like Jonah, Jesus will be in the belly of the earth 3 days and 3 nights. The sign that is given us is Jesus' suffering, death, resurrection.

For the record: those present were Thelma, Edward, Rehan, Larina; Augusta; Mabel; Rudy and Helen; and myself.

The next meeting of the area has been fixed for 9 March; place to be decided. Perhaps somewhere in Eden Gardens.

Savio and Mary Wedding

Savio (Noronha) and Mary got married on Sunday, 14 February 2010. The mass and nuptials were held at Don Bosco Church at around 1630 hours, and the reception at L'Ecole Silver Oak, Chandsi. Our warmest congratulations to the newly married couple, and to their families, especially to Luke and Maria Noronha, for whom this is the first wedding in the family.

Confirmations at Don Bosco

Bishop Lourdes Daniel, our Apostolic Administrator, confirmed some of our youngsters on Sunday, at the 1830 evening mass. After the mass, the parents concerned had organized a brief get together for the celebrants and youngsters.

A special word of thanks to the catechists: Srs Stella, FHIC and Sushma, FMA this year, and several others in the past 2 years.

Haiti - what you can do

Those who wish to follow Salesian involvement in the disaster in Haiti, and would like to get involved themselves, can look up Salesian Missions at http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=1667.

Mrs Babykutty

Mrs Babykutty, Shyju and Shiny's mother, had a fall on Sunday, 7 February 2010, and has fractured her hand. She had to undergo an operation under anaesthesia in order to have the bones reset.

With both Shyju's parents incapacitated (though Mr Babykutty is showing much improvement), things have become rather difficult. We pray for the sick parishioners and for the families.

Deceased relatives of parishioners

Sr Anita Dushing, FMA, from Maria Vihar, lost her father on Saturday, 6 February 2010. The funeral was on Sunday, 7 February 2010, at Bhableshwar.

Earlier in the week Mr Henry Menezes lost his mother in Mangalore.

Mrs Genevieve Mascarenhas also lost her brother in Bangalore in December 2009.

Our heartfelt condolences to these bereaved parishioners and their families, as also our prayers and suffrages for the deceased.

Newly renovated church at Satpur

Yesterday the newly renovated Dominic Savio Church at Satpur was inaugurated and blessed by Fr Ajoy Fernandes, vice provincial of the Salesians of Mumbai. Fr Maurice Henriques, SJ, former parish priest of Holy Cross and one of the pioneers of Satpur, presided at the Eucharist, and Fr Nelson Falcao preached.

The renovation consists of a new facade, with a cross surmounting the edifice, and a large statue in fibreglass of Jesus with arms outstretched, along the lines of the Christ of Rio de Janeiro. The statue is the work of the artist Mr Thatte; I think it is not a mere imitation, because Jesus has a cloth flung over his shoulders in the Indian style.

The whole design of the renovation is the work of Mr Thatte and his architect son. The sanctuary looks particularly beautiful, with a PoP false ceiling, wooden panelling in old Burma teak, a new altar (also the work of Mr Thatte), and a new tabernacle.

The renovation has been largely the work of Fr Nelson and Mr Richard D'Souza and his brother Elias. The D'Souzas put their hand to the work in memory of their mother, who passed away about a year ago. Many of the parishioners, and especially the parish council, have also put in a great deal of work. Fr Nelson has been onsite day in and day out the last month, and with him also Mr Richard D'Souza, who has taken a very personal interest in the work.

Fr Ajoy remembered also those in the past who have contributed to the church in Satpur: the Jesuit pioneers, including Swami Shilananda; the Jesuit province of Mumbai, to whom the land belongs; the Salesians who worked in Satpur, most especially Frs Lloyd Rodrigues, Franco Pereira, and Kenneth Pereira who were involved in the building of the church with the help of the Province and some contribution from the people from both sectors of the parish.

New issue of Bosco Samachar

A new issue of Bosco Samachar, the parish bulletin, was released at the end of the mass on the feast of our parish.

Rita D'Souza, Suryakant and Sushma Shrivastava burned the midnight oil to bring out this issue. Congratulations to them all.

One of our parishioners just asked me whether the bulletin would be issued every 2 months or so. I guess in a parish like ours, where most families do not as yet access the internet or the parish blog regularly, a printed bulletin would be welcome.

It would be good if the parish mass and other timings be made easily available on the bulletin, as also other useful information.

Feast and 150 years

The feast of our Parish - and the celebration of 150 years of the founding of the Salesians - went off well, with the Eucharist at 1830 hours, well-attended by our parishioners, as also clergy and religious from Nashik City. Fr Elson Barretto, Provincial Economer, presided, preaching on the Strenna of the Rector Major: Sir, We Want to See Jesus.

The animation was supposed to be done by the youth; I must not say no one turned up. Some did: Sushma, Suraj, Ross, Carol and Cheryl Nirmal, Alan D'Souza, and Nikhil. In the morning Philbert, Craig and Yannick were around while the others were trying to decorate the altar and do the flowers. Nikhil wrote the introduction and prayer of the faithful. Special thanks to Bosco Monsorate, Sera Susainathan and the group of brothers from Divyadaan, including Ryan who played the keyboards. I think the singing went pretty well.

The mass was followed by dinner hosted by the Nashik Salesian communities for invitees: clergy and religious, parish councillors, Salesian Family, including Cooperators and VDBs, employees of the 3 salesian houses, and a few friends and benefactors.

New altar cloths

Sr Anelfreda and the SHTC community have been really very thoughtful - yesterday, on our feast, they gifted us with two lovely altar cloths, made by themselves, one for Satpur and one for Don Bosco. Thank you, dear Sisters, for your kindness and thoughtfulness!