Fr Tony George not well

Fr Tony George, SJ, parish priest of Holy Cross, has been quite unwell since 2 October 2010, with chicken guniya complicated by severe diabetes. He was admitted to St Elizabeth's Hospital, Mumbai, on 3 October, and was discharged just yesterday, but is still in Mumbai, at Seva Niketan, recuperating. Please keep him in your prayers.

Don Bosco champions in Inter-school athletics

The Don Bosco School athletics team did very well at the recent Inter-School Sports meet at Bhosala Military School grounds, Nashik, 4-6 October 2010, coming out as champions and qualifying for the Divisional Level sports at Jalgaon.

The under-17 relay team consisting of Anthony Mohite, Pramod Thapa, Abhijeet Singh and Joel Mohite came first, while the under-14 relay team (Tejas Thakare, Arun Chellapan, Akash Sitoke, Debamit Kar and Himanshu Malunjkar) came second. Anthony Mohite and Pramod Thapa stood first and second in both the 100 m and the 200 m runs. Joel Mohite came first in the 400 m run, while Akshay Chandekar came third in the same run. Abhijeet Singh stood first in shotputt and long jump, and third in the javelin throw. Tejas Thakare came first in the under-14 100 m dash.

Congratulations to all our sportsmen and to their coaches!

Outing to Sinnar

Good outing to Sanjivan Ashram, Sinnar, yesterday. 5 young people, 8 MPh brothers from Divyadaan, Bro Rickson and I set out from Don Bosco Parish at around 0715 - by rick and bus to Nashik Road Bus Station. Amol and Gloria joined us there, while the Holy Cross Youth proceeded on bikes. We met up at Sinnar Bus Station, and walked the 3 kms. to the ashram, which is hidden in a clump of trees on the right of the Nashik bypass - the road from Sinnar to Gothi. No board and no publicity, so one has to know where to go. I think we were at the ashram by 0930 or so... Swami was busy with some friends of his from Kalyan, who were helping him with his visa work. We had snacks, and then Swamiji joined us, answering questions, telling us about his 62 years in India (he arrived in 1948, went for a home visit only in 1983, spent some 14 years in his ashram at Panchavati, behind the Sundarnarayan Temple, and then, in 1987, came to Sinnar to set up Sanjivan Ashram at its present location).

The first house to be built were the two rooms where he now lives and works. Later on the temple and the other house were built (in 1990), and finally the two rooms at the back.

It was amazing to see the photos of the early days: not a tree in sight, not even grass. And now: it's beautiful. Great contribution to the ecology. Swami does not believe in cutting the grass. The villagers keep telling him to cut the grass, but he says it's the hair of the earth: just as our hair is given to keep our brains cool, so grass is given to keep the earth cool. Very true.

Unfortunately there is very little water in the talav. Most of it seeps away, since it is on the upper part of a gentle slope towards the road. And no sign of the ghorpad.

We had mass at 1130 or so, and then games, and lunch, and then it was time to move back to Nashik... 5 youth from Devlali turned up during mass, they came on bikes (it is only 12 kms to Bhagur to Sinnar, they said), and spent a lot of time searching for the ashram.

The gospel lent itself to the day: living in a spirit of thanksgiving, making life eucharistic. We gave thanks for the great beauty of the earth, the trees, the grass, the water, the fresh air, the amazing silence when there is absence of traffic noise... for Swamiji's extraordinary life of witness and courage and joy and even humour...

Interparish Youth outing to Sinnar

The youth from the various parishes of Nashik and Igatpuri will go to Sanjivan Ashram, Sinnar, tomorrow, Sunday, 10 October 2010, to meet one of the legends of Nashik - Swami Shilananda, SJ, all of 83 years old, and fighting fit.

Youth of Don Bosco will meet at the parish at 0645 hours, and take a bus to Nashik Road Bus Station, where we hope to meet up with the other youth (from Holy Cross and St Ann's). St Patrick's youth will proceed directly by bike, and the Igatpuri youth will also reach Sinnar by themselves. Some brothers from Divyadaan will also be joining us.

From Nashik Road we take a bus, hopefully latest by 0800, for Sinnar. From Sinnar to the Ashram is a walk of about 3 kms., but there are also rickshaws for those who want.

At the Ashram, we will meet Swamiji, have some snacks, then the Sunday mass, followed by lunch (each one to carry!). By 1530 we hope to move back towards the city.

So: travel expenses to be borne by each one; lunch to be carried too. Plus a Rs 50 per head contribution towards snacks.

Mission Fete

The Mission Fete / Dassera Dhamaka is set to begin this evening at 1700 hours, and is expected to go on up to 2200 hours. The usual array of food stalls (veg and non-veg), games stalls, and the Garage Sale. So do come all of you for this good cause.

The evening mass will be celebrated as usual, in the usual place - Don Bosco Church. No change of venue or timing, therefore.

Scout camp to Valwande

The Std IX boys of Don Bosco are leaving for a 3 day camp to Jungle Camp, Valwande village, near Jawhar. Jungle Camp is a site run by the Salesians; Fr Anaclete D'Mello is currently residing there with some staff. We wish the boys and the scout masters the very best, and a thoroughly enjoyable time outdoors.