News bits

Bro Ajay Shelke celebrated his birthday yesterday, 23 November 2010.

Sujata Castelino's brother met with an accident a couple of days ago, and is still in the ICU at Suman Hospital, College Road.

We have two Salesian provincials on the campus, Fr Michael Fernandes (Mumbai) and Fr Ian Figueiredo (Konkan). Don Bosco school felicitated Fr Michael on the Silver Jubilee of his ordination this morning.

The Nashik Diocesan Altar Servers Rally will be held at St Ann's Parish, Nashik Road, Sunday, 28 November 2010. All youth who wish to help are most welcome.

Arangetram

Mrs Mala Robins, guru of the Bal Yeshu Academy of Dance & Music, held an "Arangetram" for 4 young dancers: Akshata, Aishwarya, Poornima, and Shreya, at Raosaheb Thorat Auditorium, Law College, near KTHM College, Gangapur Road, Nashik, at 1730 hours.

Arangetram is the first public performance of young students. It is like their graduation ceremony, and a very important occasion. One of the four students has been in training for 12 years, one for 8, and the other two for 6. The guru decides when they are ready for their Arangetram.

Congratulations to Mr and Mrs Robins on this important occasion.

Altar servers to Mumbai for Rally

A group of some 18 altar servers, boys and girls, left for Mumbai with Ms Stella and Bro Velasli, to participate in the Altar Servers' Rally tomorrow at Don Bosco Matunga.

After several changes in plans, they left in a mini-van provided by Mr Claude Noronha. Their parents and the parish team were there to see them off.

The trip has generated great enthusiasm among the youngsters. We hope all goes well, that they have a good experience meeting other altar servers at the Rally, and that they have a safe trip back home.

Wedding

Robinhood Nair (s/o Sandra Nair) and Candida Santos will be getting married at Secunderabad on Wednesday, 17 November 2010. We wish the new couple God's blessings and protection, and we pray for the two families too. Special wishes to Mr and Mrs Nair.

Second novitiate of FMAs begins Monday, 15 November, at SHTC

The 'second novitiate' or preparation for perpetual vows of the FMAs begins on Monday, 15 November 2010, at SHTC, Nashik.

This time, sisters from 4 FMA provinces of India - Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai and Mumbai - will be participating, a total of some 22 persons.

We wish the sisters well and assure our prayers as they begin their preparation for perpetual vows.

Khristapurana seminar at University of Pune

The University of Pune will be holding a seminar on Fr Thomas Stephens' Khristapurana on 15 and 16 November 2010.

The initiative has been inspired by Bishop Thomas Dabre of Pune, who is himself a Tukaram scholar of note, and therefore well-known to and appreciated by the academics in Pune.

Among the speakers are Fr Nelson Falcao, Fr Francis D'Britto, and Prof. Dr. Kalyan Kale, who was one of Fr Nelson's examiners on the board of his doctoral defence.

The seminar will be in Marathi. All are invited. The invitation has been put up on the parish notice board.

Welcome Bishop Lourdes Daniel

Bishop Lourdunada (Lourdes) Daniel hails from Pune, and belonged originally to the Diocese of Pune, where he was a much appreciated spiritual director, and eventually vicar general of the diocese. He was appointed to the see of Amravati in June 2008. In December 2009, when Archbishop Felix Machado was appointed to the see of Vasai, Bishop Lourdes Daniel was appointed Apostolic Administrator of Nashik, a task which he fulfilled with much enthusiasm and commitment, spending 2 or 3 days every month in the diocese, visiting each and every parish, and making himself available for various functions in the diocese.

Yesterday, at 1600 hours, Fr Ravi Tribhuvan, Chancellor of Nashik diocese, made the official announcement, before a small group of consultors and parish priests, that Bishop Lourdes Daniel had been nominated to the see of Nashik; he was asked to be Apostolic Administrator of the now vacant see of Amravati.

Bishop Lourdes is a kind-hearted person who cares deeply for people, and is deeply spiritual. Nashik diocese is fortunate to have a pastor like him. As we welcome him, we assure him our prayers and support.

Bishop Lourdes Daniel new bishop of Nashik

Breaking news: NEW BISHOP FOR NASHIK: BISHOP LOURDES DANIEL. The news was announced at 1600 hours at Bishop's House, Nashik. Nashik now gets a bishop, almost a year after Abp. Machado was appointed to Vasai. Congrats Bishop Lourdes, and welcome to Nashik!

Don Bosco Girls / St Patricks Boys win the Tournament

The Interparish Football and Throwball Tournament 2010 is just over.

Don Bosco Girls won the Throwball Tournament, winning two consecutive games in a set of three with the only other competitor, a formidable St Patrick's Girls team. Congratulations to both teams.

St Patrick's Boys instead won the Football Tournament, with a 1-0 lead over Don Bosco Boys. Our boys put up a very good show despite all the problems we had this year of getting a team together. Congratulations to both teams, and to Sacred Heart Igatpuri and St Ann's Nashik Road too.

A warm word of congratulations to St Patrick's for the magnificent way they organized the Tournament, and for all the trouble they have taken.

This year we have rolling trophies besides cash prizes. The Throwball trophy will probably be making the rounds of the houses of the team members...

GroMo 2010

A busload of Std IX students participated with the PT sirs and our brothers in the GroMo 2010 - a Jamboree for Don Bosco schools - at Don Bosco Lonavla. They came back full of excitement and very enthusiastic about their experience of sleeping in tents in the open, putting up projects, the final Campfire, the food, and so on.

The GroMo 2010 is in preparation for the National Boscoree 2010, which will take place at Dimapur in North East India. We have not planned to send our scouts because of the great distances, but our scouts seem eager now to go....

Happy Diwali

Today is the fourth day of Diwali - a little lull between Laxmi Puja and Bhau Beej. A very happy Diwali to all our staff and students who are celebrating this great festival of lights.

Football and Throwball tournaments approaching

The annual Interparish Football and Throwball tournament is approaching: Sunday, 7 November 2010. Furious practices are going on, with the boys trying to get a team together, and the girls also. Yesterday I think the girls' team practiced a full 3 hours, from 0900 to 1200, on the Divyadaan grounds.

Movements

Fr Diego is making his annual spiritual retreat these days at Lonavla.

Fr Nelson has gone to Papdy to preach the triduum and the feast day mass there, but should be back by tomorrow evening.

Bro Rickson is in Pune for a course for practical trainees and college brothers and will be back only on 11 November.

Death announcements

Mr Paulus Vamanrao Adhav of Chunchale passed away last night at around 2230 hours. The funeral is expected to take place this morning at around 1130 hours.

Earlier in the week, the father of Mr Prakash Rohom of Satpur passed away. The funeral was held on 3 November 2010.

RIP.