Miraculous ecape for Salesian Fr CT Xavier of Kathihar mission

KATHIHAR — Salesian Fr. CT Xavier, the Parish Priest of Katihar (Bihar) writes about the accident he met with the Jeep on 30th January morning and the miraculous escape he had: On Friday, even though not my day, I volunteered to go to MC Sisters, as I had to do the bandaging of my leg. As I came out, I found the gates were not opened fully. The vehicle was almost touching the gates. Then I got a warning, I must go slowly. I was slower than other days, and the road was with less traffic.

Before I reached the ‘accident prone’ area, where we go very slowly, Sumo took a right turn and went other side of the road. I tried to turn the steering and it was not working. I just prayed that the Jubilee should not be affected with what is going to happen. I did not think of breaking as I was trying to turn the steering. Within a second, the vehicle banked on a tree and stopped. Actually it hit on a Phone line stone and due to loose mud near by, slushy with rain water of previous day, the vehicle turned towards the tree and a drain tank. I must have been thrown to the door side with the first hit, thus saving my thighs and hip. By the time, Sumo hit the tree, the steering had stuck the seat.

I got up and put my hand out calling the vehicles passing by. No one stopped. I had lost my voice because of the cold and cough.. After some time some people were on their routine walk, and I waved my hands, putting out my head. The ladies called two men and they came and pulled me out of the vehicle. As my head was full of glass pieces, they removed some of
them. The ladies continuously praised God, saying ‘your God has saved you’.

Since I had taken the mobile, I rang up to the MC sisters’ driver. Then I rang up to my driver and then to MC sisters. MC sisters’ driver came immediately and told me to escape from the site before the police comes.

Then all the sisters and other working girls rushed and took me to the convent by Auto.

I had a little scratch on the left leg and terrible pain on the left hip. They called our family doctor and he found everything normal. He wrote for an x-ray of the hip to find out if the bones were broken or not. The x-ray report showed that no bones have been broken.

I get a little pain when I get up after sitting for some time or when I bent down. Today I am getting a little pain on the upper right hand, due to the hit on the door.

All those who saw the Sumo, thanked God for saving my life. I found a lot of support and concern from everyone that have helped me to continue work without much rest. Anyway the jubilee celebrations went on well. More about the Jubilee in my next letter.
St. Michael and Don Bosco saved me.

The Provincial Secretary Fr Mathew George adds: Fr P.J. Abraham and myself had gone to see the accident site, 31st January 2015. The Sumo which was heading towards the drain tank in the pit down, hit the telephone stone, turned round and hit the tree in the front right side and the back right side hit the drain tank. You can see that the accident prone turn is far ahead where there is a Hanuman temple, where the Hindu devotees pray and cross the bridge.
The celebrations on 31st January in the parish (bicentenary, 75 years of the Church in Katihar and 25 years of Salesian Presence) with some 4000 people.

Indian Superior takes bricks for DB’s blessing at Ivrea Missionary Institute

Cagliero Institute Director Fr. Eligio Caprioglio hands over to Fr Kanaga a brick from the missionary chapel. (file photo).

IVREA, Italy – The Regional Councilor for South Asia Fr Maria Arokiam Kanaga left Rome Thursday night to arrive in time to welcome the relics of St John Bosco visting Ivrea’s (northern Italy) Cagliero Institute, on Friday (17 January) morning.

The Cagliero Institute was the seed bed of overseas Italian missionaries in 20^th century.

Fr Kanaga is carrying with him two bricks representing the two missionary aspirantates in India preparing young men for Salesian missions worldwide.

Earlier, on 5^th July 2012, in a gesture of solidarity and twinning of two Salesian missionary institutes, the Rector of Salesian Community at Ivrea, Fr. Eligio Caprioglio handed over to Fr. Kanaga one brick from the chapel of the former missionary aspirantate, now turned into a Technical Institution.

The Cagliero aspirantate alone sent out about 1,000 missionaries in the course of its existence (1922-1965) and majority of 460 foreign confreres who worked in India came from there.

The two Indian missionary aspirantates are situated in the provinces of Guwahati and Chennai. The Sirajuli institute in northeast India, near Tezpur, started on 22 November 2011 is named after Hubert D’Rosario the first Indian archbishop of northeast India (Shillong-Guwahati). The southern India mission aspirantate which began on 29 June 2012 is in Chennai at Don Bosco, Permabur.

Today the Cagliero Instiutte is home to some 800 young people attending training courses in Mechanics , Electrics, Hairdressing and Catering.

Besides a theatrical performance on the life of Don Bosco at Ivrea on Friday evening, there will be a solemn Eucharistic celebration presided over by Bishop Edoardo Aldo Cerrato.

The bishop will ordain a young Croatian Salesian Mario Juricevic as Deacon, and later in May this year he will be ordained to the priesthood.

Kochi Film shows Christmas sensitivity

KOCHI — A film production house in Kochi has come up with a short film depicting sensitivity and insight of the Christmas season. The world premiere of the 26 minute feature film is scheduled for tomorrow (22 December) at Don Bosco IMAGE Theatre, Kochi.

The film Feliz Navidad (Happy Christmas) is a simple Christmas story with uncommon sensitivity and insight,” says award winning director of the film Fr Jiji Kalavanal who feels that “this [film] is one of my best productions thus far.”

Fr Kalavanal adds, “I waited for four years for an ideal cast and a producer.”

A Salesian province of Kolkata Youth department production, under the patronage of the provincial Fr Thomas Ellicherail president of Social Communications Commission of Salesian Provincial Conference of South Asia, the film also marks the platinum jubilee of Don Bosco School Liluah in Howrah district.

“Plans are afoot to dub the film in Bengali, Hindi, Nepali and Santhali languages,” says Rector of Don Bosco Liluah Fr Biji Thomas.

Fr Kalavanal narrates film’s story line saying, “The word Christmas conjures up in the minds of people, especially children, the celebration of a birth, a divine birth — an annual rejuvenation. The stars, the cakes, the cribs, the gifts the exchange of greetings, the midnight mass and so on bring in so much of positive energy for them.”

Feliz Navidad script & direction: Fr Jiji Kalavanal SDB

In Feliz Navidad,  two children, Danny, and Dora are trying to come to terms with the fact that the upcoming Christmas will not be an occasion for any great celebration. It could be jaded like the previous year’s paper star they dig up from a box, because their mother cannot afford to buy them a new one.

Their mother works in an antiques shop and the salary she draws is hardly enough to make both ends meet. Add to that, their father had gone missing for some time.

The story begins just a few days before Christmas and unfolds through a series of well-conceived events that keeps the viewer gripped.

In the happy-ending tale, the storyteller rightly does not make miracles happen. It has only those surprises one may experience in one’s life and the viewer will easily empathize with the plight of the characters.

From the moment the children decide to have suppressed celebrations to the moment they are jolted awake to have wild celebrations in their minds — the story has it all.

As happy stars twinkle in the minds of the characters, viewers heave a sigh of happy relief.

1st Sem Students Hold 10-day Camp

ADBU MSW 1st Sem at Sapoi Bhutia Ali rural camp 10-20 December 2013

SAPOI BHUTIA ALI , DEKHIAJUI, (Dupphidalin Lyngdoh) — The Assam Don Bosco University; MSW 1^ST semester students held 10-day Rural Practicum from 9^th of December, at Bhutiali, Dekhiajuli, in Sonitpur District, Assam, 148 kms from the University’s Azara campus.

“The Rural Practicum is part of their course of study and the objective was to enable the trainees to understand and gain exposure to rural life and to also help them adjust with rural community,” faculty member Rachel Kabi who accompanied students.

Divided into seven committees like Infrastructure, Travel, Food, Documentation, First-aid, Cultural, and Discipline some 50 trainees, men and women,  stayed in the community for ten days and they conducted various activities in the community.

During their stay at the community, the trainees were accommodated at the PAJHRA centre owned by an NGO that works for Adivasi empowerment.

During the first village visit for rapport building – the students interacted with the people to get to know the people and to build a healthy and friendly pattern of communication.

In the following days, the trainees conducted a health related survey in different villages and Tea Estates such as Narayanpur, Sapoi, Bhutiali, Hollongakatta and Tinkhuria.

They interacted with the people of these villages and tea estates to find out the present health condition of the women. Through the survey they were able to find out the following major health problems included Tuberculosis, Malaria, Cancer and Jaundice.

Other illnesses included asthma, body ache, gastric, arthritis and diarrhoea. There are few incidents of pregnancy related problems and deaths. In some of the Hospitals there are no permanent Doctors, only a Pharmacist and a few nurses, and there is inadequate and insufficient supply of medicine. Majority of the women are not enjoying good health and are mostly anaemic.

Through Street play the trainees tried to bring awareness on the social problems prevailing in the community such as alcoholism, human trafficking, domestic violence and health related problems.

Based on these issues the trainees performed street plays in these tea estates to sensitize these issues to the people. They also touched on issues like child labour, importance of education and human rights.

The trainees also conducted cleaning drives in PAJHRA centre under the guidance of their faculty supervisor. The trainee cleaned the entrance and the surrounding area.

Since the centre was proposing to construct a small park inside the centre, the boys made bamboo benches. They also constructed a bamboo hut in the surrounding area utilizing local resources.

The trainees organized and conducted a few fun activities (games) for local students living at the PAJHRA centre and preparing for matriculation exams.

The evaluation activity was guided by the faculty supervisor Mrs Kabi to monitor and ensure the trainees’ progress in their planned activities.

DON BOSCO UNIVERSITY TO HOLD Open Source Software for Social Science Research Workshop

GUWAHATI — Applications are invited from doctoral students and those doing research to participate in a workshop on ‘Open Source Software for Social Science Research’ being jointly organised by the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR), Shillong and by Assam Don Bosco University  (ADBU) 6-8 February 2014 at Guwahati.

The Workshop Content includes introduction to the foundations and techniques of carrying out research and prepares students to OSS in conducting social science research. It also intends to provide students with necessary tools, skills and instructions to use OSS.

Participants will be taught the basic statistical procedures for analyzing data and will be able to create formats for research reporting.

The workshop will consist of lectures, presentations and hands on sessions 09.30am on the 6^th February and will end at 3.00pm on 8^th February 2014. Every participant is expected to bring a laptop. The course is primarily intended for researchers and those who attend all the sessions are entitled to a certificate of participation.

Registration Form is available online and the last date of submission of application is on or before 15^th January 2014.

Filled in applications forms can be emailed to os4r@dbuniversity.ac.in  and the selection will be confirmed by the 17^th of January 2014. You need to confirm your participation by the 20^th of January 2014.

Total number of participants will be 30.

Selected candidates will be paid train fare by sleeper class or bus fare at production of the ticket and local hospitality will include food and lodging at Assam Don Bosco University Azara hostel on twin sharing basis.

African reps for South Asia Congress

Br Samuel Job and his ART 43 film unit

GUWAHATI, (C.M. Paul) — Salesian Brothers of South Asia will meet in Guwahati, Assam at Don Bosco Institute Kharguli, on the banks of mighty Brahmaputra river, 30 December to 3 January 2014. The congress theme for study and reflection is: “Be Holy.”

A special FaceBook page has been designed to bring highlights to the run up of the Congress… give delegates a ring side view of the happenings and excitements…

Please visit the Congress page at this link  https://www.facebook.com/BrothersCongress?ref=hl and click “LIKE” on right side of the page…

You could also upload your photo and write WITH PRAYERS AND WISHES etc…

African Delegates to the South Asia Congress at Guwahati are: Bro Samuel Olu Job from Ghana AFW Provincial Councilor in charge of Social Communication. He was the youngest member of GC26 (2008) held in Rome. He is currently Director of Media Centre ‘ART 43’ in Ghana. https://www.facebook.com/Art43AfwMedia  After the Congress to be held at DBI Guwahati (30 Dec to 3rd Jan) Br Sam will visit Assam Don Bosco University.

Other special delegates from the Salesian Africa-Madagascar region participating at the South Asia Salesian Brothers Congress are:1) Fr Silvio Roggia (Ghana) Vice Provincial of AFW province. 2) Bro. John Njuguna (Uganda, AGL), and 3) Br. Mulugete Woledemeskel (Ethiopia).

Varsity students coach high school kids

GUWAHATI — What started off as outreach programme by some students of Assam Don Bosco University (ADBU) seven months ago, as evening coaching classes for 10 high school students from Azara Gaon village, to day the project has more than 130 students spread out from classes 7 to 10.

Christened SWASTYAYAN (commitment), the project, started by ADBU’s School of Social Sciences, Department of Social Work, was initiated to extend support and motivation among the children of communities in Azara Gaon Panchayat.

“It mainly aimed at providing them with tutorials in subjects like Mathematics, Science, Social Sciences and English, besides taking care of their growth and developmental needs as adolescents in a climate of rapidly changing and often hostile environment,” says project coordinator Mr Victor Nazary of MSW department.

He adds, “Apart from academic inputs, the neighbourhood students were taken through a series of sessions on goal setting, time management, life-skill development, spoken English tutorials, recreation, games and sports that were intended to enthuse and enhance their overall personality and self-esteem.”

Various competitions in recitation, poetry, acting, singing, dancing, and drawing were conducted to identify the students’ talents so that their skills could be further honed.

The outstanding element of the programme has been the whole-hearted involvement of ADBU student communities of both Schools of Technology and Social Sciences.

Though it has been initiated and successfully run by the students of the Social Work Department, over a hundred students from the School of Technology participated as volunteers to teach, motivate, encourage and inspire the children from the neighbourhood.

Social activist Ms Asha Bora from Guwahati

Home-visits carried out in the communities, by the students of social work, have revealed peoples’ appreciation, gratitude and goodwill towards the programme, volunteers and the University.

The Swastyayan team conducted the Annual Day Programme, 26^th November 2013,  to acknowledge and appreciate the dedication and efforts of the volunteers, on the one hand, and to gesture to the children and their parents that they’ll need to continue the good work with seriousness and dedication while preparing for their examinations in the coming days.

Azara Gram Panchayat President Mr Prabin Medhi

A pet project of ADBU Vice Chancellor Fr. (Dr.) Stephan Mavely, it all started last February with four MSW students, namely, Ms. Esalanmidaka Lyngdoh, Ms. Stephanie Nongkynrih, Ms. Habadei Kharsati and Ms. Veronica Nriame, facilitated by their Fieldwork Supervisor, Mr. Narzary.

After an exploratory study to access the perception of ADBU students and faculty in undertaking a social commitment programme in the community the organizers initially got 30 participants to volunteer.

Certificate given to student volunteers

An ADBU team consisting of MSW Director Dr. Riju Sharma, Project Coordinator Mr. Narzary, and four student volunteers visited community elders, Para Secretaries and the Sarkari Gaonburha, Mr. Sarat Chandra Das and discussed the proposed intervention and invited their views on it.

The student volunteers proceeded on a door to door survey in four localities of Azara Panchayat to collect names and details of class 9 and 10 students willing to join the free tutorial.

In keeping up with its commitment to eradicate social evil of high school dropouts in the neighbourhood, ADBU extended its state-of-the-art classrooms for the tutorial.

ADBU students distribute snacks for all…

While several personality development sessions, recreational programmes and competitions were conducted to bolster the students’ growth and development, the volunteers had motivational and tutorial skilling sessions.

Recent home visits conducted reveal that the children, parents and community people are “highly satisfied by the service provided by the university through Swastyayan.”

Some of the parents suggested that “if the students could be taught English well, they could do well in other subjects too.”

Besides opening up the tutorial to accommodate more students in January, ADBU plans to hold a crash-course for HSLCE Candidates as immediate preparation for public exams.

DB University Football Team wins 3:0

GUWAHATI — Last year’s runner-up Assam Don Bosco University’s (ADBU) Guwahati defeated the defending champion Assam Engineering College (AEC) by 3-0 and lifted the coveted Dr. Debabrata Goswami Memorial Football Trophy in the finals held, 2nd October 2013.

North East Forum for Technical Institutions (NEFTi) organized the second edition of the Inter- Engineering and Technical Institutions Football Tournament.

All together 8 teams namely Assam Engineering College, NITS Mirza, Royal Group of Institutions, GIMT, RIST, SITM, ADBU, Assam Down Town University participated in the friendly competition.

Few minutes into the game, striker Deibanehbok Nongdhar scored the first goal, sending the ADBU fans into frenzy.

In hot pursuit, the AEC strikers made several futile attempts at equalizing the goal but could not break through the ADBU defense during the entire first half.

In the second half, 20 minutes into the game, John Pyndapbiang scored the second goal for ADBU followed by a third goal from Deibanehbok Nongdhar within few minutes.

The Best Footballer of the Tournament award went to ADBU’s Harket Khongsngi (3rd Sem, Civil Engineering).

Late Prof. Debabrata Goswami, was a renowned mechanical engineer of Assam and Principal of Assam Engineering College.

BoscoNet Gets Awarded for Supporting Needy Children

Director of BoscoNet Fr. M.C. George

NEW DELHI, (C.M. Paul) — The director of BoscoNet <b>Fr M.C, George Menamparampil</b> has been nominated for the prestigious IMAAN INDIA SAMMAN award to be given on 17 August 2013 at Air Force Auditorium, SubrotoPark, Dhaula Kuan, New Delhi.

The Convener of Imaan India Samman Mr. Bhuvnesh (Gaurav) Ahuja in the letter sent to Fr George states the reason for the award saying “Our Nomination committee has shortlisted your name for this honor to recognize and appreciate your continuous contributions and endeavor for the growth of our dearest motherland, INDIA by your commitment towards the upliftment of those in need and HOMELINK Software specially made with the purpose to help Missing Children & their families.”

In his award acceptance letter Fr. George writes, “I feel humbled by this great gesture of yours to honour my organisation (BoscoNet, and Don Bosco) and me for our efforts to of some service to the people of our nation, particularly the young and the children, and among the these, in a special way, the weak and vulnerable. I take this as an opportunity to highlight further, before the Government, NGOs and the general public, the plight of the more disadvantaged among us.”

The Imaan India awards in 11 categories were established in 2012 by by Aavishkar Media Group, a prominent name in Indian Broadcasting, Media & CATV Industry since 1993 with the aim of recognising and celebrating the challenging work of those people who are catalyst in social reforms and striving to bring a significant change in community and society.

The categories include people who have effected social change through, Women Empowerment, Good Governance, Green Environment, Livelihood, Healthcare, Empowerment, Education, Vocational Service, Social Cause Advocacy, Peace & Harmony Promotion, and Life Time Achievement.

BoscoNet with the motto “Anyone in trouble is a friend” does not own or run any institutions of its own, nor offer any direct services. It supports those who are already doing this or intend to start doing it seeking funds, expertise and other resources that will enable the children and young people from the weakest sections of society to access these services. It also lobby the government and people in positions of authority to formulate and/or adapt laws, policies, standard operating procedures, that will favour the young people who are in need. BoscoNet also supports people’s movements for justice, equality and human rights.

Born in Kerala, Fr George dedicated his life to the service of the disadvantaged peoples of North East India. He spent 22 years in Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Bhutan.

He pioneered non-formal youth development programmes all over North East India and Bhutan, conducting week-long camps for students, according to the needs of their age, giving them life-skills that gave them a powerful edge in competing with the mainstream youth of India.

He founded and still runs BOSCONET which concentrates on raising funds from generous hearted Indians to support marginalised communities served by his mother organisation, the Salesians of Don Bosco.

This organisation runs over 300 schools, 42 colleges and 123 institutes of vocational and technical education, most of them in backward, rural districts of India. They serve street children and child labourers in 92 towns. They also guide thousands of Self-Help Groups of women, care for lepers and their children, do watershed management and programmes for agricultural development and environmental protection, and rural development in every form.

Don Bosco’s Way Introduced to 986 Teachers in northeast India

Program coordinator Fr Thomas Lakra with Prof. Peter Gonsalves, at Guwahati.

GUWAHATI, (C.M. Paul) — In a multi-city program spanning the entire northeast India, author of Don Bosco’s Way spent three weeks visiting nine centres introducing his book to teachers in Salesian Institutions.

“The day-long program had teachers from average three or four institutions from the neighbouring area participating,” says author and facilitator Dr. (Fr) Peter Gonsalves, Associate Professor at the Social Communications Faculty, Salesian University Rome.

Presenting the introductory course for the self study guide on Don Bosco Way of Educating took Prof Gonsalves, originally from Mumbai province, to Dimapur, Kohima, Woka, Imphal, Maram, Doimukh, Jorhat, Doom Dooma and Dibrugarh. During this trip Fr Gonsalves addressed 986 teachers from some 50 institutions.

Fr Gonsalves was at the Provincial House Guwahati, 9^th August, talking to an exclusive group of the Salesian Family members consisting of Salesians, Salesian Sisters, Sisters of Mary Immaculate, and Missionary Sisters of Mary Help of Christians.

“It’s only here in the northeast that I have addressed groups of teachers along with members of the Salesian Family,” said Prof Gonsalves who has covered eight provinces of Salesian India over the last three summers, starting with Mumbai, Goa, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Dimapur, Guwahati and in the coming days Shillong.

Every new teacher in Don Bosco Schools knows that he or she has to clear an on-line program on the Don Bosco’s System (style) of education.

It is made mandatory in several Don Bosco Insitutions across the country for new teachers to clear the on-line course within the first six months of their appointment.

“Let’s not force it upon the teachers, nor take the soft option of leaving this induction program to their good will,” said Fr Gonsalves reminding the audience the Don Bosco jayanti bi-centenary theme for August 2012-2013 is “Don Bosco’s Method of Education.”

The DB’s Way as presented by Prof Gonsalves is an attempt to re-interpret DB’s original method of education for South Asia with its pluri-religious context, domination of corporal punishment, and the lack of space for creative expression in education.

“Nurturing presence lived in an environment of care and concern for young people with space for opportunities for creativity and self expression is the hall mark of the DB’s Way,” Fr Gonsalves reminded the audience.

It all started in 2008 when Fr. Adolf Furtado and Fr. Mario Vaz at the Don Bosco Kurla Institute of Learning wanted all teachers to be collaborators in the Don Bosco’s Way of educating. They called on Prof Peter Gonsalves author of 1994 “Growing with the Young” cartoon book DB’s Way made for teachers. It was the first time that teachers and parents had Don Bosco’s system of education explained in the multi-faith context of India in carton format.