MAHINDRA NBA CHALLENGE


Saturday, the 17th April 2010 was another Red letter day in the history of the annals of St. Dominic Savio as a very huge Basketball event was organized entitled Mahindra NBA Challenge. Budding basketballers were invited to two venues, St. Dominic Savio Andheri and Mastan YMCA Nagpada to show and demonstrate their talents in Basketball.

About 500+ youngsters from all the corners of Mumbai registered online for this great event. Present on the day were abut 450 budding gentlemen and ladies.

On the dias were some very well known NBA legends such as T. Green and Teresa; Mr. Harish Sharma the General Secretary of the Basketball Federation of India (BFI); Mr. M. Venkatesh and Fr. Crispino D'Souza



T. Green & Teresa the NBA legends

Teresa played Basketball for the Olympics for America and won 4 gold medals and one bronze

Training sessions commence






Teresa and Mr. Harish Sharma

Fr. Crispino D'Souza & Mr. T Green

Posing before the sessions

With the girls and the boys: T Green & Teresa

A couple of moves

Teresa demonstrating

Let's begin

Let me try


The training sessions went on till about 6.30 pm. The group would be divided into eight teams and they would play each other. The best four from Dominic Savio's would play the best four from Mastan Nagpada. What the coaches did tell the players was that they were looking out for players who had a team sense and not individuals who scored. It was team work that counted and not just individual talent.

It was indeed a wonderful sight to see so many youngsters on the basketball court from 2.30 pm to about 7.30 pm. These games will be played every Saturdays until the 6th June 2010. Some of the players who will be selected will perhaps be taken on for bigger things. We wish all these youngsters the best !

SALESIAN FAMILY PICNIC ANDHERI UNIT

The Salesian Family members (35 Cooperators and 12 Past Pupils) went to Don Bosco Asha Kiran - Karjat, a project for street youngsters, for a picnic. It was the first time that both the Cooperators and the Past Pupils went together and to Asha Kiran. We were a full bus and had a cup of tea with a puff before we left the premises of St. Dominic Savio High School for Karjat.

There was a lot of excitement in the air as we had also three new cooperator members who joined for the picnic. This year the Delegate made a special effort to increase the number of cooperators and get in some younger blood. The senior members were delighted to see these new faces and welcomed them for the picnic.

As soon as we reached Asha Kiran we got ready for mass to make sure the Lord took the most important place in all our lives.

Just before the Holy Eucharist

At the Holy Eucharist

Fr. Godfrey preaching on the three loves

Partaking of the Holy Eucharist

After the Holy Eucharist we all assembled outside the entrace on the steps to take a photograph of all of us for the records. It was nice to see the Salesian Family together and smiling.

There's nothing like a group photograph

Just to make sure no one was cut off

Well it was time to have something and soon after the photograph we were served some breakfast by the Salesians Community. The Salesian community went out of their way to make us feel at home and welcome.
Don't we seem hungry all the time???

Well what can be done???

We had a couple of new members of Cooperators who came for the picnic. Below is Janet and Bastian two younger members just come into the group.

Janet and Bastian new cooperators at the picnic

It was great to have these young lads from the youth wing of the Past Pupils. They did bring in some spirit colour and life into the picnic.

The youth wing of the past pupils

After a good breakfast Swami Xavier sat with the group and gave us an idea of all that was happening at Asha Kiran. He spoke of the intake of the boys and youngsters who were admitted into Asha Kiran and said that those with any qualification or having passed their X standard or those who were able to pay fees were automatically disqualified.

What impressed many of the members were the vegetable gardens and how the vegetables were cultivated and grown. Swami Xavier spoke about eco-friendly methods and enviroment and how we need to preserve and save mother earth. The tour as expressed by many was very information and relaxing.

Swami Xavier giving us a tour of the place

Just after the tour, the Cooperators sat for a meeting for the elections of new Council Members. The following members were elected: Mrs. Benny Lobo as a Council member; Mrs. Audrey D'Costa as Assistant Coordinator; Mr. Joauquim Fernandes as Council Member; Mr. Joseph Serrao as New the Coordinator of the Cooperators; Mrs. Ida Rocha as a Council member & Mrs. Crispina Rebello as the Treasurer of the unit.
The new Council Members

The batch of new Cooperators who came for the picnic and had a terrific time: Mrs. Ellen Gonsalves; Mrs. Dorothy Dias; Mrs. Pamela Dias; Miss Janet D'Souza; Fr. Godfrey D'Souza the Delegate of the Cooperators; Mr. Merwyn D'Souza; Mrs. Joyce Coelho; Miss Bastian Gonsalves & Mrs. Andrea Gonsalves.
The New Cooperators

Fr. Godfrey D'Souza the Delegate with the New Council Members of the Cooperators of the Andheri Unit.
A photograph with the Delegate
The New Council Members


The Out-Going Team did a fantastic job

The Out-Going members were thanked in a special way and Mr. Joseph Serrao asked for their help and expertice when required until they get the hang of running the meetings. The Old Council members did do a fantastic job these last six years and deserve credit and appreciation for keeping alive and active this unit of the Salesian Cooperators.

The lunch was excellent and the home made pickles were a hit and many of the members already made some bookings for pickles in the season. An order has been taken by Fr. Damien and he said that the same would be sent to the Delegate once ready.

After lunch there were a couple of games that kept us on our toes guessing surnames, names of soaps to complete a love story and of course Housie to keep us in the mood.

With the games and fun time it was time for tea and to make our good byes. Treffines said a few words on behalf of the group and on behalf of the cooperators and Mr. Anthony Pereira gave a token to Fr. Xavier for all that the community were to us for the day and for the lovely hospitality extended to each and ever one of us.

Mr. Remith Fernandes on behalf of the Past Pupils also gave a contribution to the community. At the end of the day it was hard to say our good byes and it took quite a while before all of us went into the bus and proceeded back.

It certainly is a day most of us Salesian Family Members of the Andheri Unit will not easily forget.
Thank you Fr. Xavier Devadas, Fr. Damien Sladen and the boys at Asha Kiran.
You spoilt us rotten ! God bless you all.