Vocation Day with the New Priests

NEW PRIESTS DAY

Tuesday the 5th January 2010 was indeed a beautiful day, bright and sunny and what added to the colours of the day was the presence of our two new priests in the persons of Fr. Royal D'Abreo and Fr. Briston Britto. We had a mass for all the catholic students from Std. V to VIII at 8.00 am. The IX & X standard students were in the midst of their Unit Tests.

Fr. Royal D'Abreo & Fr. Briston Britto

Fr. Royal who did his practical training at St. Dominic Savio's a couple of years earlier was the main celebrant. Fr. Briston preached to the youngsters and told them that sometimes life is made up of coincidences and that the readings of today clearly pointed out that we need to give our little bit so that the Lord can do more with it. A good number of priests were present for the concelebration and we were happy to have Fr. Franco Pinto from the USA, a past vocation promoter and also Fr. Brian Moras the present vocation promoter.

The new priests gave their lives to the Lord and now the Lord has blessed them as his instruments and ministers. The mass was well animated and the youngsters sang well. After the mass there was a sharing with the boys and each new priest gave his vocation story and how he felt called and how he responsed to this call. They threw an invitation open to all the youngsters.

Fr. Brian at the end of the sharing distributed a little vocation leaflet to the boys to fill up and hand the same over to the Rector for those who had a desire or inclination to join.

May God bless these new priests of ours and we invite many more youngsters to join the Band as Salesian priests and brothers or as other religious.

The Eucharistic Celebration with the New Priests

Fr. Royal D'Abreo & Fr. Briston Britto

Together with some concelebrants

Fr. Bosco singing the glories of the Lord

The offertory procession

Offering the Rosary

Those who animated the mass

Fr. Royal sharing his vocation stories after the Eucharist

Fr. Briston Britto sharing his vocation story

Fr. Franco Pinto sharing a couple of thoughts with the students

Savio Christmas Fete

St. Dominic Savio's High School was bustling with Christmas fever on the 19th & 20th December 2009 as it had it's Christmas Fete for the students. There was a feverish pitch of activity and work as all set to get the stage organized for the great days.

The 19th began with the students assemblying in their class and then coming down to take part in the Christmas programme that began at around 1630. The Dominic Savio Boys Home played a couple of Christmas tunes to get the group in the mood for Christmas.

There was a huge crowd that had come for the celebrations and there were 61 stalls having fun games, food stall and entertainment. A number of people who came said that it was well organized and that they enjoyed themselves.

There was a disco that seemed to be an attraction to all the youngsters and ladies. The first day programme went on till 2130 and slowly it closed for the day.

The theme for the day was 'In Giving we Receive' and on the second day the primary children put up a Christmas play with great enthusiasm and gusto. It was very beautifully chreographed by the teachers and those who trained the youngsters.

The 20th began with a Christmas play by the primary section. The kidos did very well and one would perhaps think that the angels truly came from above. While the tiny tots enacted the Christmas scene others sang carols to bring in the message of Peace, Love and Joy during this festive season.

During the programme, our school athletes were called up to the stage and were congratulated for winning the Tata Shield. This shield was won after 20 years. Mr. Dayanand and Mr. Balakrishna were commended for their dedication and hard work to get the athletes to compete and compete well. Our athletes have been winning a number of the races and events that they have participated in the last year bagging the Gold, Silver and Bronze medals.

The school athletes with the Tata Shield

The event that all looked forward to was the Savio Queen and King contest. There were a number of participants for the Savio Queen but a much greater number for the Savio King.

The finalists of the Savio Queen

The finalist of the Savio King

Of course this Christmas Programme would never end without the presence of Santa who gave away some of the prizes to the winners and wished one and all a Merry christmas and a Happy New Year.

Visit of Mr. & Mrs.Christof & Madeleine Siffert

Mr. & Mrs. Christop & Madeleine Siffert from Switzerland came to St. Dominic Savio Boys Home this morning and spent some time with us. Fr. Godfrey D'Souza the Rector was in touch with them via email as they wanted to send some gift items for poor deserving children and youngsters. They had collected a lot of stuff such as clothes, stationery, toys etc from the children of Switzerland.

They came with their little daughter and young son and they were entertained by our yougsters with a welcome song and a couple of christmas carols that the brass band played. They enjoyed mingling with the youngsters and at the end of their short but sweet visit gave some chocolates to the boys.

They also brought with them a beautiful set of football uniforms of the Swiss National Team and a number of footballs for our youngsters. We are indeed very grateful to them for their generosity and sharing.

Fr. Godfrey in his welcome introduced the Sifferts to the boarders and thanked them for all the trouble they took to bring so many gifts for children in Mumbai.

The Sifferts with us in our Boys Home

The Sifferts with their children

Listening to our band play christmas carols

Showing the Swiss National Football Uniforms

Some footballs that they brought along