PARISH YOUTH DAY

Crystal D’Mello
BORIVILI, DECEMBER 9, 2010: On December 5, 2010, the youth of our parish were invited to actively participate in the Parish Youth Day (PYD). We began the day by celebration of the Eucharist which was animated by the Youth. After Mass, we assembled in the school hall for the programme planned by Rev. Fr. Allwyn. The programme commenced with the most powerful prayer Jesus taught us - The “OUR FATHER”. The entire programme was well presented with a power point presentation in the form of prayers, songs etc. One of the memorable songs named “Courage to stand firm” was magnificently presented.

During the first session, Fr. Allywn spoke about – “Journeying with the youth”. He emphasized that Youth is a crucial stage of life and one needs to understand and handle it carefully at every step. One needs to hold one self with dignity, respect ourselves as well as others equally, and never change the way of thinking’.

“CHALTA HAI, CHALNE DO, DHAKKA MAAR KE START KARO, AGAR START NAHI HOTHA TO CHOD KE CHALE JAO”: This should not be the way to behave in life. One should change one’s mind set. Only then will we be able to concentrate on our work and be successful in life. Incidentally, this year has been declared as the ‘Year of the Youth’.

Our speaker for the second session was Fr.Ronnie. His words also inspired us and the main theme he spoke about was ‘Self fulfillment and Transcendence’. Later, he spelt out and explained each letter of the word YOUTH. -
Our next session consisted of a presentation of SYS that is Salesian Youth Spirituality. Here we were told about;

1. Enabling youngsters to discover their potential.
2. Being faithful to our principles of life:
3. Promoting Personal Integral Development:
4. Growing deeper through dialogue:
5. Commitment to social and political development –
Our post lunch session included indoor games conducted by Miss. Fiona Gomes. It was quite interesting, enjoyable and all of us participated enthusiastically. We concluded the day with a short prayer.

I was delighted to attend such a programme in our parish. I hope and pray this continues in a periodic manner so that all youngsters utilize these inputs and put them in their day to day life for a bright and better tomorrow.

RETREATAINMENT 2010

Reuben D’Souza & Brian Moras sdb
MATUNGA, NOVEMBER 11, 2010: “Retreatainment”, the very name of the program aroused curiosity in many minds. The word very evidently surfaced the combination of Retreat and Entertainment. The question arising was, „How can the two be possible together‟? The thought of Entertainment coupled with a Retreat seemed like a „Paradigm Shift‟.
But Retreatainment was not left a secret for long, and the idea was rolled out on November 6 and November 7, 2010. Welcome to experience Christ and His Gospel through „Inspiring Movies‟ was the clarion call.
Our beloved Holy Father of happy memory, Pope John Paul II, being an actor in his early days, was also known to be a man of the media. Our present leader, Pope Benedict XVI, also advocates the use of the power of media in spreading the Word of God. No surprise then that a tremendous inspiration which touched the minds of Frs. Glenford Lowe and Brian Moras to present “Retreatainment”.
Four movies were screened over a span of two days, with enough time for reflection, group-work and sharing. This turned out to be a very fulfilling experience for the Retreatants.
The first of the movies was „Letters to God‟, a touching story on the power of prayer. We can communicate to God even through letters and He always responds.
The next movie on Forgiveness was based on a true story. „Crossroads‟ tells the story of a man whose feelings of anger, blame and sadness transform when he decides to forgive the youngster who kills his wife and daughter via a reckless car accident. A good point to reflect here was on the selfish logic of our mind. It seeks forgiveness when we are wrong, but seeks justice when others are wrong. A very strong message God gives us here is to forgive always.
The next action packed movie was a drama about a Christian High School football coach who uses his undying faith to battle the giants of fear and failure, proving that with God nothing is impossible. „Facing the Giants‟ a movie all about us having to put Faith in Action, when we meet challenges. What is the source of such Faith? The coach in one of his speeches to motivate his team says “The more I read this book, I realize……..” He was holding the Bible in his hand.
No Retreat is complete without „Jesus‟. Unlike other movies on Jesus, the television miniseries named „Jesus‟ first aired in 1999, was very interesting to watch. It showed the human side of Jesus. It felt very good to see Jesus enjoying himself like any one of us, dancing, playing with children, having a good sense of humor, throwing stones in the river.….. We also saw the mature and emotional side of Jesus, in his ways of respecting the sentiments of people, crying at the loss of Joseph his father and Lazarus his cousin, and more importantly how he accepts the call to do the will of his Heavenly Father.
It is your turn now to watch and benefit from these movies. God inspires in amazing ways, only very often we are not at home. Like the television advertisement caption for a telecommunication product brand says “An IDEA can change your Life”…this idea has done likewise

SALESIAN ALTAR SERVERS’ RALLY 2010
Glenford Lowe sdb
MATUNGA, NOVEMBER 16, 2010: Over three hundred and fifty Altar Servers from ten Salesian Institutions gathered together at Don Bosco Provincial House, Matunga on Monday, November 15, 2010 to rally together in support of ‘Care for Creation’. Participating for the first time were Altar Servers all the way from Don Bosco’s Naigaon, Nashik and Pune. After a very colorful march past, the guest of honor, Fr. Edwin D’Souza, in a very novel way, invited the Altar Servers to declare open their own celebration with one voice, “We, the Altar Servers declare open our Rally”. He invited the youngsters to serve the Lord with joy and to Care for Creation. Citing very down-to-earth practices, he challenged the youngsters to give God thanks and be protectors of Creation. Representatives from the various intuitions lit the lamp together with the guest of honor.
Through songs, dances, drama and colorful exhibits, Fr. Brian Moras guided the young Altar Servers to appreciate the Gift of Creation and to Care for it. The participants responded with commitments they resolved to keep on a personal and community level. During a very prayerful Eucharistic celebration, Fr. Michael Fernandes, the Provincial, together with a number of concelebrants, once again invited the young Altar Servers to be responsible caretakers of God’s wonderful creation. Various institutions took active part in animating the liturgy and the singing.
The Altar servers were then given a brief opportunity to participate in the Shelter Don Bosco – Children’s Day Celebrations ‘Baccho ki Muskaan, Desh ki Shaan’. After a sumptuous lunch, the long awaited friendly games began. The games played were cricket-football, bucket-basketball, dodge-ball and square-ball. The sporting pledge, that was made right at the start, was kept by every team.
In his charismatic and youthful style, Fr. Allwyn Misquitta guided the young Altar Servers in a meaningful experience through Praise and worship, to once again reaffirm their commitment to ‘Care for Creation’. Fr. Ajoy, the Vice Provincial, proposed the vote of thanks. St. Dominic Savio, Andheri were declared the overall winners. Resurrection Church, Virar followed closely. Thanks to Bro. Matthew who generously donated a bible to every participant of the rally.
A special word of thanks to Fr. Edwin Colaco, Province delegate for Groups and Movements, Fr. Brian Moras and the many young volunteers and animators for making it a truly wonderful experience. Rallies such as these are truly opportune moments to sow vocational seeds and to pray to the Lord of the harvest. Our Salesian Mission began with an encounter that Don Bosco had with a non-to-familiar altar server. It is time we all take greater care and responsibility to nurture all our groups and movements in the province.
BOSCO INFORMATION SERVICE (BIS) MUMBAI

The holiday season is now over. The Don Bosco Summer Camps 2010 (DBSC ’10) will slowly, more than fade into memory, act as a catalyst to bring new meaning and purpose into the lives of many youngsters. The adventure, the fun, the personal growth accompanied with quality ‘me-time’, the making of new friends, living in tents under starry skies, visiting the mission centres in Gujarat, interacting with young energetic Salesian priests and brothers, the deep prayer moments leading to a personal encounter with Christ were all experiences of a kind. Back to school, for many non-campers, the classrooms will soon be their ‘cocoons’ for the next few months… limited to bench-work: reading, writing, arithmetic. For the Bosco Campers, life will be different… ‘Home – School – Church – Playground’ will be the benchmarks for total growth in ‘Body-Mind- Soul-Heart’. DBSC ‘10 were indeed a new learning experience for many a youngster. The freedom of the open spaces and a youthful family spirit provided the necessary arena for holistic growth. No one who attended the Bosco Summer Camps 2010 ever felt isolated or alone. The secret of the Bosco Summer Camps was simply this: Everyone is Special. I am Gifted, Loved and Capable. Salesian Youth Ministry revolves around Don Bosco’s insight, ‘love what the young love and they will begin to love you’. Put differently, it simply means ‘when you make what is important to the young important to you, then what is important to you will also become important to them’. Entering through the door of the young person’s world takes courage and confidence. But when we get in there; we realize there is light and shadow, success and failure, hope and despair, meaning and emptiness, the divine and the secular… Salesian Youth Ministry is basically ‘journeying with the Young’ because they are ‘special’, very special indeed. Youth are the young face. Pope Benedict XVI rightly affirms: “Without this young face, the Church would appear disfigured” (San Paulo, Brazil, May 10, 2007). DBSC ’10 were an opportunity for the young to discover their place in Church and Society. For us Salesians, we make Don Bosco’s vision our own: To accompany them to become Good Christians and Responsible Citizens. Don Bosco Youth Services (DBYS), Matunga, has over the years been instrumental in enabling young people to discover themselves and to respond with love, hope and meaning to the challenges that life offers them. The numerous Summer Camps: the Mission Camp (Gujarat), the two ‘Beat the Heat’ Leadership camps at Boscowadi (Uttan), the Youth Pasch – an Easter retreat for working youth and the two Vocation Camps for those seeking to discover God’s call were wonderful opportunities for the young to live life more meaningfully. Accompanying the young is a whole process. It does not end with the Summer Camps alone. The Don Bosco Youth Services (DBYS) continue to provide young people with nourishment for growth in love and life. Lest the Church’s face be disfigured….. let us give young people a opportunity to reconnect with Church and Society. If you have a heart for the young, why not join hands with us? Contact us at dbysmatunga@gmail.com or call us 24154118 / 24154106

Don Bosco Summer Camps 2010: A Salesian Perspective

The holiday season is now over. The Don Bosco Summer Camps 2010 (DBSC ’10) will slowly, more than fade into memory, act as a catalyst to bring new meaning and purpose into the lives of many youngsters. The adventure, the fun, the personal growth accompanied with quality ‘me-time’, the making of new friends, living in tents under starry skies, visiting the mission centres in Gujarat, interacting with young energetic Salesian priests and brothers, the deep prayer moments leading to a personal encounter with Christ were all experiences of a kind. Back to school, for many non-campers, the classrooms will soon be their ‘cocoons’ for the next few months… limited to bench-work: reading, writing, arithmetic. For the Bosco Campers, life will be different… ‘Home – School – Church – Playground’ will be the benchmarks for total growth in ‘Body-Mind- Soul-Heart’.
DBSC ‘10 were indeed a new learning experience for many a youngster. The freedom of the open spaces and a youthful family spirit provided the necessary arena for holistic growth. No one who attended the Bosco Summer Camps 2010 ever felt isolated or alone. The secret of the Bosco Summer Camps was simply this: Everyone is Special. I am Gifted, Loved and Capable.
Salesian Youth Ministry revolves around Don Bosco’s insight, ‘love what the young love and they will begin to love you’. Put differently, it simply means ‘when you make what is important to the young important to you, then what is important to you will also become important to them’. Entering through the door of the young person’s world takes courage and confidence. But when we get in there; we realize there is light and shadow, success and failure, hope and despair, meaning and emptiness, the divine and the secular… Salesian Youth Ministry is basically ‘journeying with the Young’ because they are ‘special’, very special indeed.
Youth are the young face. Pope Benedict XVI rightly affirms: “Without this young face, the Church would appear disfigured” (San Paulo, Brazil, May 10, 2007). DBSC ’10 were an opportunity for the young to discover their place in Church and Society. For us Salesians, we make Don Bosco’s vision our own: To accompany them to become Good Christians and Responsible Citizens.
Don Bosco Youth Services (DBYS), Matunga, has over the years been instrumental in enabling young people to discover themselves and to respond with love, hope and meaning to the challenges that life offers them. The numerous Summer Camps: the Mission Camp (Gujarat), the two ‘Beat the Heat’ Leadership camps at Boscowadi (Uttan), the Youth Pasch – an Easter retreat for working youth and the two Vocation Camps for those seeking to discover God’s call were wonderful opportunities for the young to live life more meaningfully.
Accompanying the young is a whole process. It does not end with the Summer Camps alone. The Don Bosco Youth Services (DBYS) continue to provide young people with nourishment for growth in love and life. Lest the Church’s face be disfigured….. let us give young people a opportunity to reconnect with Church and Society.
If you have a heart for the young, why not join hands with us? Contact us at dbysmatunga@gmail.com or call us 24154118 / 24154106

GROUPS AND MOVEMENTS - PROGRAMMES CONDUCTED

20 oct 2009. - Altar Servers Picnic - Province level
10 jan 2010. - Youth Fest - Province level

23 - 24 feb 2010. - Youth Animators Training Programme - Province Level

2010 - Night Vigil at Matunga - DBYS

May 23 , 2010 - Mission Camp - DBYS

May 2010 - Vocation Camps - DBYS
18th March 2010 - Training Programs for Bosco youth groups – DBYS
17th -18th -19th November 2009 - Training Programs for Bosco youth groups – DBYS
12th -13th-14th March 2010 - Training Programs for Bosco youth groups - DBYS
Don bosco Narukot - Youth Activities : Leadership training, Skill camp
Chotta Udeipur - Youth Activities :Regarding our bosco youth groups, we have not registered the members yet, but we do have youth activity quite regularly. This year we met at least 4 times. The youth are mostly from our govt. hostels both for boys and girls, and our Fatehpura hostel and our 11th and 12th Science boarders.The numbers vary from 50 to 70. They keep changing according to their studies since most of them move out after having a job or get married

Don Bosco, Suket - Youth Activities: Liturgy, games organisation, help in school programmes. -
Don Bosco, Jabhua - Youth Activities : Leadership programmes, Prayer Vigil, Orientation to life -
St. Anne’s, Ahmednagar - Youth Activities : Social action, Blood donation camp, Altar servers rally, Youth rally. Charismatic convention .- Youth Activities : Inter parish football tournament , Recollection, Get-together,

Don Bosco, Nasik - Youth Activities : Preparation of Star and Crib for the parish, Liturgy, training programmes - Activities :

Don Bosco, Savedi - Youth Activities :Youth Fest, Altar servers rally, Leadership
Resurrection church , Virar - Youth Activities : Organised night vigil, Community games, leadership programme

Jyoti Mata church, Jyoti - Youth Activities : Leadership programme, Parents day, Independance , Training Programme

St. Dominic Savio, Antop Hill - Youth Activities : Night Vigil, parents day, Tele games, Dance

Our Lady of Dolour’s, Wadala West - Youth Activities : Night Vigil, parents day, Tele games, Dance, Mission Fete, programme on stress management.

Don Bosco, Borivali - Youth Activities : form of youth , Novena to mother Mary, Divine healing service, Outreach to those in need, Hospital ministry every 2nd thur.

Don Bosco youth services, Matunga Senior group - Youth Activities : Formation, organising the night vigil, helping in youth services programmes

Don Bosco youth services, Matunga Junior group -Youth Activities : Formation programmes and games

MISSION CAMP: A TASTE OF GUJARAT
Glenford Lowe sdb
GUJARAT, MARCH 29, 2010: 28 youngsters from various parts of Mumbai ventured on a ‘holiday with a difference’ to the Salesian Missions of Gujarat. Led by Fr. Brian Moras, Fr. Glenn and Br. Jesu, the youngsters left for Vadodara on March 25, 2010 for what would eventually be a life changing experience for one and all. The Mission Camp invited young students of STD X, XII and College to get a firsthand experience of the Salesian Missions of Gujarat. Travelling through the mission stations the young Mission Campers listened to the dreams turned realities by the many pioneers in Gujarat. The difficulties and challenges faced by the Salesians down the years –physical assaults, tragic accidents, political and religious persecutions… the blood of many Salesians mingled in the soil of Gujarat …were but a few drops in the ocean of God’s daily miracles of protection and providence. Twenty five years down the line, the joyful witnessing by the Salesians still continues. The young missionaries were challenged to trust God, believe in their potential and to bring greater meaning to the lives of the tribals around.
The youngsters were also challenged by the many difficulties faced by the tribals of the land and the many social developmental works undertaken by the Salesians to empower the youth and the people of the land. The ‘City’ youngsters were no match to the students in the missions… they lost 3-2 to the under- 14 State Champions!!!!
Without doubt, every camper was touched by the warm hospitality of the Salesians and the simple life style of everyone in the missions. The daily Eucharistic celebrations, the 30 km joy ride on a Tractor, the blistering heat, the tasty food, the lively Ratwa dances and beats, the joy and family spirit of every community added spice to the Mission Camp 2010.
The harvest is great, but the laborers are few…. Many a youngster took time to respond to God’s invitation in their lives. True to their commitment at the start of the Mission Trip, the youngsters will be back for more challenging experiences in the future. All said and done, one could whispers of gratitude “Thanks for making our holiday, a holiday with a difference.”