RECENT EVENTS

The recent weeks have been busy ones here at Sacred Heart Theological College…

Towards the end of February and in early March, we were privileged to have the visits of many bishops and other officials attending the CBCI meet in Guwahati. (Our own brothers – eight of them – were at hand to render yeoman service in the organization of the meeting.) All the visitors to Don Bosco museum were left spell bound by their experience. The brief glimpse that the museum offers of the richness of North-East India left their jaws dropping in sheer wonder and admiration.

On 3 March we were happy to have an extension lecture on "Inter-religious Harmony" by Dr. M.D. Thomas National Director, Commission for Religious Harmony, New Delhi. Presenting a vision for harmony he elucidated different dimensions that it comprises like communal harmony - between all communities; inter-religious harmony – between different religious creeds; social harmony - integration of all in equality and justice; and, national integration – wherein all Indians are affirmed as members of the wonderful unity that is India. The talk was followed by a very lively discussion that clarified many misconceptions and challenged the audience to a new vision of peace and harmony.

5 March was a red-letter day in the history of Don Bosco Museum, with the visit of Smt. Sonia Gandhi, the Chairperson of the UPA. What made this visit notable - in addition to the person of Smt. Gandhi - was the stringent security arrangements made in anticipation. Not all of us were fortunate to listen to her but we were proud to read her comments in the visitors book: "I have travelled and been to museums in different parts of the world, but I have never visited such a detailed and spectacular collection of tribal art and culture. I am truly impressed and I offer my compliments to all those who have worked to set up this museum." Some pictures of the visit are also available here.

Life goes on with its fair share of ups and downs. We've had our fair share of quakes and tremors – three in the last 3 weeks. While none of them come anywhere near the intensity of what hit Haiti and Chile, let us say, they do remind us of our being in a high-risk zone as far as earthquakes are concerned.

And before I forget we cannot fail to mention the noise that has become part of our lives. From 25 February we have begun the process of repairing the oldest building of our complex – which houses the offices, class rooms and reception area. Having stood the test of time for 72 long years there was a growing awareness that it needed major maintenance work. While we put up with the noise and the dust for now, we realize that it is going to pave the way for a better and brighter tomorrow as far as the facilities our college will offer by way of academic infrastructure and aesthetic beauty to the surroundings.

And just yesterday – 14 March – we celebrated our parish feast. Sacred Heart Parish, Mawlai is one of the biggest in the archdiocese of Shillong. About 10,000 people gathered for the Eucharistic celebration at 10 am presided over by our Archbishop Dominic Jala – who hails from the parish. At the eucharist we were also privileged to participate in the sacerdotal ordination of Deacon Phramsingh, a member of the Claretian congregation. He is the latest in the long line of priests and religious that our parish has offered to the service of the Church. At 2 pm 8,000 of the faithful took part in the Eucharistic procession that wended its way through the streets of the parish. Singing devotional hymns and joining in litanic prayer, assisted by a beautiful choir and the Savio Juniorate band, many of the first timers (like this blogger) were edified at the faith and deep devotion of the participants. Well, that's it for now…till the next posting, "Keep well and enjoy the Lenten season"…

 

 

 

TEMPTATIONS…

The Gospel on the First Sunday in Lent highlights Jesus' temptations. I came across this little reflection on the internet and found it very salutary. So I'd like to share it here:

Temptation is a reality of the Christian life. It is there for two reasons.

The first reason is this: Satan does not want us to succeed at being God's people.

I mean imagine a world where Christian's actually lived like Christ? And did what he did? All the time! This is not a pleasant thought for those who love darkness. And it leads to a spiritual principle that I really want you to take note of - and that is this: THE CLOSER YOU GET TO GOD - THE STRONGER THE TEMPTATIONS YOU WILL FEEL. Or to put it another way: "The devil never attacks those who are already on his side".

The second reason for temptation is this: God wants us to choose Him freely.

God does not want you or anyone else to be obedient 'robots', he wants us to be whole human beings who freely love him and others; to be people who in every way are made in His Image. God places before us the possibility of different actions – some good for us and others detrimental to our growth. And that requires something for us to choose, something for us to do, something for us to believe. This possibility to choose can be challenging and tiresome but then "no pain – no gain".

EDUCATING FOR A HAPPY LIFE IN “DON BOSCO’S WAY”

Just came upon a wonderful resource for all educators and anyone who has anything to do with the young. It is easy to use and just the thing to make you reflect on what is happening in your interactions with the young. Check it out! Here is its scope and goal in the words of the team behind it!!!

This website is an attempt to present Don Bosco's Way to the multi-religious, multi-cultural population of South Asia and beyond. It offers educators, parents, social workers and youth leaders the opportunity to be enriched by the genius of Don Bosco and his educational method, even though they may not share his beliefs, or accept his original writings that are clothed in cultural and religious vocabulary.

THE TRAGEDY IN HAITI – GLIMMERS OF HOPE!!!

Even as we speak the tragedy of Haiti continues to unfold in ways that are surreal. It has all the ingredients of a doomed humanitarian aid project. Tremendous destruction and loss of lives, very poor infrastructure and desperate poverty suffered for decades amidst ethnic and political unrest. As someone said: "It would be very hard to find a worse place for a tragedy of this magnitude!"

But, even in this situation one cannot but notice signs of hope. The way the world is waking up led by many NGOs and FBOs (faith-based organizations) is amazing. My very own Salesian family is doing its best to reach out to those afflicted by the tragedy. Undaunted that the hardwork to build structures for education and human development - begun from 1935 - may have just been razed to rubble, the work for a new beginning is on.

Well, first here is a tribute to some who may have lost their lives. Here is a beautiful video of the children from the SDB ""National School of Arts and Trades" singing in happier times. At least 200 of them are among those not accounted for. We raise a prayer for the dead and pledge to do what we can for the living.

SOME PICTURES FROM EARLY TIMES…

I have posted some pictures from my childhood on Facebook and got some comments. This is my response to one who commented on how cute we all look when we are young.

Guess there is a little bit of angelic greatness in all of us. Sadly sometimes the winds of change and the sands of time obscure that. Its good to go back to the past and maybe recover something for the present and the future. May the past be the impetus we need to build a wonderful future. Happy New Year again…

ANOTHER TRAGIC DEATH

My first post in the New Year 2010 comes with some sad news. I just read about the tragic death in a car accident of one of my theology companions in Kristu Jyoti College. Fr. Nicholas Lakshman SDB, known as  Nethasinghe, was the vicar to the Superior of the Vice-Province of Sri Lanka. In the last few months I have often remembered him in my conversations with the theology students from his Vice-Province who study in Sacred Heart Theological College, Mawlai. Fond memories remain of a dedicated and convinced religious who was always cheerfully going about his business of personal formation. There is a report of his accident here.

For now the least we can do is to whisper a prayer and ask the Lord to welcome Nethasinghe into His Heavenly Abode.

THE TRIP TO MIZORAM - 4

It dawned bright and clear on Monday 14 December and once again we joined the eucharistic celebration of the community in Silchar. We had a sumptuous breakfast with the community and left for Shillong by 9 am. The first part of the journey was what we were anticipating with foreboding, for we would have to traverse the same dirt track that had horrified us on the first day. After negotiating the rest of the road which was not too good we arrived by 10:30 am at Kalani and then moved onwards slowly towards the border of Meghalaya. The daytime crossing proved to be a mite easier than expected. But truth to tell the sorry excuse for a road seemed interminable. One also wonders how such roads can continue to exist in this day and age, where roadmaking has taken giant strides of progress. One only wonders at the governmental ineptitude that allows roads to deteriorate to this condition.

Once the dirt track was over the going proved to be very easy even though it was a climbing path we were on. The kilometers flew by and by 1 pm we found ourselves once more at the outskirts of Klehriat. We decided to dine at a small restaurant just outside the campus, since we had not been able to inform the community of our arrival. The food was delicious and we also had some time to meet the confreres and to freshen up for the last lap of the journey.

Leaving Klehriat at 3 pm we continued our journey passing the infamous Ladrymbai - a shanty town that has sprung up overnight along the road with very poor facilities of hygiene and a worn out road. From there it was quick time to Jowai where the traffic was intense. The light was fading and the line of trucks going on our way was interminable but Ajay was able to maneuver skillfully and by 6 pm we entered Shillong. Of course the evening traffic made further progress difficult and we reached SHTC only at 6:45 pm. It was the end of our trip - hectic, enjoyable and safe. We raised our minds and hearts to God in gratitude for taking us on the long journey without any major hurdles and for returning us safely home without too many aches and pains.