BBN (Bhumel Broadcast News)

કબ્રસ્તાન માટે ધરણા

2012-01-30T12:53:00.006+05:30

Mogri, Nr. Anand

વ્હાલા ધર્મજનો,

ખ્રિસ્તી સમાજ એટલે માત્ર કોઈ એક પંથ નથી પરંતુ કેથોલિક, મુક્તિ ફોજ, પ્રોટેસ્ટંટ વગેરે પ્રચલિત અપ્રચલિત પંથથી બનેલો સમાજ એટલે ખ્રિસ્તી સમાજ.

ખ્રિસ્તી સમાજમાં ઘણા વણ ઉક્લેલ પ્રશ્નો પડ્યા છે જેને વાચા આપવા માટે આપણે સર્વે એક્મય બની સાથ સહકાર આપવાની જરૂર આજે પડી છે. ગયા મહીને BBN ને મોગરી ગામે દફન વિધિમાં જવાનું થયેલ. ગામના વડીલને દફન કરવા ગયા ત્યારે કબ્રસ્તાન જોઇને એવું લાગ્યું કે દફન વિધિ કરવામાં ક્યાં આવશે ? આખું કબ્રસ્તાન પાણીમાં હતું. તળાવના પાણીમાં લીલો નાળો ઉગેલો અને એ નાળાઓમાંથી કબરો ઉપર મુકવામાં આવેલ બધા ક્રોસ પોતાનું મુખ કાઢીને જાણે એવું કહેતા હોઈ કે આપણા સમાજમાં મૃત્યુ પામેલ વ્યક્તિ માટે પાંચ ફૂટ જમીનનો પણ અભાવ છે.

આવા તો ઘણા કબ્રસ્તાનો પાણીમાં છે તો વળી કોઈ કબ્રસ્તાન રોડ બનવા માટે ખોદી કાઢવામાં આવેલ છે. ગામડાઓમાં ઘણા કબ્રસ્તાનો હજી પણ ઉકરડો બનાવવા માટે ઉપયોગ કરવામાં આવે છે.

BBN હાલમાં મોગરી અને બેડવા ગામના કાબ્રસ્તાનોનું શુટિંગ કરી રહ્યું છે. કામ પૂરું થતાજ આવતા મહીને વીડિઓ દ્વારા ત્યાની પરિસ્થિતિ આપ સમક્ષ રજુ કરી શું તેવો કાર્યક્રમ કરી રહ્યા છે ત્યારે આજે જાણવા મળ્યું કે બે દિવસ પહેલા સાબરમતી,અમદાવાદમાં પણ કબ્રસ્તાન ઉપર બુલડોઝર ફેરવી પાર્કિંગ બનાવી દેવામાં આવ્યું છે. શું આ પ્રશ્ન આપણી જ્ઞાતિનું મૂળ કયું છે તે શોધી અને ચર્ચાસ્પદ બનાવવું તેના કરતા મુખ્ય પ્રશ્ન ના કહી શકાય ?

વ્હાલા ધર્મજનો, ત્યાના ધર્મ બંધુઓ દ્વારા એક ધરણાનું આયોજન કરવામાં આવ્યું છે. આ પ્રસંગે યુવાનો પોતાનો સમય ફાળવે અને આ પ્રશ્નનો ઉકેલ લાવવા માટે પોતાનો ફાળો આપે તેવી વિનંતી.

આવો, એક થઇ પ્રશ્નનો ઉકેલ લાવીએ,

ધરણાનું સ્થળ: અમદાવાદ મ્યુનિસિપલ કોર્પોરેશન, દાણાપીઠ, ખ્હમાસા, અમદાવાદ,
મુખ્ય દરવાજાના રોડ તરફ઼્ના ભાગે

સમય: બુધવાર, બપોરે : ૩:૦૦ થી ૫ વાગ્યા સુધી

Sabarmati News: Mr. Smith Christian

Photos: BBN

Joma Charity Foundation

2012-01-30T11:33:00.002+05:30

Please click on the photo to enlarge.

Photo courtesy FB by Mr. Madhuram Macwan

નિરાધારોની માતાનો મેળો _ Religious get together

2012-01-26T23:06:00.000+05:30

મેળો જોવા માટે વિડિઓ ઉપર ક્લિક કરશો

આજે ફતેગંજ, વડોદરામાં નિરાધારોની માતાનો મેળો થઇ ગયો. લોકો ભક્તિભાવથી માતા મરિયમને ચરણે આવી વર્ષ દરમિયાન મળેલી આશિષોનો અભાર માનવા આજે અહી હજારોની સંખ્યામાં દુર દુરથી આવી હાજર રહ્યા હતા. અહી ભક્તો સવારે ૭ વાગ્યાથી માંડી ને મોડી સાંજ સુધી લાંબી કતારોમાં ફૂલ અને વિનંતીઓ અર્પણ કરવા નમ્રતાથી અને ભક્તિભાવથી ઉભા રહ્યા હતા. આ મેળાની શરૂઆત પહેલા દર વર્ષની જેમ ૯ દિવસની ભક્તિનું આયોજન કરવામાં આવ્યું હતું અને આજે ગુજરાતી, તામિલ, મલયાલમ અને અંગ્રેજી ભાષાઓમાં ખ્રિસ્તયજ્ઞ અર્પણ કરવામાં આવ્યો હતો. અંતે ૪ વાગે દેવળમાંથી ભવ્ય સરઘસ કાઢીને ફતેગંજ વિસ્તારમાં નિરાધારોની પ્રતિમા સાથે ફેરવવામાં આવ્યું હતું.

વધુ માહિતી માટે કૃપા કરીને વિડિઓ નિહાળશો.

Today there was a Religious get together in Fatheganj, Baroda. Many people paid a visit to Mother Of Forsaken from morning till late evening. Do watch the video for beautiful Religious get together.

Chief Minister asks Jesuit college to upgrade to a university

2012-01-25T21:20:00.001+05:30

Chief Minister asks Jesuit college to upgrade to a university

Jesuit college, Kolkata

Chief minister of an eastern Indian state has invited a Jesuit-run college to upgrade to the status of a university and “cross boundaries of the world” in imparting education to all.

Mamata Banerjee, chief minister of West Bengal, assured all help toward the expansion of the St. Xavier’s college in Kolkata, the state capital.

“I want to see St. Xavier’s as the first autonomous university of the state,” Banerjee said during the convocation and valedictory program of the college on January 20.

Addressing an 1800-strong audience of students who were graduating in different subjects, she invited the vice-chancellor of the University of Calcutta, under which the Jesuit college awards degrees, to initiate the process of upgrading the status of the college.

“Bengal should be number one in the field of education in the country and I believe the state can show the way to the world regarding excellence in education,” she said.

The minister said that she was studying the possibilities of allotting land for the expansion of the college and will work in consultation with its Principal Father John Felix Raj.

Vice-chancellor of the University of Calcutta Suranjan Das, who presided over the function, said the college “deserves to be upgraded” to the level of a university.

He said that the Jesuit college, which has some 6,800 students on its rolls, was the first one in the state to be accorded the status of an autonomous body and “now it stands as a model for all other colleges.”

The 151-year-college, which was founded by Belgian Jesuits, offers 16 graduate and 5 post-graduate courses.

The federal government’s University Grants Commission-appointed National Assessment and Accreditation Council had given 3.53 points to the college on a scale of 4 points in last December.

The college has also been declared as a center with potential for excellence.

Father Raj claimed that the college had been adjudged as one of the top 10 colleges in the country.

News Courtesy:

Source: ucanews.com<http://www.ucanews.com/2012/01/23/university-call-for-jesuit-college/>

Photo: Google

"જળ ને પડદે" પ્રશિષ્ટ નાટક_ Jad Ne Padade

2012-01-23T22:57:00.002+05:30

This is the true story of a famous Gujarati poet Kant who accepted the love of Christ in his life. He lived as a Hindu Brahmin and died as a follower of Christ.
"જળ ને પડદે" નામનું પ્રશિષ્ટ નાટકની ઝાંખી માટે નીચે ક્લિક કરશો.

ગઈ કાલે તા ૨૨ રવિવારે ગુર્જરવાણીના રજત જયંતી વર્ષ નિમિત્તે "સંગાથ" (આ ગ્રુપ દૂતની શતાબ્દી ઉજવણી નિમિત્તે અમદાવાદમાં સક્રિય લોકો દ્વારા રચના કરવામાં આવી હતી ) દ્વારા "જળ ને પડદે" નામનું પ્રશિષ્ટ નાટકનું આયોજન લોયોલા હોલ અમદાવાદમાં કરવામાં આવ્યું હતું

શ્રી કમલ જોશી

"જળ ને પડદે" કવિ કાન્ત ના જીવન પર આધારિત એક વિશિષ્ટ નાટક છે. આ નાટક લેખક શ્રી સતીસ વ્યાસે લખ્યું છે અને એક પાત્રીય અભિનય અને દિગ્દર્શનનું પાત્ર શ્રી કમલ જોશીએ કર્યું છે. શ્રી કમલ જોશી લુણાવાડામાં અંગ્રેજી સાહિત્યના પ્રોફેસર છે. પોતાના આગવા અભીનયથી કવિ કાન્તનો પ્રભુ ઇસુ પ્રત્યેનો અખંડ પ્રેમ અને તેના કારણે સમાજના ઉભા થયેલ પ્રશ્નો, અને પુનરુથાનની આશા અને સાચા ઈશ્વરને પામવા માટેનો તલસાટને સુંદર હાવભાવથી રજુ કર્યો છે.

આજે જયારે ખ્રિસ્તી ધર્મ ઉપર ધર્માંતરના પ્રહારો થતા રહ્યા છે ત્યારે વર્ષો પહેલા થઇ ગયેલ કવિ અહી એક સુંદર ઉદાહરણ પૂરું પાડે છે. કવિ કાન્તે સુંદર રીતે પોતાની વેદના બળવંતરાય ઠાકોરને કહે છે કે સમાજ ધર્મ ને આગળ રાખે છે અને અંતર (હૃદય) પાછળ રાખે છે જો કે અંતર પહેલા હોવું જોઈએ અને ધર્મ પછી. કવિનો ઇસુ પ્રત્યેનો તલસાટ આજના લોકો સમજી શકશે ખરા? તે પ્રશ્ન અવરણીય રહે છે.

આ નાટક જોવા નાટ્યખંડ અધ્યાપકો, યુવાન યુવતીઓ તથા સાહિત્ય પ્રેમીયોની મોટી મેદનીથી વધુ રસપ્રદ બન્યો હતો.

ફોટો વીડિઓ: બી. બી. એન.

ANOTHER WORLD IS POSSIBLE

2012-01-21T18:15:00.001+05:30

THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (B) 22 January 2012

ANOTHER WORLD IS POSSIBLE

Mark 1, 14 -20

José Antonio Pagola

Fr. Valentine de Souza S.J

After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee,proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,”he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”

As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him.

When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him. (NIV)

We do not know with certainty how the disciples of John reacted when Herod Antipas imprisoned him in the fortress of Machaerus; we know how Jesus did. He did not lie low in the desert. Neither did he take refuge among his relatives in Nazareth. He began to tour the towns of Galilee preaching an original and astonishing message.

Mark, the evangelist, sums it up by saying: “He went into Galilee proclaiming the good news of God.” Jesus does not restate John’s message, nor does he speak of his baptism in the Jordan. He proclaims God as something new and good. This is his message.

“The time has come.” The time of waiting and expectation prevalent in Israel is over. The time of John the Baptist, too, is over. With Jesus there begins a new age. God does not wish to leave us alone to face our problems, sufferings, and challenges. He desires to build along with us a more humane world.

“The kingdom of God is near.” With unknown boldness, Jesus surprises everyone by proclaiming something no prophet had dared announce: “God is already here with his creative power for justice, trying to establish his kingdom among us.” Jesus experiences God as a good and friendly presence that is seeking to open a way among us to humanize our lives.

That is why the whole life of Jesus is a call to hope. There is an alternative. It is not true that history has to follow the path of injustice traced by the ones who hold power on the earth. A more just and fraternal world is possible. We can change the course of history.

“Repent”. It is no longer possible to continue living as if nothing was happening. God is asking his children to collaborate. “Change the way you think and act.” We, the people, are the first to have to change. God does not impose anything by force, but is always drawing our awareness towards a more humane life.

“Believe this Good News.” Take it seriously: wake up from indifference; stir up your energies; believe that it is possible to humanize the world; believe in the liberating power of the Gospel; believe that change is possible; bring hope to the world.

What have we made of this impassioned message of Jesus? How could we have forgotten it? What have we replaced it with? What are we busy with if the most important thing is “to seek the kingdom of God and his justice?” How can we remain passive spectators while the project of God to create a world full of peace and justice is being sabotaged by men?

Spread the Good News of God

Source: URL of José Antonio Pagola's Buenas Noticias Web site:

http://sanvicentemartirdeabando.org

Website for Spanish text and translations: www.eclesalia.net

José Antonio Pagola, vgentza@euskalnet.net , San Sebastian, Guipuzcoa, Spain.

English Translation by Valentine de Souza S.J. Mandal, Gujarat , India.394650

Subscription is free. To unsubscribe e-mail: vallydesouza@jesuits.net,

St. Xavier's Backpack Journalism 2012, Ahmedabad

2012-01-20T19:15:00.000+05:30

Please click on the video to know more about Backpack Journalism Course

St. Xavier's Backpack Journalism 2012 with Marquette University Diederich College Team

In 2008 Dr. William Thorn and the Rev. Fr. Vinayak Jadav SJ conspired to create a journalism program at St. Xavier's College that was different than any other provided by colleges and universities. Backpack Journalism was already being practiced by many professionals, but the concept was new to the academic world.

St. Xavier's students are instructed in the use of digital video equipment, photography, audio recorders and web page design. Each student receives instruction on how to tell a story for the eye and for the ear. They are grouped into teams of four or five where they choose a topic, research, conduct interviews and create both written and visual reports of the different stories that fall under their overall topic.

To create the proper teamwork environment the teams are required to decide on a name and then equally divide the work amongst themselves.

The first program completed in 2009 concluded with 36 journalist receiving certificates of completion. Of those original graduates, at least 19 have entered the journalism field or other collaborative fields such as webpage design, public relations and graphic design.

In 2012 a team of six, lead by Dr. Stephen Byers of the Marquette University Diederich College of Communication, once again traveled to Ahmedabad, India to train faculty and students in the craft of digital storytelling within two weeks.

Twenty-six students from St. Xavier's College applied to participate. This website is a celebration of the 2012 graduating class of faculty and students.

Here's sharing with you the joy of what our Indian students of St. Xavier's college came up with the vibrant support of the Marquette team from the U.S. at the end of a 12 day crash course on Backpack Journalism.

Thanks each one of you, for your moral and material support very specially the Marquette Team.

Please click: http://www.stxaviersbackpackjournalism2012.com

Source: http://www.stxaviersbackpackjournalism2012.com/

શ્રદ્ધાંજલી _ સ્વ. ચિરાન્ગીની હિમંતભાઈ મેકવાન

2012-01-19T16:33:00.002+05:30

સ્વ. ચિરાન્ગીની હિમંતભાઈ મેકવાન

જન્મ: ૭ -૧૦-૧૯૮૭

મૃત્યુ: ૧૭-૧-૨૦૧૨

તા ૧૭-૦૧-૧૨ ની સાંજે સ્વ ચિરાન્ગીની પોતાના એકટીવા વાહન લઈને મોગરી જતા હતા ત્યારે રોડ વચ્ચે ગાય પસાર થતા અકસ્માતનો ભોગ બન્યા હતા. તેમને તુરંતજ નજીકની હોસ્પિટલમાં ખસેડવામાં આવ્યા હતા પણ સારવાર દરમ્યાનજ તેઓ દેવલોક પામ્યા. ઉમરે ૨૪ વર્ષ અને PHDના અંતિમ વર્ષમાં અભ્યાસ કરતા હતા.અભ્યાસમાં હોશિયાર હોવાથી તેમની વરણી વિદ્યાનગર કોલેજમાં GS તરીકે કરવામાં આવી હતી. તેમની દફનવિધિ પહેલા કોલેજના વિધાર્થીગણે તથા અધ્યાપકોએ હાજરી આપી ફૂલો દ્વારા અંતિમ વિદાય આપી હતી.

આ રવિવારે તા ૨૨-૦૧-૨૦૧૨ની સવારે લોટીયા ભાગોળ, આણંદમાં પ્રાર્થના સભા રાખેલ છે

સમાચાર:

કુસુમબેન પી જાદવ

Most important task the Church has to undertake today

2012-01-08T19:58:00.000+05:30

“Return to Jesus is the most important task the Church has

to undertake today.”

(Interview with José Antonio Pagola)

Q. For some time now you have been insisting very much on the importance of a return to Jesus.

There are a number of things happening among us which, to my mind, are not going to lead to the renewal the Church needs. I’m thinking of the disillusionment and passivity of many ordinary Christians who suffer and are confused today.

The atmosphere of confrontation and criticism between groups of opposed views, the absence of dialogue between bishops and theologians; useless complaining; the fear of creativity and dialogue with the modern world; the return to the past that the hierarchy seems increasingly to favor…

Q. How do we react to this?

We need to urgently mobilize ourselves and join forces to focus the Church more truly and faithfully on the person of Jesus and on his project of the Kingdom of God. There’s much that should be done but nothing more important than this conversion.

Q. What would it be like?

I’m not thinking of a pastoral “aggiornamiento” (updating), religious reforms, or improvements in the functioning of the Church, something otherwise needed. But, when Christianity is not focussed on the following of Jesus, when compassion does not occupy a central place both in the exercise of authority, and in the task of theologizing, when the poor and the lowliest are not the most important in our communities… I believe our most urgent task is to promote conversion to the Spirit that inspired the entire life of Jesus, to return to the roots, to what’s fundamental, to what Jesus lived and transmitted.

Q. What would this converted Church be like?

A Church concerned for the happiness of people, that welcomes, listens to and accompanies all those who suffer; that people recognize as “a friend of sinners”; a Church where women occupy the place Jesus wanted for them; a more simple, good and fraternal, humble and vulnerable Church that shares the problems, conflicts, joys and sorrows of the people.

Q. But isn’t there a great need for specific reforms in the working and organization of the Church?

Yes, and quite a few of them. It’s likely that in the coming years there will be intense discussions on the reform of the Roman Curia, the exercise of the Petrine ministry, the appointment of Bishops, the place of women in the Church, inculturation, liturgical creativity, realistic steps towards ecumenism. But, I think, if at the same time an atmosphere of intense conversion to Jesus does not exist, the debates and discussions will again and again lead us to confrontation, division and a waste of energy.

Q. Do you think that this process of conversion is still possible?

I think we have to stop thinking of what’s taking place in terms of crisis, secularization, disappearance of the faith… We need to think in more prophetic terms, bringing into our outlook other problems: what paths is God trying to open to meet with his children in this modern culture? What kind of relationship does he want to enter into with so many men and women who have left the Church? In what ways is God calling upon the Church today to change our traditional way of thinking, living, celebrating and communicating the faith so that we assist his action on modern society?

Q. It’s not easy…

At a time when an unprecedented socio-cultural change is taking place, the Church needs an unprecedented conversion. We need a “new heart” to engender faith in Jesus Christ in a new way in modern consciousness.

Q. What responsibility do we have in this as ordinary believers?

The most widespread feature of Christians who have not yet left the Church is surely passivity. For centuries we have taught the faithful to be submissive and obedient. The responsibility of lay men and women has been invalidated. For this reason I believe that the first duty of all is to keep creating responsible communities and parishes. We are all needed when it’s time to think of, plan, and promote conversion to Jesus Christ.

Q. Is it possible to make Christianity today more authentic?

We must not be afraid to name our sins. It’s not a matter of blaming one another. What we need to do is to recognize the actual sin of the Church, for which all of us are more or less responsible, above all, by our sins of omission, passivity and mediocrity. It was regrettable that we entered the twenty first century by celebrating solemn jubilees without getting under way an honest revision of our following of Jesus. I am sometimes surprised at how sharp we are to see sin in modern society and how blind we are to see it in our Church.

Q. What does this require of us?

To seek a new quality in our relationship with Jesus. A Church made up of Christians who relate to a poorly known Jesus , believed in in an abstract way, a dumb Jesus from whom you hear nothing of value for the world today, a dull Jesus who does not attract, appeal to, or touch hearts… is a church that runs the risk of dying out, becoming antiquated and forgotten.

Q. You give much importance to placing the Gospel story at the center of Christian communities. Why?

The Gospels aren’t teaching tools meant to expose academic doctrine. Neither are they biographies written to trace the trajectory of his life in detail. What you gather from them is the impact of Jesus on the first persons attracted to him. They are “stories of conversion”. It is with this attitude that they must be read, preached, meditated upon, and preserved in the heart of every believer and community.

Q. What does the Gospel story teach us?

Jesus’ life style: the way he lived and loved, was concerned for human beings, alleviated suffering, trusted in the Father. This effort to learn to think, feel, love and live like Jesus should be at the heart of the communities

Q. Will we need to rethink the Church in the style of Bonhoeffer, less of an institution and more of a dispersed leaven in the dough?

The most serious temptation of the present Church is to strengthen the institution, tighten discipline, rigidly preserve tradition, raise barriers…It’s difficult for me to see in all this the spirit of Jesus who continues to invite us to put “new wine in new wineskins”. “Restorationism”, can lead us to make religion a thing of the past, increasingly anachronistic, and less relevant to modern men and women.

Q. People speak of the danger of our becoming an island within modern society.

We have to learn to live as a minority, and not in the manner of a body holding dominant leadership, but sharing with others the condition of losers in this society. Many have an image of the Church as an unapproachable institution that only seems to teach, judge, and condemn. Modern man is facing a crisis and needs to know a church that is approachable and friendly, that knows how to welcome, listen to, and accompany people.

Q. How will we have to change our language and ways of transmitting the faith?

I know that theological and doctrinal language is absolutely indispensable for dialogue with modern thought, but I believe that it’s a mistake to try to introduce the faith or nourish it by giving primacy to doctrinal exposition, almost always explained in pre-modern categories.

In my opinion, we have to recover and make more relevant the founding experience the first disciples had with Jesus, and, above all, with his teaching and manner of life. We have to learn to believe using the sensitivity, intelligence, and freedom of contemporary culture: putting the Gospel in contact with the problems, fears, aspirations, contradictions, sufferings and joys of our times.

Q. Is it possible to look to the future of the Church with hope?
The first thing is to build new bases that make hope possible. We have to learn to give up what does not evangelize or open paths to the kingdom of God so that we are more alert to what is emerging, what today opens hearts more easily to the Good News. At the same time, we have to promote creativity in experimenting with new forms and language of evangelization, new proposals for dialogue with people who have left us, creating new spaces for women’s responsibility, worship based on sensitivity to the Gospels… I believe we have to devote more time, prayer, listening to the Gospel and energies to discover new vocations and charisms to communicate the experience of Jesus.

Jose Antonio Pagola, San Sebastian, Spain.
Translated by Valentine de Souza S.J., Mandal, Gujarat, India.

Photo:Google

Bhumel Ma Nataal 1

2012-01-06T19:44:00.000+05:30

Please click on video

વડતાલમાં બુઢાદહન

2011-12-31T19:55:00.000+05:30

રેવ. ફા . માર્ટીન

આજે સાંજે વડતાલમાં ૨૦૧૧ વર્ષને વિદાય આપવામાટે ભક્તજનો મોટી સંખ્યામાં દેવળમાં ભેગા થયા હતા. આ સમયે આખા વર્ષમાં પ્રભુના જે આશિષ અને કૃપાઓ મળી હોય તે અનુસંધાનમાં અભાર પ્રાથનાનું આયોજન કરવામાં આવ્યું હતું. ત્યારબાદ ખ્રિસ્તયજ્ઞ અહીના સભા પુરોહિત રેવ. ફા. માર્ટીન એસ. એફ. એક્ષે અર્પણ કર્યો હતો.

આ ખ્રિસ્તયજ્ઞ બાદ જુના વર્ષનો કડવાશ ભૂલી જઈ નવા વર્ષને વધવા માટે અહી રૂપક તરીકે એક ડોસાનું પુતળું બનાવી બુઢાદહન કરવામાં આવ્યું હતું. અંતે સર્વ ભાઈ બહેનો અને બાળકો આનંદ સાથે વિદાઈ લીધી હતી.

આ પ્રસંગે ફા. એન્થોની એસ એફ એક્ષ અને ફા નીલેશે હાજરી આપી હતી.

ફોટો: ફા એન્થોની

Bhumel Ma Nataal Garba

2011-12-31T19:26:00.000+05:30

Please click for Nataal Garba

There are three parts of Bhumel Ma Nataal.Publishing part 2 now, will be publishing as soon as possible.

ફા. જીમ્મીનો ક્રિસમસ માટેનો બોધ

2011-12-30T14:28:00.001+05:30

ફા. જીમ્મીનો ક્રિસમસ માટેનો બોધ સંભાળવા માટે વીડિઓ ઉપર ક્લિક કરશો. આ વીડિઓ ૨૪ તારીખ માટે તૈયાર કરવામાં આવ્યો હતો.

સૌને નાતાલની શુભેચ્છાઓ

57 Orphan Children Celebrated Birthday_ચાલો, પહેલ માંડીએ.

2011-12-29T18:43:00.004+05:30

કૃપા કરી વીડિઓ ઉપર ક્લિક કરશો.

ગઈ કાલે માતૃ છાયા, નડિયાદમાં સંત આન્નાના સીસ્ટરો દ્વારા ચલિત અનાથ આશ્રમમાં ૫૭ છોકરા છોકરિયોનો જન્મ દિવસ એક સાથે ઉજવાયો હતો

સમાજમાં મોભો જાળવવા માટે લગ્ન પહેલાના સંબધોથી કે પછી સતત બાળકીનો ઘરમાં આગમન થવાથી, જન્મથી પોતાના કુખે જન્મેલ બાળકને કચરા પેટીમાં કે જંગલમાં કે પછી હોસ્પીટલની બહાર ફેકી દેતા સમાચાર તો ઘણા વાંચવા મળશે પણ, તે બાળકો નું શું થાય છે તે જાણીએ તો માણસના રુવાડા ઉભા થઇ જાય તેવી પરિસ્થિતિ નવજાત શીશુઓની હોય છે.

ઠંડીથી ઠરી ગયેલા એક-બે કલાકના શિશુઓનો આધાર શું હોઈ શકે ? કીડી મંકોડા જેવા જીવજંતુથી હેરાન થતા આવા અનાથ બાળકોની વારે આવતા સંત આન્નાના સાધ્વી બહેનો, માતૃ છાયામાં ૧ કલાકના શિશુથી માંડી તે આર્થીક રીતે પગભેર ન થાય અને લગ્ન ન થાય ત્યાં સુધીની સંભાળ રાખી ઉછેર કરે છે. તેમને જરા પણ માતાપિતાની ખોટ ના વર્તાઈ તેની જીણવટભરી તકેદારી રાખવામાં આવે છે.

સર્વ જાણે છે તેમ બાઈબલમાં લખેલું છે કે ઇસુના જન્મબાદ હેરોદ રાજાએ નિર્દોષ બાળકોની હત્યા કરાવી હતી તે અનુસાર ગઈ કાલે આ બધાજ બાળકોનો જન્મ દિવસ અહિ ઉજવ્યો હતો. આ મહાન દિવસે બાળકો દ્વારા રજુ કરેલ કાર્યક્રમો સુંદર અને સ્પર્શી જાય તેવા હતા.દરેક ભૂલકાઓ દ્વારા કેક કાપવામાં આવી હતી અને દરેક નાના-મોટા બાળકોને ભેટ આપી આનંદિત કર્યા હતા.

આ પ્રસંગે રેવ. ફા. કે. પી. વિન્સેન્ટ એસ. જે. બાળકો માટે ખ્રિસ્તયજ્ઞ અર્પણ કર્યો હતો અને ફા. અંતોન મેકવાન, વિદેશથી આવેલ દંપતી, હમેશા મદદ કરનાર અન્ય કુટુંબોએ અને સાધ્વી બહેનોની હાજરીથી આ કાર્યક્રમ વધુ પ્રોત્સાહન રૂપક બન્યો હતો. આ પ્રસંગે બાળકોને તેઓ સ્પેશિયલ છે તેવી લાગણીની અનુભૂતિ કરાવવા માટે કાર્યક્રમનું આયોજન કરનાર ત્યાંના ડીરેક્ટર સી. બેનેડીકતા મેકવાન તથા સી. શીતલ પરમારનો અથાર્ગ પ્રયત્ન રહ્યો હતો.

આવી સમસ્યાનો ઉકેલ શું હોઈ શકે ? ફેકનાર ને તો પકડી શકીશું નહિ પણ શું આપણે આપણા મિત્ર કે પછી સખીને આ સમસ્યા રજુ કરી શકીએ કે નહિ ? ચાલો, પહેલ માંડીએ.

ઇસુના જન્મની ઉજવણી મોગરીમાં_Christmas celebration in Mogri

2011-12-28T20:00:00.002+05:30

મોગરી ગામમાં ૨૬ તારીખે નાતાલની ઉજવણી કરવામાં આવી હતી. વડીલો, બહેનો અને બાળકોએ સર્વે સાથે મળી ઇસુના જન્મની હર્સોઉલ્લાસથી ગુજરાતી ગરબાના ગીત સાથે ઉજવણી કરી હતી તેની ઝલક જોવા માટે નીચે વિડીયો ઉપર ક્લીક કરશો.

There was a Christmas celebration in Mogri near Anand, Gujarat. young boys and elders danced with Gujarati Christmas songs. Please click on the video.

પુરોહિત દીક્ષા

2011-12-27T20:06:00.005+05:30

Courtesy: Gurjarvani

Rev.Fr. Kiran Gohel

આજે ઉટેશ્વરીમાં બે નવોદિત પુરોહિતો રેવ. ફા. કિરણ બિ. ગોહેલ જેઓ મૂળ ઉમરેઠ તાંબાના ઘોરા ગામના અને રેવ ફા. કમલેશ કે. રાવળ એસ. જે. જેઓ મૂળ કલોલના છે તેમણે પુરોહિત દીક્ષા ગ્રહણ કરી હતી. સિસ્ટરો, ૮૫ ફાધર્સ અને આશરે પાંચ હજારની આસ પાસ શ્રધાળુંઓની મેદનીથી ઉટેશ્વરીનું દેવળ રંગતભર્યું બન્યું હતું. નવોદિત પુરોહીતો આજે આનંદથી ઝૂમી ઉઠ્યા હતા. આજે તેમણે દરેકને પ્રભુનો આનંદ, પ્રેમ અને શાંતિના શાક્ષી અને સંદેશ પોતાની સેવા દ્વારા પહોચાડવા માટે અને પ્રભુ ઇસુના સેવક બનવાનું આ ટાણે શપથ લીધું હતું.

Rev.Fr.Kamlesh Raval SJ

આજે રેવ. આર્ચ બિશપ સ્ટેની ફર્નાડીઝ ( ગાંધીનગર ધર્માંપ્રાંત ) અને રેવ બિશપ થોમસ મેકવાને (અમદાવાદ ધર્માંપ્રાંત) બંને નવોદિત પુરોહિતોને દીક્ષા આપી હતી. ગાંધીનગર ધર્માંપ્રાંતના વિકાર જનરલ ફા.રોકી અને ઇસુ સંઘના પ્રાંતપતિ રેવ. ફા જોસ ચંગાનાચેરી એસ જે. તથા ઉત્તર ગુજરાતમાં જેમણે પ્રભુના સંદેશને ઘરે ઘરે લઇ જવા જેમણે અથાર્ગ મહેનત કરી તેવા માનનીય રેવ. ફા ગારિત એસ .જે. હાજરી આપી પ્રસંગને વધુ શોભાવિત કર્યો હતો.

આ પ્રસંગે કિન્નરી મેકવાન, જેઓ ન્યુઝીલેન્ડથી ગઈકાલે ગુજરાત આવ્યા છે તેમણે પણ આ શુભ અવસરે હાજરી આપી પુરોહિત દીક્ષાનો ભાગ લીધો હતો

આ પ્રસંગના અંતે ઉટેશ્વરીના લોકોનો અને ફા.ગીરીશ એસ. જે. નો ખાસ આભાર રેવ. ફા કિરણ ગોહેલે માન્યો હતો

ફોટો: તરલ પરમાર

Christmas celebration Mass in Anand-Gamdi.

2011-12-25T20:47:00.001+05:30

Please click to watch the Christmas celebration in Anand-Gamdi.

આજે સવારે ગામડી-આણંદ ચર્ચમાં ખ્રિસ્તયજ્ઞ માટે ઉમટેલા લોકોને નિહાળવા માટે વિડિયો જોશો.

Rt. Rev. Bishop Francis Braganza SJ passes away

2011-12-21T14:23:00.001+05:30

We are sorry to inform you about the passing away of Bishop Francis Braganza around 10.00 a.m on Wednesday 21 December 2011 at Xavier’s residence in Ahmedabad. The funeral will be held on Thursaday 22 December 2011 at 4.00 P.M in the Rosary Church Baroda.

His dead body will be kept at Xavier Residance, Nr. St. Xavier's College, Ahmedabad from 8:00 am to 9:00 am in the morning to pay last respects.

Please click here to see him celebrate the funeral mass of his elder brother Late Fr. Joseph Braganza SJ

Bio Data of Bishop Francis Braganza

Born:29-01-1922 at Bandra Mumbai
Entered SJ:28-05-1938 at Shembaganur
Ordained as Priest:21 November 1951.
Responsibilities Held:
Professor at St.Xavier’s Ahmedabad 1956-1961
Rector at Rosary, Baroda 1961- 1962
Vice Provincial of Gujarat 1963-1968

Assistant to the General: 1967- 1970
Principal of St.Xavier’s Ahmedabad 1970 – 1980
Bishop of Baroda 1987-1997
Emeritus Bishop: 1998-2011

The funeral mass will be on BBN tomorrow night.

News By Fr. Socius. ( Fr. Dharmaraj Lawrence SJ)

આજે જન્મ્યો છે ઇસુ નાથ લોક હૈયે હરખના માય.... ગરબો- નૃત્ય _ Christmas Celebration week

2011-12-19T18:56:00.002+05:30

Welcome to Vibrant Christmas Celebration week. Presenting the Gujarati Garbo (Dance) in video format. Please click on video.

આજે જન્મ્યો છે ઇસુ નાથ લોક હૈયે હરખના માય.... ગરબો- નૃત્ય

મ્યુઝિક: "તારલીયો" સીડી

વિડીયો ઉપર ક્લિક કરશો.

આ કાર્યક્રમ સિ.એલીશા મેકવાન (Lay Sisters, Chavdapura, Anand) દ્વારા તૈયાર કરવામાં આવ્યો હતો.

Stay connected, will be e-casting few more Christmas Garba in this vibrant week.

Spiritual Exercises In Gujarati Part -3

2011-12-17T13:16:00.004+05:30

કામમાં વ્યસ્ત રહેતા લોકો માટે ધ્યાન (રીટ્રીટ) ભાગ -૩

આપણું સદ્દભાગ્ય કહેવાય કે સમાજમાં અમુક કુટંબો છે જે આપણને પ્રભુના પ્રેમની પ્રતીતિ કરાવે છે. પ્રભુના બિનશરતી પ્રેમનો અનુભવ કરવા માટે નીચેના વીડિઓ ઉપર ક્લિક કરશો.

વ્હાલા શ્રધાળુઓ

ઈશ્વરે આપેલ દસ આજ્ઞાઓમાં પ્રેમની આજ્ઞા સર્વોપરી છે. દરેક આજ્ઞા પ્રથમ દ્રષ્ટિએ જોતા એવું લાગે કે તે નકારાત્મક છે છતા, જો ઊંડાણથી તેની ઉપર ધ્યાન દોરીએ તો ખ્યાલ આવશે કે તે સર્વ પ્રેમનોજ પંથ બતાવે છે.

આ બધીજ    આજ્ઞાઓથી કહી શકાય કે ભગવાન આપણી સ્વતંત્રતા ઉપર પ્રતિબંધ મુકવા માંગતો નથી, ઇસુનો પંથ બિનશરતી પ્રેમનો પંથ છે કારણ પ્રભુ ઇસુ પ્રેમ નો અવતાર છે, પ્રેમ સ્વરૂપ પરમેશ્વર માણસો ઉપર કેટલો બધો પ્રેમ રાખે છે એ માણસો જોઈ શકે , સ્પર્શી શકે ને અનુભવી શકે એટલા ખાતર જ ઇસુ આ દુનિયામાં આવ્યા હતા.ક્રૂસ ઉપર મરણને ભેટીને તેઓ સૌ માનવીઓ પ્રત્યેના પોતાના અપાર પ્રેમનો પુરાવો આપ્યો હતો અને પોતાના શિષ્યોને એવી આજ્ઞા અપાતા ગયા કે " મેં જેમ તમારા ઉપર પ્રેમ રાખ્યો છે તેમ તમારે પરસ્પર પ્રેમ રાખવાનો છે "

(માથ્થી ૨૨: ૩૭-૪૦ )નું પઠન કરવાથી વધુ અનુભૂતિ થઇ શકે.

"તારે તારા પ્રભુ પરમેશ્વર ઉપર તારા પુરા હૃદયથી , તારા પુરા જીવથી અને તારા પુરા હૃદયમાંથી પ્રેમ રાખવો .... ને તારા માંનાવ્બંધુ ઉપર તારી જાત જેટલો પ્રેમ રાખવો. સમગ્ર શાસ્ત્રનો આધાર એ બે આજ્ઞાઓ છે "

વધુ મનન ચિંતન માટે ઉપરનો વિડીયો નિહાળશો, આજ ભાગ માટે વધુ મદદરૂપ થતા પાયાની બાબતો અગામી ભાગમાં રજુ કરવામાં આવશે.

સાર :

"પ્રેમનો પંથ'' આ પુસ્તકના અનુવાદક રેવ. ફા. ઇસુદાસ ક્વેલી એસ. જે.નો ખુબ ખુબ અભાર.

આપ સર્વે તરફથી જે મોટો પ્રતિસાદ આ શ્રેણી માટે મળ્યો છે અને તમે દરેકને ઈ-મેઈલ કરીને આ શ્રેણી ના ભાગીદાર બનાવ્યા છે તે બદલ BBN હૃદયપૂર્વક અભાર માને છે

Nun set free without charges

2011-12-16T11:59:00.000+05:30

A court freed Sister Mary Elisha of the Missionaries of Charity on Dec. 15, who was arrested on the allegation of child trafficking, after the attorney general said an investigation had proved she is innocent and her service is genuine.

“I forgive all who are responsible for putting me in jail,” said Sr. Mary Elisha after she left the court.
Officials of the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA), who raided the Prem Nivasa orphanage for young unwed mothers and babies run by the Sisters on November 23 and arrested its superior nun Sister Elisha two days later, told the court they had not found any illegal activities committed by the nuns.
The NCPA’s sub inspector Sheela said investigations have been conducted by three separate state security institutions, all proving the home is a legally run institution.
A magistrate ordered the release of the nun and the return of all documents including her passport.
Police acting for the NCPA arrested the nun and imprisoned her. She was later released on bail but prevented from visiting the home.
“The NCPA should have taken due regard of the confidentiality of the institution and in this particular instance it had been damaged,” said Father Noel Dias, senior attorney and Vice Judicial Vicar of the archdiocese of Colombo.
“The arrest is illegal and the undue publicity given has caused immense hardship to the nuns concerned and also to the entire Catholic Church,” said Neville Abeyratne, a Catholic attorney who defended the nun.
“The outcome of this case has proved that the sisters are doing a humanitarian service and they are not interested in taking any action against NCPA due to their mission to serve the needy,” said Abeyratne.
A large number of priests, nuns and civil rights activists gathered to witness the proceedings and organized a thanksgiving prayer service after she was set free.
Fr. Rohan Silva, the Provincial of the Oblate of Mary Immaculate (OMI) Congregation in Sri Lanka who was in court in support of the nun said: “The world has come to know what the sisters have been doing specially for the poor, the downtrodden, the rejected and the unloved in the country.”
A government media spokesman said that the minister of child development has already apologized for any possible mistakes in the handling of the case.

News and photo Courtesy
ucanews

WITH JOY AND TRUST

2011-12-16T11:19:00.000+05:30

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT (B) 18 December 2011

WITH JOY AND TRUST

Luke 1, 26-38

José Antonio Pagola

Rev.Fr.Vally SJ

The Second Vatican Council presents Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ, as the “prototype and model of the Church”, and describes her as a humble woman who listens to God with trust and joy. In the Church, we need to listen to God with the same attitude.

   “Rejoice!” It’s the first thing that Mary hears from God and the first thing we need to hear today too. There’s no joy among us. We frequently allow the weight of an antiquated, drained out Church to affect us with sadness. Is Jesus no longer Good News? Do we not feel the joy of being his followers? Where there is no joy, faith loses its freshness; warmth and cordiality disappear; friendship among believers grows cold; everything becomes more difficult. We urgently need to revive joy in our communities and recover the peace Jesus left us as a legacy.

   “The Lord is with you.” In the Church of our times joy doesn’t come easily. It can only be born of trust in God. We are not orphans. Everyday we keep invoking God as a Father who accompanies us, protects us, and seeks the good of every human being.

   This Church, at times so confused and lost that it does not succeed in returning to the Gospel, is not alone. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, seeks us. His Spirit draws us. We can count on his inspiration and understanding. Jesus has not abandoned us. With him, everything is possible.

   “Do not be afraid.” So many fears paralyze the followers of Jesus: fear of the modern world and of secularization; fear of an uncertain future; fear of our weakness; fear of conversion to the Gospel. Fear is doing us much harm: it prevents us facing the future with hope; it locks us into a fruitless preservation of the past; it haunts us with growing forebodings; it puts an end to healthy realism and Christian wisdom. We need a Church built on trust. The power of God is not revealed in a powerful Church. It manifests itself in a humble Church.

   “You will bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.” A mission is entrusted to us too , as it is to Mary: to contribute to generating light in the midst of the darkness. We are not called to judge the world but to sow hope. Our task is not to put out the wick to extinguish it, but to ignite the faith in so many in whom it is ready to burst into flame: God is a question that humanizes.

   By means of our communities, increasingly small and humble, we can become the leaven for a more healthy and fraternal world. We are in good hands. God is not in crisis. It is we who do not dare to follow Jesus with joy and trust.

Spread joy and trust in the Church.

Source: URL of José Antonio Pagola's Buenas Noticias Web site:

http://sanvicentemartirdeabando.org

Website for Spanish original and translations: www.eclesalia.net

Jose Antonio Pagola, vgentza@euskalnet.net , San Sebastian, Guipuzcoa, Spain.
English Translation by Valentine)de Souza S.J. Mandal, Gujarat , India.
Subscription is free. To unsubscribe e-mail: vallydesouza@jesuits.net,

ભિલોડા સ્કુલની રજત જયંતી_Silver Jubilee Of Bhiloda Jesuit School

2011-12-14T19:47:00.009+05:30

Please click an interview of Vice Principal Rev. Fr. Anil Parmar SJ

Today Bhiloda High School celebrated Silver Jubilee. The school is always concerned to give better education to the poor tribal in Bhiloda and the villages and other talukas of Sabarkatha District.

Bhiloda School

આજે ભિલોડા સ્કુલની રજત જયંતી ધામ ધૂમથી ઉજવવામાં આવી. આ પ્રસંગે ભિલોડા તથા આજુબાજુના લોકો તથા ગામડાઓની સ્કુલના વિધાર્થોની મેદનીએ આ પ્રસંગને વધુ રંગત ભર્યો બનાવ્યો હતો. વિધાર્થીઓ દ્વારા આ પ્રસંગે બધાજ ભારતીય નૃત્યનો સમાવેશ કરી એક અનોખું નૃત્ય રજુ કર્યું હતું જે સર્વ હાજર લોકોને સ્પર્શી ગયું હતું . કાર્યક્રમ ને અંતે સર્વે ભોજન લઈને સ્કુલની આજ અને આવતીકાલની યાદ લઈને વિખરાયા હતા. આ સ્કુલે ભારતીય સેનામાં ઘણા ખરા દેશની રક્ષા કરવા માટે જવાનો આપ્યા છે તે આ પ્રસંગે કેવી રીતે ભૂલી શકાય !

આ પ્રસંગે રેવ. આર્ચ બિશપ સ્ટેની એસ. જે. , રેવ. ફા. પ્રોવિન્સિયલ ચંગ્નાચેરી એસ જે. રેવ. ફા વિન્સેન્ટ બ્રિગન્ઝા એસ જે. (પ્રિન્સીપાલ ઓફ સેન્ટ ઝેવિયર્સ કોલેજ, અમદાવાદ) તથા શ્રી મેથ્યુ કરાડીએ (ડી. ઈ.ઓ.) હાજરી આપી આ ઉજવણીને વધુ સુંદર બનાવી હતી. આ સ્કુલની વધુ માહિતી માટે ઉપરના વીડિઓ ઉપર ક્લિક કરી રેવ. ફા. અનીલ પરમારનું ઇન્ટરવ્યુ સાંભળશો.

News By

Rev.Fr. Stany Pinto SJ, Bhiloda.

Life of Late Fr. Mathew Kochupura, S.J.

2011-12-13T20:48:00.020+05:30

Please click on the video

Life of Late Fr. Mathew Kochupura, S.J.

Fr. Mathew Kochupura, fondly known as Fr. Kochu was born on 3rd March 1954 in Pottenkad , which is in ldikki district of Kerala state. His parents were farmers and he was the eldest of five members in the family. He did his studies up to higher secondary in Kerala and left for Gujarat in the year 1973. He joined in the pre-novitiate of Gujarat Jesuit Province in Ahmedabad. After completing graduation, he joined the Jesuit novitiate in August 1976 at Premal Jyoti, Navarangpura, Ahmedabad. Since he was gifted with technical talents the authorities asked him to go for diploma in Mechanical Engineering in Ahmedabad. At the end of the course he came out with flying colours. He was sent for Philosophy studies in Satya Nilayam - Chennai.

For regency he was sent to Xavier Technical Institue - Sevasi near Baroda to look after hostel and to teach in the institute. For two years he did a good job under the guidance of late Fr. Hererro. He joined for the theology studies in Premal Jyoti, Ahmedabad. During his studies he helped Fr.Cyprian to run the Nadiad Loyola Technical. He was ordained as a priest on 15th May 1989. After his ordination he was appointed to Ankleshwar parish as assistant parish priest. Those days he helped out late Fr. Hererro SJ to set up a technical institute in Ankleshwar . After six months, his services were needed in Umarpada parish and there he worked in the villages for the remaining time of the year .In the year 1990 he was appointed in Nadiad Technical Centre as its director. He worked there till 1995.

During his tenure in Nadiad, he got permission from Central Government to run ITI patterned courses and began the courses over there. Due to his efforts we got permission for ITI courses in Ankleshwar Xavier Technical Institute too. He was also instrumental in beginning the hostel for boys, new residence, workshops and class rooms. During his time he began training in computer hard ware and soft ware. In 1995 he went for tertian ship. After the tertian ship he was appointed to Xavier Technical Institute - Sevasi as its director in 1996. There he worked till 2004 and did a lot of development to the institute and began many courses too. He introduced C.N.C (Computer Numeric Control) course for the first time in Gujarat. This course has a lot of demand for the modern industries. The number of students who are studying increased around 600 and practically all of them were placed for jobs in good industries in India and in abroad.

From the year 2004 he was appointed to Mandali, a mission centre near Mahesana, to begin a new technical institute to cater mainly the students of North Gujarat. Since the building was not ready for the technical courses, he began computer course at parish school building in Mahesana. He had planned to develop a training centre in solar energy and the province too supported his new venture. The new property was bought at Linch village near Mahesana and all the plans for the building and courses are approved by the province. He has begun the building work so that he could shift the computer class from Mahesana in next academic year. He also wanted to start new courses in June 2012. Province is interested to start at least two Diploma Engineering programs over there in near future. He was planning to execute the same.

But, the Lord called him for the eternal reward on 11^th December 2011 at the age of 57 years and 35 years as a Jesuit. The Society of Jesus and the Church in Gujarat have lost a precious priest. May his soul rest in peace!

News By Rev. Fr. K.P.Vincent SJ (Nadiad Loyola ITI )

Funeral Of Late Fr Matthew Kochu SJ

2011-12-12T21:10:00.005+05:30

Late Fr. Matthew was in Madali near Mahesana, Gujarat. He was admitted in the hospital in Mahesana on 10-12-2011 evening and passed away on 11-12-2011 at 1:30 pm.

For New Video Please click

http://vijaymacwan.blogspot.com/2011/12/life-of-late-fr-matthew-kochupura-sj.html

Please click on the video for the funeral Mass of Late Fr. Matthew Kutchu Sj.

- BBN

Sudden demise of Fr.Mathew Kochupura sj

2011-12-11T20:19:00.000+05:30

Late Fr.Mathew Kochupura sj

The Funeral Mass video will be on BBN tomorrow night.

We regret to announce the sudden demise of Fr.Mathew Kochupura sj (Guj) 57/35, on 11 December 2011 in Mandali, at 1.30 P.M. The funeral will be held on 12 December in the College Church, Ahmadabad at 4.00p.m.

Yours truly,
Socius – Gujarat.

Mathew was director of the Jesuit Technical schools in Nadiad [ Loyola technical] and Vadodara [ Xavier technical Institute, Sevasi ] before he was appointed to Mandali, near Mehsana, [Gujarat,India] to start a new Technical Institute.

News And Photos

Gurjarvani Blog

ત્રણ દિવસીય પ્રદર્શન

2011-12-09T19:42:00.000+05:30

સિસ્ટર મેરી ડાભી

આજે ગામડી-આણંદમાં પવિત્ર મરિયમના વિવિધ ફોટોગ્રાફ્સ સાથે લીજીયન ઓફ મેરી દ્વારા સુંદર પ્રદર્શનનું ત્રણ દિવસ માટે ઉદ્ધઘાટન કરવામાં આવ્યું. સિસ્ટર મેરી ડાભી જેમની હાલમાં સંત ફ્રાન્સીસ ઝેવિયરની નાની દીકરીઓના નવા મધર જનરલ તરીકે નિમણૂક કરવામાં આવી છે તેમને હાથે પ્રદર્શન ખુલ્લું મુકવામાં આવ્યું હતું. આ પ્રદર્શનમાં જુદા જુદા દેશોમાં પવિત્ર મારિયાને ચિત્રમાં રજુ કરવામાં આવે છે તેની ઝાંખી થઇ શકે છે. આ પ્રદર્શનમાં સ્કુલના બાળકો દ્વારા દોરેલા સુંદર પવિત્ર મારિયાની છબીઓને પણ સામેલ કરવાથી પ્રદર્શન શોભી ઉઠ્યું છે.

આ પ્રસંગે ગામડી-આણંદના સભાપુરોહિત રેવ. ફા.આલ્બર્ટ એસ. જે. તથા રેવ. ફા.મેક્ષિમ એસ. જે., રેવ. ટોની (પેટલાદ ) રેવ.ફા. નગીન એસ.જે., સિસ્ટર પુનિતા એલ. ડી. તથા તેમના મંડળના નોવીસ મિસ્ટ્રેસ અને લીજીયન ઓફ મેરીના પ્રમુખ તથા સભાસદોએ હાજરી આપી પ્રસંગને વધુ સુંદર બનાવ્યો હતો.. આવા સુંદર ધાર્મિક પ્રવૃતિના આયોજન દરેકને પ્રાર્થનામય અને પ્રભુમય બનાવવામાં મદદરૂપ થઇ શકે છે.

આ પ્રસંગની વધુ ઝાંખી

ફોટોસ: બી. બી. એન.

Thanksgiving _ Spiritual Exercises in Gujarati Part- 2

2011-12-09T14:30:00.005+05:30

The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola are a month-long program of meditations, prayers, considerations, Due to busy life, It is not possible for working people to go through one month retreat and therefore trying out to help all by the online e-retreat in Gujarati.

Please click on the video

ઉપરના વિડિઓમાં આણંદમાં થયેલ અકસ્માતમાં ચમત્કારિક રીતે બચી ગયેલ વ્યક્તિની પ્રભુ પ્રત્યેની લાગણી પણ રજુ કરવામાં આવી છે. આગામી ભાગમાં લાંબા સમયથી કોમામાં રહેલ યુવતી અને તેના પ્રત્યે માતા-પિતાનો અગાધ પ્રેમ રજુ કરવામાં આવશે.

કામમાં વ્યસ્ત રહેતા લોકો માટે ધ્યાન (રીટ્રીટ) ભાગ -૨

વિષય- આભાર

આજે પ્રભુનો કેવી રીતે આભાર માની શકીએ તે માટેના પાયાની અને મદદ થઇ શકે તે માટેની સામગ્રી
ઈશ્વરે બક્ષેલી તમામ શક્તિઓ તેમજ ભેટોની કદર કરું તેમજ તેનું સાચું મૂલ્ય પારખું એવી આજે મારી ઈચ્છા છે. મારી જીવન ની યાત્રામાં સર્જનની આ બધી ભેટોને તે પોષતો રહે છે.

જેમ કુંભાર ઘડાને આકાર આપ્યા કરે છે, જેમ ચિત્રકાર કુદરતી સૌન્દર્યને ચિતરવામાં પીંછી ચલાવ્યા કરે છે, તેમ મને સોળે કળાએ ખીલવવા તે સતત કાર્યશીલ રહે છે.

વધુ મદદ માટે નીચે આપેલ શાસ્ત્રપાઠોનું વાંચન કરી શકાય.

ઈર્મીયા ૧૮ : ૧-૬ ( કુંભાર નો ઘડો )
ઉત્પત્તિ ૧ : ૨૪ - ૨ : ૩ (સર્જનલીલા)

ટેકારૂપ મુદ્દાઓ:

- કુટુંબનો ફોટો આલ્બમ લો અને એમાં કંડારાયેલી પ્રત્યેક પળોને માણો ને ઈશ્વરનો આભાર માનો

- પોતાની જીવન ગાથા ઉપર દ્રષ્ટી નાંખવી, તેમાં રહેલ અનેકવિધ શક્તિઓની નોંધ કરી એમની કદર
કરવી
- જીવન ગાથામાં વિસરાઈ જવાયેલ મધુર સ્મરણોને ફરી તાજા કરી શકાય

વધુ માટે વિડિઓ નિહાળો તેનાથી વધુ મદદ મળી શકશે.

આ સુંદર શ્રેણી ને સફળ બનાવવા માટે રોમિકા જોન્સન , એકતા પરમાર અને કપીલાબેન આર પરમાર તથા રમેશ યોહાકીમ પરમારના BBN આભારી છે.

આ શ્રેણીના વિડિઓ યુટ્યુબ ડાઉનલોડરથી તમારા માટે ડાઉનલોડ કરી શકાશે.

- BBN

Spanish Missionary passes away_Fr. Joseph L. Lopetegui SJ

2011-12-04T21:22:00.005+05:30

Please click on the video BEST VIEW ON THIS PAGE ONLY

Fr. Joseph L. Lopetegui sj passed away yesterday in Anklav. the funeral was at 4:00 pm in Ankalv Church.
He was born and brought up in Spain near Loyola. Having desire to die for Christ, he joined the Society Of Jesus and came to India on 04-02-1949. Completed his studies in Pune. Joined as a teacher at St. Xaiver's School, Gamdi-Anand. There was a time to close down the Khambhat mission. But to try out it was then given to Fr. Joseph and today the same flourishes as a vibrant church in Gujarat. The zeal never stopped him to spread the Love and Word of Christ. He was again transferred to Anklav in eighties and till 04-12-2011 he belonged to the Anklav parish and the Jesuit Community. By birth a Spaniard, By work a Jesuit Missionary and died as a Man for all.

Late Fr. Joseph L. Lopetegui SJ

The clergy and the people of the village and cities nearby Anklav, places like South Gujarat, North Gujarat were present at the Church. Rev. Bishop Thomas Macwan (Ahmedabad Dio) Rev. Bishop Godfrey Rosario SJ (Baroda Dio) Retired Rev Bishop Of Baroda Dio Rev Bishop Francis Braganza SJ, Rev. Fr. Changnacherry SJ the Provincial of the Society Of Jesus(Guj) celebrated the Holy Mass.Arch Bishop Stany also joined the funeral. The youth of Anklav and Khambhat said that Fr. Joseph was their shepherd and guide And without him would be a great loss for the Mother Church and future generation.

Please refer the video for more

Arrested: Director, Producer & Publicist of Blasphemous Movie - Who's There

2011-12-04T20:47:00.000+05:30

Arrested: Director, Producer & Publicist of Blasphemous Movie - Who's There - in Remand

Christian groups call for maximum punishment as deterent to hurting religious sentiments

The Mumbai police arrested 3 persons related with the movie "Who's There", namely Ejaz Ahmed (Director), Washim Sheikh (Producer) and KA Jauhar (publicists) on charges ranging from hurting religious sentiments (295A), malicious common intention (34) to insulting religious beliefs and similar provisions, besides violations under the Cinematograph Act, which are all non-bailable offenses. The three were produced before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (Court 9 at Bandra), Mr. VA Patil, who remanded them to judicial custody at Arthur Road Jail and their bail application will come up on Monday, 5th December, 2011 for hearing. Community groups notably, The CSF, amd others like the AOCC, CROSS, UCDC, etc have demanded severest punishment for the accused.

The CSF general secretary, Joseph Dias speaking to the media outside the court, said that conviction should not be difficult as the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), Film Makers Combine and the Indian Motion Pictures Association (IMPPA) had all in their statement to the police said that the offensive advertisements of stabbing Jesus Christ on the Cross, were unauthorised and section 6A and 7 of the Cinematograph Act were violated. Activists on whose complaint the Mahim police station filed an FIR said that they were contemplating asking for a departmental enquiry against assistant police inspector Sawant and officers responsible in Mahim police station for diluting the case on the basis of which the accused got bail in one case. Joseph Dias informed that The CSF would pursue the other cases where FIRs were filed ie Mahim, Tardeo, Bandra and complaints at Vakola, Santacruz, etc.

" The Christian groups had earlier given the police until this weekend to arrest the culprits, since they released material / advertisements and also put up posters, with the caption "This Time Evil will Win" accompanying the blasphemous picture of Jesus and another one with the Cross of Jesus upside down, with daggers falling above it. Another advertisement says, “Expect the Unexpected Truth”, the Truth, we believe is Jesus Christ… Not mentioning the category of certification (U/A/UA) in the publicity material is in violation of Rule 38 of Cinematograph (Certification) Rules 1983, non compliance of this rule is also a non-bailable offence." Joseph Dias concluded.

We said a Special Prayer for these below & many more, who responded by writing to the authorities

Not included in this list are archbishops, bishops, pastors, priests, activists, NGO heads (for obvious reasons) and others who have sent in emails after November, 2011 or those that could have been missed by mistake. But the LORD knows them and along with these almost 2000 below... GREAT WILL BE YOUR REWARD.

News Courtesy
CSF

Fr. Joseph L. Lopetegui passed away

2011-12-04T10:12:00.000+05:30

Fr. Joseph L. Lopetegui passed away in Anklav. Funeral at 4:00Pm. Funeral video will be on BBN tonight

May his soul rest in peace.

Stay tuned

E-Retreat in Gujarati based on Spiritual Exercises Part- 1

2011-12-02T15:07:00.006+05:30

વિડિઓ ઉપર ક્લિક કરી હવે તમે જાતેજ પ્રભુમય થઇ શકો છો

પ્રભુ મારી સંભાળ રાખે છે

સિદ્ધિઓ મેળવ્યા પછી પણ કંઇક રહી જાય છે ? કંઇક ખાલીપણું લાગે છે? એવું તો શું છે કે આત્મા ને શાંતિ નથી ? આવો, ધ્યાન ધરીએ અને ચકાસણી કરીએ કે તે શું છે.

ધ્યાનનો પહેલો દિવસ

ઇસુ મારી કાળજી કાયમ માટે રાખે છે, ભલે આપણે આપણી અને બીજાની કાળજી અને પ્રેમ રાખવામાં ભૂલી જતા હોઈશું પણ ઈસુની કાળજી અને પ્રેમ કાયમ માટે રહે છે. મોટા ભાગે આપણે પોતાનું અને બીજાનું મૂલ્ય પગારના આંકડાથી, ડીગ્રીના હોદ્દાથી અને કામની સિદ્ધિઓથી આંકતા હોઈએ છીએ. આપણે કોણ છીએ તે ભૂલી જતા હોઈએ છીએ. આપણે ભગવાનના સંતાનો છીએ અને આપણી કિમંત અમૂલ્ય છે.

આ અઠવાડિયા દરમ્યાન આપણે આપણી સાચી વાસ્તવિકતાનો આત્મસાદ કરીએ તો કામની ગુણવત્તા, દિલમાં શાંતિ, કુટુંબમાં પ્રેમ, નોકરીઓમાં પ્રગતિ સાંધી શકાશે. ભગવાનના સંતાનોને શોભા આપે એવી રીતે રહીએ ત્યારે આપણી અનુભૂતિમાં અને કાર્યમાં ગુણવત્તાભર્યા પરિણામ આવશે.

કામમાં વ્યસ્ત રહેતા લોકો માટે ધ્યાનના આ પ્રથમ દિવસે ઈશ્વરના મારા માટેના અઘાડ અને અંગત પ્રેમ અને કાળજી હું ફરીવાર તાજગીથી અનુભવવા માંગું છું.

આ માટે મદદરૂપ થઇ શકે તે માટે નીચેના પાયાના મુદ્દાઓનો સહારો લઇ શકાશે

મારા જીવનરૂપી ઘડાને આકાર આપવા માટે ઘણો બધો કાચો સમાન એમને એમ પડ્યો છે : એ કાચો સામાન મારા સબંધો હોઈ શકે અથવા મારામાં રહેલી વિવિધ સુષુપ્ત શક્તિઓ કે કળાઓ હોઈ શકે.આ બધી ચિંતાઓમાં ગળાડુબ એવો હું એ સત્ય ને માણવા આજે ઈશ્વર સમક્ષ આવું છું: હું ઈશ્વરનું અજોડ સર્જન છું . હું ઈશ્વરનું વહાલું સંતાન છું

પ્રભુ આપણાં દરેકની સંભાળ રાખે છે તે અનુભવવા માટે આવો થોડીવાર ધ્યાન ધરીએ અને નક્કી કરીએ કે હું પ્રભુ સાથે કેવી રીતે રહી શકું અથવા મારા કામના સમયે પણ હું કેવી રીતે તેમને મારી પાસે રાખી શકું કેવી રીતે હું તેમની સાથે રહી શકું તે ધ્યાન ધરી તપાસીએ. વધુ માહિતી માટે ઉપર આપેલ સુંદર વીડિઓ નિહાળશો..

વિડિઓને સુંદર બનાવવા માટે BBNની આણંદની ટીમ , રોમિકા જોન્સન, એકતા ફિલિપ તથા કેની મેક અને નડિયાદ સેન્ટ આન્ના સ્કૂલના સિ. સુનિતા, સિ. શારદા અને સિ સુર્યાનો ઉત્તમ ફાળો રહેલો છે.

"કામમાં વ્યસ્ત રહેતા લોકો માટે ધ્યાન ( રીટ્રીટ )" નામની પુસ્તિકા જે રેવ. ફા. ધર્મરાજ લોરેન્સ એસ. જે. ની મહેનત અને રેવ ફા. રાયમુંદ ચૌહાણ એસ જે ના ભાવાનુવાદ છે તેનો ઉપયોગ કરી ખાસ આપનાં માટે દર શનિવારે (નાતાલ સુધી) રજુ કરીશું.

આવો, આપણે સાથે પ્રભુના આગમનની તૈયારી કરીએ.

- આપનું BBN

Bomb attempt targets Protestant church in Kathmandu, Nepal

2011-11-29T10:09:00.001+05:30

Remains of the bomb and bag on the ground

Bomb attempt targets Protestant church

Published Date: November 28, 2011

Security forces have defused a “powerful” bomb packed inside a sack and placed at the entrance of a Protestant church in central Kathmandu, Nepal.

The bomb, which was in a cloth bag and stuffed in a white plastic sack, was discovered Sunday outside the Navajiwan Church, which belongs to the Assemblies of God grouping of churches at around 6pm by the janitor Arjun Magar.
“The sack was left just outside the gate. I became suspicious when I saw another bag inside, so I called the church elders who called the police,” he said.

Police cordoned off the area in Kupondole district before making the bomb safe with a series of controlled explosions.

An army bomb disposal expert later said three high-powered devices were found in the sack and would have caused extensive damage if they had gone off.

Suman Gurung, the church pastor, said people in the area had a lucky escape and that security for services and Church activities in the future would be stepped up.

“We will continue to be vigilant and pray. We didn’t used to examine bags of those coming to worship but from now on we will do that,” he said.

Security has become a major concern for Christians in Kathmandu this week following a bomb attack on the United Mission to Nepal, a Christian NGO, on November 22.

Earlier Sunday, Pastor Gurung, along with several other Christian clergymen in south Kathmandu including two Catholic parish priests, met with police to discuss the security situation.

Source: ucanews.com and cathnews

Umreth Deanery youth Seminar at Thasra

2011-11-28T15:04:00.000+05:30

Umreth Deanery youth Seminar at Thasra

One day seminar on Spiritual formation was conducted for the youth of Umreth Deanery at Thasra Saccidanand Ashram on 27th Nov2011. The day begun with holy mass and welcoming one another. The resource persons Fr.Lawrence A. of pastoral centre and Fr.Charles G. of Amod were the great attraction.

The first session was conducted by Fr.Lawrence on the faith of the person and knowing Jesus more intimately. He also explained various quotations from the letter of St.Paul’s where each one needs to become the friend of Jesus. “If you are true friend of Jesus then you get everything in life and especially you are happy in this modern confused culture” said the resource person. In the afternoon Fr.Charles explained about the one’s own self through the power point and made the youth to realize their worth and values they posses. The questionnaires filled by the participants made them to realize their inner potentialities. The youth also were eager to share their problems and hurdles faced in the society and in the parish. The day ended with small reflection and prayer.

Some of the youth expressed their gratitude that they got something for life. One person proposed that the seminar could be conducted more days in the future. All praises goes to Fr.Edwin Rajkumar the Deanery youth coordinator and Parish Priest of Thasra for systematic arrangements. Of course thanks for the delicious Briyani provided at the lunch. A word of thanks also to other parish youth coordinators who accompanied the youth.

Bro.Jignesh –Thasra

News and photos sent to BBN by

Charles G M.A.,M.S.W.
AMOD. Via. PETLAD
Anand Dt. Gujarat
Phone: 02697-246666

દૂત રવિવારની ઉજવણી

2011-11-27T15:10:00.002+05:30

આજે તા.૨૭-૧૧-૨૦૧૧ સવારે ગામડી-આણંદ ખાતે દૂત રવિવારની ઉજવણી કરવામાં આવી હતી.

ગયા વર્ષે દૂત સામયિકે ૧૦૦ વર્ષની ઉજવણી કરી હતી. ગુજરાત સાહિત્ય પ્રકાશ દ્વારા આજે ગુજરાતની ધર્મસભામાં "દૂત રવિવાર" તરીકે જાહેર કરવામાં આવ્યો હતો તે અનુસંધાનમાં આજે આગમનઋતુના પહેલા રવિવારે ગુજરાતમાં દરેક ચર્ચમાં ખ્રિસ્ત યજ્ઞ અર્પણ કરી તેની ઉજવણી કરવામાં આવી હતી. આજે ગામડી-આણંદમાં દૂતના પોસ્ટર્સ લગાવ્યા હતા તેનાથી વધુ દૂત રવિવારનો માહોલ બન્યો હતો. ખ્રિસ્તયજ્ઞ પહેલા બાળકો દૂત ના વેશભૂષામાં આવી સ્વાગત કર્યું હતું તેનાથી વાતાવરણ રંગતભર્યું અને પ્રાર્થનામય બન્યું હતું. આ પ્રસંગે કેથોલિક પંચાગ નું વેચાણ અને દૂતનું લવાજમ સ્વીકારવામાં આવ્યું હતું. દૂત રવિવાર ઉજવવાનું એક મુખ્ય કારણ દૂતને ઘરે ઘરે લઇ જવાનું હતું. દૂત વર્ષોથી ખ્રિસ્તી શ્રદ્ધાને મજબુત કરવામાં આગળ પડતો ભાગ ભજવેલો છે.

ડાબી બાજુથી - ફા, અગ્નેલો, બ્ર.એબ્રીલ.અને ફા અનીલ

આજે અહિ રેવ. ફા. અનીલ સેવરીન એસ.જે. અને રેવ.ફા.અગ્નેલો એસ.જે. મહાખ્રિસ્ત યજ્ઞ કર્યો હતો . ઉજવણી માટે શ્રી જયંતીભાઈ પરમારનો ઉત્તમ ફાળો રહ્યો હતો

આ પ્રસંગના ફોટો નીચે જોશો.

- ફોટોસ બી .બી. એન.

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT (A) 27 November 2011

2011-11-26T19:21:00.000+05:30

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT (A) 27 November 2011

THE HOUSE OF JESUS

Mark 13, 33-37

José Antonio Pagola

Jesus is in Jerusalem, seated on the mount of Olives with a view overlooking the Temple, intimately conversing with four disciples: Peter, James, John and Andrew. He sees them worried about knowing when the end times would happen. He, however, is concerned about how his followers will cope when they no longer have him with them.

So, once more he makes known to them his concern: “Be watchful! Be alert!” Then, putting aside the terrifying language of apocalyptic seers, he tells them a little parable which has gone almost unnoticed among Christians.

“A man went travelling abroad and left home.” But before leaving home, “he places his servants in charge, each with his own work.” On departing, he warned them about only one thing: “Watch, therefore; you do not know when the Lord of the house is coming.” When he comes he should not find you sleeping.

The story suggests that the followers of Jesus will form a family. The Church will be the “house of Jesus” which will replace the “house of Israel”. In his house all are servants. There are no masters. All will be waiting for the only Master of the house: Jesus, the Christ. They will never forget him.

In the house of Jesus no one must remain inactive. No one should feel excluded, without any responsibility. All are needed. All have a mission entrusted to each one by him. All are called to contribute to the great task of living like Jesus whom they have known as always dedicated to serving the kingdom of God.

The years will go by. Will the spirit of Jesus be maintained among his own? Will they continue to remember his way of service to the most needy and helpless? Will they follow him on the way shown by him? His great concern is that his Church would fall asleep. So he insists up to three times: “Be watchful!” It is not an instruction to the four disciples listening to him, but a command to believers of all times: “What I say to you, I say to all: “Watch!”

The most general characteristic of Christians who have left the church is surely passivity. For centuries we have brought up the faithful to be submissive and obedient. Only a minority feels itself today to have some responsibility in the Church.

The time has now come to react. We cannot continue to increase the distance between “those who command” and “those who obey”. It is a sin to promote dissatisfaction, mutual exclusion and passivity. Jesus wished to see us all awake, active, collaborating intelligently and responsibly.
Stir up the responsibility of the followers of Jesus

Source: URL of José Antonio Pagola's Buenas

Website for Spanish original and translations: www.eclesalia.net

Jose Antonio Pagola, vgentza@euskalnet.net , San Sebastian, Guipuzcoa, Spain.

English Translation by (Valentine) Vally de Souza S.J. vallydesouza@jesuits.net, Mandal, Gujarat , India.

Konknni Translation by Vasco do Rego S.J., vdorego@gmail.com, Jesuit House, P.B.112, Panaji, Goa.

Sr. Valsa’s struggle with the poor tribals.

2011-11-26T18:21:00.000+05:30

The mail is taken from Myron Periera sj

Beautiful and tragic account of Sister Valsa's life and death! - Myron Periera sj

What a beautiful and tragic account of Sister Valsa's life and death! In her story we see the tragedy of the tribal people in the country today -- their despoliation at the hands of powerful corporates, their own vulnerability, the collusion of a corrupt government. I was particularly interested in the terms of the MOU, framed largely by Sister herself with the interests of the tribals in mind. Our thanks to Tom Kochery, the source of this biographical note; and to Cedric and Allwyn for distributing it so widely.

M.
.

Sr. Valsa’s struggle with the poor tribals.

The funeral is over; The voice is silenced; Sr. Valsa John’s body was interned in a public cemetery at Vijaypur in Dumka, Jharkhand. Only her body has been interned; her spirit would live ever in the hearts of the poor and the marginalized and in the hearts of the all the people of good will. Let us remember she has shed her blood on the birthday of Jharkhand, Tuesday 15.11.2011. It is tragic that she has to shed her blood on this joyous day in order to proclaim that Jharkhand needs martyrs for the fullness of life to come in Jharkhand. That speaks of volume of the situation for the poor tribals in the newly created state.
Proclaiming and living out this hope and struggle has been her public life in the last twenty five years. whether working among Dalits in Patna or tribals in Santal Parganas, Valsa lived this struggle for hope, justice and life. Her determination to be part of the struggling masses, to a life of dignity and justice never wavered even once; The greatest indignity and injustice to the tribals in India is uprooting them from their heritage, God given, ancestor protected land. Once the land is snatched, the violence would follow and tribals would descend to abyss of brutalization and dehumanization. Sr. Valsa foresaw and mobilized the masses so that they would get justice and their voice would be heard. She dedicated her last fifteen years of her life to the cause of the displaced and the uprooted.

Her story was a story of self giving. She was born on February,19, 1958 in the village of Edapalli, kerela. She was a beloved girl child and that too the last of the six brothers and sisters. She received loads of love. Perhaps, Valsa’s was full of love that she wanted to share with those who needed most. Being the youngest in the family, she became a “didi” to poor and the exploited. How could the family of six brothers and sisters part with their youngest to a life of dedication and total love? So they educated her and she became a teacher; As a teacher she began reading newspapers and magazines of heroes and heroines in real life so that she can teach to her children. In the process, she was deeply affected and influenced by the lives of two women m missionary sisters in North India: One working in Jharkhand deep inside the jungle and another struggling among Gondhs in Madhya Pradesh. She joined the Sisters of Charity of Jesus and Mary in 1984 with the intention of working among the poor. She was appointed in a school at Daltonganj, Jharkhand after her initial training, where she began observing the life of the poor much more closely. The burning desire to commit radically to the cause of the poor had to be more strengthened. So she went for teachers’ training and taught briefly in Himachal Pradesh. The search for radicalism gradually began to see the light. She went to Kagaul, Patna for a guided experience among the Dalits. Immersion and participation were not mere words but acquired experiential meaning: Eating rat meat which was offered to her with love was indeed a test but Sr. Valsa ate immersed herself in the daily struggle of Dalits. Frugality became thus a lifelong companion for her; experiential knowledge of hunger and poverty was very important to her so that she is able to relate with the powerlessness of the exploited and the marginalized people.

Valsa then moved to Kodma in Sahibganj district of Jharkhand to work among Santals in 1993. Sona Santal Samaj Samiti formed after the martyrdom of Fr. Anthony Murmu and fifteen others welcomed her. She began walking to villages, meeting women going to hills with them. She endeared herself to the women of this area by gradually learning the language, customs and of course dances. She began organizing women systematically enabling them to participate in the traditional village councils and other meetings. It is at this time, tribals all over India were demanding legal recognition of their traditional governance system. Sr. Valsa mobilized women making them to understand the reasons for such a demand. She worked in Sona Santal Samaj Samiti and among the women of this area fr two years. Sr.Valsa moved out of Kodma in 1995.

She was appointed in a school at Jiapani near Amrapara of Pakur district of Jharkhand. It was indeed a tough decision for her to make, for her heart was in the villages with the exploited women and their struggles. She was appointed as a full time teacher that kept her in the school till 4.00 P.M. Sr. Valsa would not rest but began touring the nearby villages after the classes and during holidays. She would meet the traditional leaders and inter act with them; mobilizing their support for the recognition of local self governance system. The side effect of her touring the villages was an increase in the strength of the school; More students began attending the schools. She would go alone to the villages and often came back much after the sun set.

Movement in Pachuara:
It is during one of these walks-to-villages, she noticed, a camp of Geological Survey in the village Baromasia. She enquired about the purpose of such a camp. The officers thought that she would be the best person to persuade the people to part with the land for mining. So, they revealed the real intention of their stay. She began acquiring more information and realized that the tribals would be displaced at a massive scale if the project for mining comes through.

History teaches us that tribals have been the victims of development, and rehabilitation as promised has never reached the tribals. Valsa knew all these statistics. Here she is coming face to face with the actual displacement and the power of the private companies assisted by the administration within the context of liberalization of the economy.

Sr. Valsa requested her superiors to relieve her from the school. The superiors gladly granted her request knowing her earnestness and the need of the people. She moved to pachuwara village in 1998. She began informing the people about the intentions of the government. The people realized that they were being duped by the government. The Geological survey of India had casually told the villagers that they were doing some government work. No officials had told them about the impending mines and the procedures for the land acquisition. No rehabilitation packages were being announced.
IT IS ONLY WHEN Sr. Valsa began unifying the villagers the facts began emerging piece by peice. The Eastern Minines and Trading Agency in joint venture with the Punjab Electricity Board had acquired the coal block of the area and the extracted coal would be transported to Punjab for the electricity production. The Joint venture is known as (PANEM). The name Eastern Mines Trading Agency sounded ominously like East India Company. The colonization indeed continues in different forms.

Formation of the Samiti (orgnisation): Sr. Valsa began touring the villages, informing the villagers, mobilizing the people to resist the mine. Villagers deliberated first in hushed voice and then in public; As always, the people realized that organization of the poor alone would stand by them; they had to organize themselves. Sr. Valsa then inspired them, stood by them and animated them. The result was their decision to form a Samiti called “Rajmahal Pahar Bachao Andolan” (Rajmahal Hills protection Movment)

It is apt to recall a song by Fr. Anthony Murmu, another martyr for the cause of the tribals: He would often sing that Our God is as rock-steady as Rajmahal hills. These hills had protected the tribals, provided livelihood and now they are going to be destroyed. Oh! The hills that symbolized the compassion and the quality of God would be in peril. The tribals realized that resistance is the only way out for their life and future livelihood of their children.

The movement followed the following methodology in their resistance:
1. Writing memorandum: the simple people began writing to District authorities and to their representatives. This was a learning process for the people; They began understanding the constitutional provisions especially Fifth Schedule, SPT Act, PESA Act and the implications of Samata judgment in Supreme court. These memorandums went unanswered.
2. Blockades: The area was blockaded at various junctures. They had put up barriers to prevent strangers entering the area. Women, men, children and youth manned these for twenty four hours. It is significant that this blockade continued for six years.
3. Networking: Many organizations came forward to help the Movement with their supports. The movement began acquiring national limelight.
4. Empowerment through welfare measures: The agricultural land needs to be protected. The land had to be utilized fruitfully and improvement in the techniques of production was one of the main elements of the alternative to mining. Sr. Valsa began enabling the people for such a process.

One must realize that Sr. Valsa remained throughout with villagers. She ate with them sacrificed the comforts of the convent, walked to the hills even staying under the trees, sleeping on river beds after nightlong deliberations. Her intuitive power helped her in understanding the way tribals moved, organized and resisted. She did lead the movement yet allowing the traditional leadership to be in the forefront. It is the traditional leaders negotiated and guided the movement.

RESPONSE OF THE COMPANY AND THE ADMINISTRATION:
The PANEM company set up a an office in nearby market town called Amrapara. The Santals near and far depended on this market town for their provisions and necessities. The civil administration was at thebeck and call of the company. The middlemen of the company recruited Santal youth first. James Murmu a local geology graduate already working in the company was shifted to Amrapara. He began providing money and drinks to youth. Alubera leaders were the first one to be trapped. The youth recruited began to be in the payroll of the company. They went around trying to convince the people to part with the land. They provided arguments such as that land belonged to government and government would not offer compensation all the time and this is the best time to receive compensation. The unity of the movement began cracking with the onslaught of the money and allurements. The tribals are poor and powerless. They too have desire to become rich and the educated unemployed youth are the most vulnerable. The movement began breaking. There was always tension the villages. People opposing the mines and the supporters began fighting. The social tension was tearing the social fabric of the harmonious tribal villages. The tribals began fighting among themselves for the cause of the PANEM. 2001-2004 witnessed tremendous tension in the villages.

Filing cases : The administration began filing cases on the leaders of the movement. The close associates like Joseph and the head of civil area the Pargana were picked up from the market and jailed. While Pargana was released after six months, Joseph remained for two years. Most of the cases filed were non-bailable in nature. Sr. Valsa alone had seven cases foisted on her. The police began catching people when they were going to market. Many men and women began going surreptitiously to the company office in order to receive compensation. As a result:

· The life became impossible: for ordinary people. They were unable to go to market for the fear of police; they were not able to visit their children staying in hostels.
· The children began to suspect their parents. Although Sr.valsa stood by them, consoled them but it was painful to notice the gradual decline in the unity and the conviction of the people.
· The village fights were increasing. The household members of the movement leaders began to be divided. There have been cases of children running away to Delhi and Punjab.

Sr.Valsa painfully bore the decline of the movement. She began contemplating on various ways to reach out to the people. She deliberated constantly with her supporters. Her supporters included journalist like Shaji who championed the cause fot he tribals. She spent hours at night discussing with the people in various villages. After a prolonged consultation, the Samiti decided to approach the court. The Samiti believed that constitutional provisions would be protected by the courts. They were in a shock when the High court ruled in favour of the company and the government. The Supreme Court recommended for an out of court settlement. Hence an MOU was signed between the company and the Samiti. The following would be relevant to understand the innovative significance of the MOU.

The company was made to acknowledge that land belonged to people and the company would be taking only the coal. Hence the land would be returned once the coal extraction is over. The land would be returned after filling and made cultivable.
Until the return of the land, the company would pay crop compensation of Rs6000/- per acre per year to the owners of the land. The owners of the land also would be paid Rs.10000/- per acre as share of the profit earned from the coal.
The people would not be displaced and if need be resettled in vicinity itself. The concrete houses would be built for each household including separate houses for widows and divorced single women.
The company would offer free education to the children of the project affected people. It also promised to open a school and a hospital to the project affected people. The company gave an undertaking to comply with all the conditions and full it within a year.
Hence mining started in 2006: The monitoring committee consisted of 2 representatives from each village; 2 representatives of the samiti; 3 representatives of traditional leadership 3 and representatives from the company.
Sr. Valsa’s work, since then, has been to see that MOU is implemented in letter and spirit:
(a) The sick were brought to the dispensary (b) A dispensary was built till hospital was built and made operational so she made sure that the ambulance went around to fetch the patients(c) The school was to be built so she oversaw the running of the school (d) she made sure that Women participated and organized themselves.
The MOU was revolutionary influencing the RR policy of the Central government and the state government. Sr.Valsa was contributed the largest part with the inputs from the people themselves. She played the central part in making such a MOU and operationalising it. Thus she began earning many more friends but also foes.

Huge amount of money began flowing to the people. Tribals who had never seen such a free flow of money began harbouring aspirations to become powerful. The samiti members already had power and now they needed money in their hand so that they can hold sway over the community. Temptations to become rich faster saw then sacrificing their ideals learned so far. The movement had educated them to honour their tribal hatred for greed but they began succumbing to greed, power and money. The Company men began alluring them, nefarious methods were employed to allure these youth. The company middle men, government servants, local aspiring politicians, once again began providing allurement to youth of the samiti. The criminalization of the youth began to affect them too; The violence of the mining industry began influencing their character.

The presence of Sr.valsa, people’s trust in her, her moral strength, leadership and her over all supervision of the MOU monitoring activities became a hindrance to opponents’ evil aspirations. Sr. Valsa’s presence was a block to their becoming powerful. So, they began propagating false accusations against sister.

The opponents got a shot in the arm when she had to be in Kerala to be at the side of her cancer ailing brother for three months. The opponents began spreading rumors that sister had gone away permanently and they a formed a samiti of their own. They said that they would not allow the sister’s return. One must remember that only a handful of criminalized powerful youth having their vested interest stood agents the sister. The ordinary people were powerless against the mechanization of the politically supported powerful people.

The Immediate spark for the killing was the rape of the girl working with her. Surajmuni was picked up in Alubera weekly market by a group of youth and mass raped at night. Parents went to the police station next day and wanted to file the case. The police refused to file the case and chased them away; The parents reported to sister. The victim’s parents along with Surajmuni went to Police station second time, The police told them to settle the case out of court and receive monitory compensation. The rape victim refused to compromise and wanted justice. This time sister managed to get an appointment with District collector for the rape victim for 16th of Novemebr 2011.

Probably this was the last straw and the group felt that if they were to be hauled up, they would be inside the jail. Their anger flared; they thought that Sr.Valsa was not only hindrance to other greedy prosperity but also block to their life itself. The heinous act of her murder, already contemplated and planned, was the result of dehumanization assisted by the company and the violent atmosphere in the mining area. Sr. Valsa stood for the poor and the victimized in all situations. As always she stood for the cause of the poor and paid with her life.

She wanted to share the vulnerabilities of the poor people and like Jesus became vulnerable lamb to be sacrificed.

In kathaldi village concrete houses were made by the company and the people reserved one house for their beloved didi but Sr. Valsa preferred a mud house. Her simplicity and frugal life would remain a constant inspiration to the generation of activists. She was silenced by her murderers but her inspiring silent presence would always remain in the heart of all those who struggle for and with the poor.

Rajmahal Pahar Bachao andolan.

Kocheri

84th Death Anniversary Of Venerable Fr. Agnelo

2011-11-22T00:23:00.001+05:30

Vadtal Church

ગઈ કાલે તા. ૨૦-૧૧-૨૦૧૧ ના રોજ બપોરે ૩ વાગે વડતાલમાં આવેલ અગ્નેલબાબા આશ્રમ ખાતે તેમના મરણ ની ૮૪ માં વર્ષની પુણ્યતિથી તેમના માનમાં મહા ખ્રિસ્ત યજ્ઞ સાથે ભક્તિભાવથી ઉજવવામાં આવી હતી. આ શુભ ઘડીએ વડતાલ તાબાના દરેક ગામમાંથી અને અન્ય શહેરોમાંથી ભક્તો આવ્યા હતા. આ પ્રસંગે પ્રાંતીય ફા.જગદીશે ખ્રિસ્ત યજ્ઞ અર્પણ કર્યો હતો.

On the 20th of November there was a dual celebration in Vadtal. The day began with song of praise and thanksgiving to God the father for having given Jesus his son as our King. The entire liturgy for the day was revolving the theme “Jesus our King”. Soon after the mass there was a procession which was participated well by the parishioners and one could sense an atmosphere of prayer during the entire service. How can one ever forget the evening mass in honor of Venerable Fr Agnelo whose 84th death anniversary was celebrated in the afternoon at 3 pm.

The preacher for the day was Fr Jagdish. The faithful were in deep prayers, praying for their need at the feet of Venerable Fr Agnelo a saintly priest of the Society of Pilar. All the faithful were served with some snacks and all returned home thanking and praising God for having given such a powerful intercessor in the person of Venerable Fr Agnelo.

News And Photos By

Rev.Fr. Martin SFX
Vadtal PP

INCULTURATION MARKS CENTENNIAL IN ANAND(GUJARAT,INDIA)

2011-11-21T20:34:00.038+05:30

Rev. Bishop Thomas Macwan with Lay sisters

ગયા શનિવારે તા ૧૯-૧૧-૨૦૧૧ ની સાંજે ચાવડાપુરા-જીટોડિયા,આણંદ દેવળમાં Teresian Association (Lay Sisters તરીકે ખ્યાતી પામેલ છે) મંડળે વિશ્વમાં પોતાની સેવા કાર્યના ૧૦૦ વર્ષ પુરા થયા તેના માટેની ઉજવણી ખુબજ ભવ્યતાથી કરી હતી. આ મંડળ હાલમાં ૧૩૦ દેશોમાં પોતાની સેવા આપીરહ્યું છે. આ પ્રસંગે રેવ. બીશપશ્રી થોમસ મેકવાન અને ઘણા ફાધર્સ-સિસ્ટર્સ, મહેમાનો થતા સભાસદોની હાજરીએ આ ઉજવણીને વધુ આનંદિત બનાવી હતી. આ સમયે માનનીય બિશપ સાહેબે ખ્રિસ્તયજ્ઞ અર્પણ કર્યો હતો.

આ ઉજવણી નો વધુ માહિતી આજ મંડળના સિસ્ટર દ્વારા આપેલ છે તે વાંચશો.

The Repot is in English.

The November 19^th TA centennial celebration in Anand, Gujarat, India, was yet another event of joy and thanksgiving in this part of the teresian world. About 600-700 people filled the newly inaugurated Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour. The Bishop of Ahmedabad, Most Rev. Thomas Macwan concelebrated with 17 other priests, among them, the Vicar General, Fr. Rocky Pinto, the priest in charge of the parish, and a host of priest friends from the diocese and beyond.

The Liturgy was beautifully prepared, replete with symbols, meaningful, and colourful as also the church decor and the Indian attire of the parishioners. TA members came from other parts of the country to join in the celebrations: Paskin Miranda and Agosh Librea from Pune, Jojo Gomez from Goa, Sylvia Fernandes from Mumbai, and Jennifer Fernandes, the Coordinator of the TA in India. Among the highlights of the evening were: a processional Indian dance; the offertory procession with a number of symbols related to our mission in the world, many of them offered by our pre-ACIT members; the prayers of the faithful; and the original song about the TA in Gujarati composed by a friend which was sung after communion time.

The Introduction to the Mass which was read by Arina Parmar while Elisa Macwan gave the Vote of Thanks to all those present, in particular to all the priests who have served this parish.

After the Mass, as traditionally held in these places, there was the Indian rite of welcoming the Church and TA authorities with the wrapping of the shawl around the person and the giving of flowers, a skit on Poveda's life, a Power Point presentation on the TA in Gujarati , interspersed with beautiful Indian dances performed by young girls, ably choreographed by Elisa Macwan, a spirited testimony by a TA friend about the work of the TA members in Anand, etc. Reception followed, that is, dinner for a select group, and snacks for everyone. It was quality time to be with the families of our TA members, friends, representatives of religious groups working in Anand, priests, civic leaders, supporters and benefactors.

Bishop Macwan, in his homily as well as in his brief intervention during the program, was so effusive in his gratitude to the TA members who work in Gujarat, but most especially He thanked God for inspiring Pedro Poveda to establish this beautiful work in the Church, this type of vocation which is proper for our times. In his talk he exhorted people to be holy in the world, just like the early Christians, in the midst of the ordinary circumstances of their life, especially in their families. He used the TA symbols of salt and light to drive home his point, and he wished and prayed that more members will join this Association.

Nenita Tenefrancia, Sector Director (India,Holy Land, Taiwan and Japan) in her talk, traced the beginnings of the Teresian Association, the prophetic intuition that St. Pedro Poveda had of a new associative form of living the Christian life in the world, integrating both Faith and Science. She said that this centennial means not only gratitude for the contribution that the TA has made to the Church and to society these past 100 years, but also hope for the future, for what the TA can continue to contribute to the men and women of our times: the formation and organization of lay people, the empowerment of women, education as the source of social transformation and a radical anthropology rooted in the concept of the person as fully human and totally belonging to God.

A TA friend gave a personal witness to the work of our members working in Gujarat and he expressed his admiration and appreciation for the quiet and effective evangelizing presence and work of the TA members, past and present, among the people they work with.

At present, TA members in Anand are Elisa Macwan who is the principal of a Muslim Girls’ School in Nadiad, Plavia Gonsalves and Arina Parmar who work as teachers in private educational entities in Anand.

The presence of BBN (Bhumel Broadcast News) a Christian channel which e-casted the happy moments, a TA friend, Vijay Macwan, was an added feature of this celebration.

We continue to get feedback from people who have been touched by this simple yet attractive TA celebration. In a place like Anand, this type of Christian event is significant for the life and mission of the minority Christians in this land, and it serves as a bond that unites us together, to give us strength in our journey to live our Christian commitment with greater fidelity and generosity.

Report By

ELISA MACWAN,
PLAVIA GONSALVES,
ARINA PARMAR.

Photos - BBN

Diamond Jubilee Of Rev. Bishop Francis Braganza SJ

2011-11-20T10:39:00.029+05:30

Rev. Bishop Francis Braganza SJ

આજે તા ૨૧-૧૧-૨૦૧૧ ની સવારે નવરંગપુરા,અમદાવાદ ચર્ચમાં રેવ. બિશપ ફ્રાન્સીસ બ્રિગન્ઝા એસ. જે. ની ડાયમંડ જ્યુબલીની ઉજવણી કરવામાં આવી.

બિશપશ્રી ૧૯૫૧ માં સન્યસ્ત જીવન માટે ઇસુ સંઘમાં જોડાયા હતા અને ત્યારબાદ સઘન આધ્યાત્મિકતા અને અભ્યાસ પછી ધર્મસભામાં પુરોહિત તરીકે અને ઇસુ સંઘનાપ્રાંતપતિ તરીકે કાર્યરત રહ્યા હતા તે પછી વડોદરા ધર્મ વિભાગમાં તેમની બિશપ તરકેની વરણી કરવામાં આવી હતી અને હવે નિવૃત થયા બાદ પોતાનું જીવન પ્રાર્થનામય અને પ્રભુમય જીવન સેન્ટ ઝેવિયર રેસિડન્સ અમદાવાદ ખાતે ધપાવી રહ્યા છે.

આ આનંદિત પ્રસંગે રેવ આર્ચ બિશપ સ્ટેની ફર્નાડીઝ એસ. જે., રેવ. બિશપ થોમસ મેકવાન (અમદાવાદ ધર્મપ્રાંત), રેવ. બિશપ ગોડ્ફ્રી રોઝારીઓ ( વડોદરા ધર્મપ્રાંત) તથા ઇસુ સંઘના પ્રાંતપતિશ્રી રેવ. ફા. જોસ ચંગનાચેરી એસ.જે. અને ઘણા ફાધર્સ તથા નવરંગપુરા પેરીશના સભાસદો સાથે ખ્રિસ્તયજ્ઞ સાથે ઉજવણી કરવામાં આવી હતી.

પ્રભુ આ પ્રસંગે તેમને તંદુરસ્તી અને આશીર્વાદ આપે

CHRIST THE KING

2011-11-19T08:50:00.000+05:30

The story is not, properly speaking, a parable but an evocation of the final judgment of all peoples. The entire scene is focused on a long dialogue between the Judge, none other than the Risen Jesus, and two groups of people: those who have alleviated the suffering of the most needy and those who have denied them help.

   Over the centuries, Christians have seen in this fascinating dialogue “the best summary of the Gospel”, “absolute praise of the love that binds us together”, or “the most serious warning against those who have falsely taken refuge in religion”. Let us point out the basic assertions.

   All men and women without exception will be judged by the same criterion. What gives enduring value to life is not social status, personal talent or success achieved over the years. The decisive factor is the love given in practice and in solidarity with those in need of help.

   This love translates into very specific deeds. For example: “feed”, “give to drink”, “welcome the immigrant”, “clothe the naked”, “visit the sick or those in prison”. What’s decisive in God’s sight are not religious acts, but human acts of help to the needy. They can be done by a believer in God or they can spring from the heart of an agnostic who thinks of those who suffer.

   The group of those who have helped the needy they came across unsought, have not done so from religious motives. The thought of God or of Jesus Christ did not cross their minds. They simply wanted to alleviate a little the suffering they found in the world. Now, at the invitation of Jesus, they enter the kingdom of God as “blessed by the Father”.

   Why is it so crucial to help the needy and so reprehensible to deny them help? Because, as the Judge reveals, what is done to or denied them is done to or denied God himself incarnate in Christ. When we abandon a needy person we abandon God. When we alleviate his suffering, we do it to God.

   This surprising message turns the attention of everyone to those who suffer. There is no true religion, no progressive public policy, no responsible declaration of human rights if it does not defend the most needy, alleviate their suffering, and restore their dignity.

   In every person that suffers Jesus comes to meet us, he looks at us, he appeals to us, he pleads with us. Nothing brings us closer to him than to learn to look intently with compassion at the face of those who suffer. Nowhere will we recognize more truly the face of Jesus.

Awaken compassion in the world

Rev. Fr. Vally de Souza S.J.

Source: URL of José Antonio Pagola's Buenas Noticias Web site

http://sanvicentemartirdeabando.org

Website for Spanish original and translations: www.eclesalia.net

Jose Antonio Pagola, vgentza@euskalnet.net , San Sebastian, Guipuzcoa, Spain.

English Translation by (Valentine) Vally de Souza S.J. vallydesouza@jesuits.net, Mandal, Gujarat , India.

Kerala nun murdered by mining mafia in Jharkhand

2011-11-17T18:29:00.006+05:30

Kerala nun murdered by mining mafia in Jharkhand

Sister Valsa John

KOCHI: At Sister Valsa John's ancestral home at Edapally in Kochi her family is understandably distraught. On Wednesday night she had spoken to them on phone from Jharkhand and just a few hours later they got the news that she had been murdered. She was hacked to death by mining mafia at Pachwara village in Pakur district last night.

Sister Valsa, 53, a professed nun with the Sisters of Charity of Jesus And Mary, had been working among tribals in the coal rich region of Dhumka for the past 20 years. The tribals have been displaced from their homelands and subject to inhuman exploitation by the coal mafia and Sister Valsa had taken it upon herself to resist the mafia. In the end she had to pay for it with her life. "She had mentioned about certain threats, but we never thought that the mafia would finish her off," said her elder brother M J Baby. Baby and two relatives will leave for Dhumka on Wednesday evening. "Most probably, the funeral will be conducted at Dhumka itself," Baby added.

According to an official communication received by her family, Sister Valsa was murdered by a group of persons armed with lethal weapons around 2 am at her residence. "She was pursuing a course in LLB. Her life was under constant threat and she had communicated it to Jharkhand political leaders like Shibu Soren and Stephen Marandi," Baby said. Sister Valsa, who took her vows in 1984 had, true to her vocation, chosen the less easy path. She had been teaching economics at St George High School in Kochi but quit to take up missionary work in Dhumka. "She always wanted to work for the welfare of the downtrodden and the poor," revealed Baby, who said she became emotional whenever she described the plight of the tribals. Apparently, she was approached by the coal mafia several times for a settlement. "But she was firm on her stand and demanded due share for the tribals from the revenue generated from the mines," Baby said. Sister Valsa last visited her home in Kochi in August.

News Courtesy

Deepika.com

Photo: Google

News details given to BBN by

Rev. Fr. K. P Vincent SJ

BBN expresses 'deep sorrow' at the murder of Sister.

ઈસુના પૂજ્ય હૃદયના તહેવારની ઉજવણી _Feast Of Sacred Heart Of Jesus

2011-11-13T23:00:00.001+05:30

આજે વડતાલમાં ઈસુના પૂજ્ય હૃદયના તહેવારની ઉજવણી કરવામાં આવી હતી. વડતાલ તાબાના શ્રધાળુંઓ તો ખરાજ પણ સાથે સાથે દુર દેશમાં એવા કેનેડા સ્થિત શ્રી પાઉલભાઈ મેકવાને પણ હાજરી આપી હતી.

આ શુભ તહેવારે માનનીય બિશપ શ્રી થોમસ મેકવાને ખ્રિસ્ત યજ્ઞ અર્પણ કર્યો હતો અને સાથે વડતાલ તાબાના બાળકોને પ્રથમ ખ્રિસ્ત પ્રસાદ સંસ્કાર અને બળ સંસ્કાર આપી ધર્મસભામાં
નવયુવાનો અને બાળકોનું સ્વાગત કર્યું હતું. આ પ્રસંગ ટાણે મોટી સંખ્યામાં ફાધર્સ-સિસ્ટર્સ સાધુ સંતોની ઉપસ્થી અનન્ય રહી હતી.

વધુ માહિતી માટે વિડિયો નિહાળશો.

Today there was a grand celebration of the Feast Of Sacred Heart Of Jesus in Vadtal, Gujarat. The presence of the parishioners the clergy and the presence of Mr. Paul Macwan from Canada (native place Nadiad) made the feast celebration vibrant. Rev. Bishop Thomas Macwan from Ahmedabad Dio celebrated the Holy Eucharist and gave the First Communion sacrament to the Children and Confirmation sacrament to the youth and welcomed all of them to the Holy Church.

- BBN.

Salesians locate missing priest

2011-11-12T17:21:00.001+05:30

Fr Francis Fernandez

A Salesian priest missing since October 27 was found in Dehradun in Himachal Pradesh on November 1 , according to the superior of his order.

Fr Francis Fernandez, rector of Don Bosco Church in Tura, went missing while traveling by train to Guwahati from Delhi on October 26. He sent word the next day that he would be arriving soon in Guwahati.
However, a text message sent by someone identified only as “a villager” said the priest had died of appendicitis and had been cremated.

“He is still in a daze so we could not get much detail from him,” said Fr Joseph Almeida, provincial superior of Guwahati, who was notified last night by a nephew of Fr Fernandez that the missing priest had shown up at a house in Dehradun last night.

Fr Almeida added that the missing priest had apparently been drugged by a fellow passenger on the train, and that he was found on the road by someone who recognized him as a priest and was given food and about 500 rupees (US$20) with which to reach Dehradun.
Fr Fernandez, 57, has been admitted to hospital and his parents have left for Dehradun from their home in Kerala, Fr Almeida said.

The recovery of the missing priest came after the Salesian community filed a missing persons report after receiving the text message.
Police earlier this week said they had found Fr Fernandez’s belongings abandoned in a railway station and that they had identified the public call booth from which the text message was sent.
The owner of the call booth said the man who sent the text message looked like Fr Fernandez when he was shown a photo of the priest.

News Courtesy
- ucan

News provided via email By Rev. Fr. Mayank Parmar SDB, Kapadvanj

AFRAID OF TAKING RISKS

2011-11-10T18:08:00.001+05:30

Rev. Fr. Vally SJ

AFRAID OF TAKING RISKS

Matthew 25, 14-30

José Antonio Pagola Translated by

Rev. Fr. Valantine de Souza SJ ( Mandal, Vyara)

THIRTY THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (A) 13 October 2011

The parable of the talents is well known among Christians. According to the story, before he leaves on a journey, a man entrusts the management of his possessions to three servants. To one he leaves five talents, to another two, and to a third, one: “ to each according to his ability.” From each he expects a fitting response.

The first two begin "immediately" to trade with their talents. They can be seen working hard, having taken to heart the project of their master. They are not afraid of taking risks. When the owner returns they bring him the fruit of their labor with pride: they have managed to double the talents they received.

The reaction of the third servant is strange. The only thing he can think of is to keep the talent he received safe by hiding it in a hole in the ground. When his master returns, he justifies his action with these words: “Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant…So out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.” The master condemns him as a “useless” servant.

In fact, the roots of his behavior are much deeper. This servant has a wrong image of his master. He takes him to be egoistic, unjust and arbitrary. He is demanding and does not tolerate mistakes. He cannot be trusted. It’s best to be on your guard against him.

This narrow idea of his master paralyzes him. He does not dare to take any risk. Fear blocks him. He is not free to respond creatively to the responsibility given him. It’s best to keep the talent safe. That should do.

The Christians of the first generations probably understood better than us, the inner meaning of the parable. Jesus has entrusted to us the Project of the Father to bring about a more just and humane world. He has left us as a legacy the commandment of love. He has entrusted us with the Good News of a God who is a friend of human beings. How are we responding today as followers of Jesus?

When we live the Christian faith not out of trust but out of fear, we undermine everything. The faith is preserved but not transmitted. Religion becomes an obligation. The Good News is replaced by observance. Worship is dominated by concern for ritual.

It would be a mistake to present ourselves one day before the Lord with the attitude of the third servant: here you have what is yours. Here’s your Gospel, here’s your Project of your Kingdom, and your message of love for those who suffer. We have preserved it faithfully. We have preached it correctly. It has not been of much use in changing our lives, neither has it opened up ways to bringing about the justice of your kingdom. But here it is intact.

Foster trust in God in the Church

"એક શામ ઇસુ કે નામ"_ ભિલોડામાં યુવા વર્ષ

2011-11-09T16:32:00.006+05:30

Please click on video

માંકરોડા-ભિલોડામાં ગયા અઠવાડિયામાં યુવા વર્ષને જાહેર કરી તા. ૪, ૫,અને ૬ ત્રણ દિવસીય શિબિરનું આયોજન કરવામાં આવ્યું હતું. આ કાર્યક્રમને શુભ અવસર ટાણે ગાંધીનગર ડીનરીના વિકાર જનરલ ફા. રોકી ડી'સલવા ફા. રોક (રાજસ્થાનથી) હાજરી આપી બે બોલથી દરેકને પ્રોત્સાહિત કર્યા હતા. દરેક હાજર રહેલ ફાધર્સ અને સિસ્ટર્સ અને દરેક ગામના આગેવાન યુવાન-યુવતી સાથે મળી દીપ પ્રગટાવી " ઇસુ માર્ગ, સત્ય અને જીવન છે" તે સુત્ર સાથે યુવા વર્ષનો પ્રારંભ કર્યો હતો.

આ શિબિરમાં ૧૫૦ આદિવાસી યુવાન- યુવતીઓએ સક્રિય ભાગ લીધો હતો. યુવાનો અને યુવતીઓ સાથે વાત કરતા જાણવા મળ્યું હતું કે યુવાનો માત્ર ઇસુમાં પ્રાર્થનામય બનવા ઈચ્છાતા નથી પરંતુ તેથી પણ વધારે ઇસુ જેવા બની, લોકો માટે પ્રવૃતીમય બની ઇસુમય અને પ્રાર્થનામય બનવાનું ઈચ્છે છે.

સાબરકાંઠાની આજુબાજુ તથા અંતરિયાળ વિસ્તારમાંથી આવતા આ યુવાન-યુવતીઓની ઇસુ માટેની તાલાવેલી જોઇને ખરેખર, બે ઘડીક મન ને વિચાર કરતુ કરી દીધું હતું કે કદાચ, આવીજ તાલાવેલી દરેક ઇસુમય જીવનારમાં હોઈ તો આપણી ગુજરાતની ધર્મ સભા કેટલી ધનવાન બની જાય !

આ શુભ અવસર ટાણે કપડવંજના ફા. મયંક પરમારે અજબ-ગજબની ઈસુને આવરી લેતી રમતોનું આયોજન કરી દરેક યુવાન યુવતીઓના દિલ ને જીતી લીધા હતા. એટલુજ નહિ પણ, બાઈબલ ક્વીઝ તથા ઇસુ માટે પોતાની લાગણી વ્યક્ત કરવા ભેગા થયેલ દરેકમાં તાલાવેલી જગાડી હતી.

ફા. મયંકે "એક શામ ઇસુ કે નામ" નું બિરુદ આપી ઈસુના ફિલ્મના ભાગો બતાવી દરેક ગ્રુપે વર્ણન કરવાનું અને માત્ર મ્યુઝીક સંભળાવીને ભજનો ના શબ્દો શોધવાની રમતોએ સૌને આનંદિત બનાવી પ્રથાનામય બનાવ્યા હતા.વધુમાં ફા. મયંકે પોતાની ટીમમાં આવેલ એક્ષ- આર્મીમેંન શ્રી જોનભાઈ રહે વાત્રક ગામ જેઓ ટૂંક સમય પહેલા લકવાની બીમારીમાંથી ચમત્કારિક રીતે બહાર નીકળ્યા છે તેમની ઇસુ માટેની લાગણી રજુ કરી સાક્ષી અપાવી હતી જે દરેક યુવાન યુવતીને સ્પર્શી ગઈ હતી. તેમની ટીમમાં આવેલ શ્રી નિકુંજ પરમાર (આણંદ)નો ઉત્તમ ફાળો રહ્યો હતો.

યુવા વર્ષને વધાવી લેનાર યુવતી નેહા ખરાડી સાથે વાત કરતા તેણીએ જણાવ્યું હતું કે, " આ બધીજ પ્રવૃત્તિઓથી માત્ર ઇસુ સાથેનો નાતો જ જોડતો નથી પરંતુ, સાથે સાથે દરેક ભેગા થયેલનો વ્યક્તિત્વ વિકાસ અને પ્રભુ પ્રત્યેની નજીકતાનો પણ અનુભવ થાય છે. જો આવી પ્રવૃતિઓનું વારંવાર આયોજન કરવામાં આવે તો ચોક્કસ આવતી કાલની ધર્મ સભાના પાયા મજબુત બની શકશે."

ત્યાં હાજર રહેલ યુવા વર્ષનું આયોજન કરનાર ઉત્તર ગુજરાતના યુથ ડિરેક્ટર ફા. લોરેન્સે અને ફા. ચાર્લસ એસ. જે. (યુથ કો-ઓર્ડીનેટર) અને સિસ્ટર એલીશાએ આ યુવા વર્ષે આવકારી પોતાના વક્તવ્યો આપ્યા હતા તે જોવા કૃપા કરી વીડિઓ નિહાળશો.

આ કાર્યક્રમને વધુ ગતિશીલ અને સફળ બનાવવા માટે ફા. હેન્રી ડી'સોઝા એસ. જે., ફા. લોરેન્સ, ફા. ચાર્લસ એસ જે. ફા. અનીલ એસ. જે. જેમણે રહેવાની અને જમવાની ઉત્તમ સગવડ પૂરી પડી હતી, ફા. વર્ગીસ એસ. જે., ફા. કમલેશ રાવળ એસ.જે. (જેઓ ડીસેમ્બરની ૨૭ તારીખે દીક્ષા ગ્રહણ ઊંટેશ્વરી, કડી મુકામે કરશે.) અને આવેલ સાધ્વી બહેનો વેદ્રુના સિસ્ટર્સ, એસ. એમ. એમ. આઈ. સિસ્ટર્સ, સંત આન્ના સિસ્ટર્સ, પિલાર સિસ્ટર્સ અને ખાસ ત્યાંના નિરંજન સાહેબનો ઉત્તમ ફાળો રહ્યો હતો.

ભિલોડામાં મિશનની શરૂઆત રજુ કરતો રેવ. ફા. હેન્રી એસ. જે. નો વિડિઓ તથા ત્યાંની આપણી સ્કુલ જેણે ભારતને સૈનિકો આપ્યા છે તે વિડિઓ ટૂંક સમયમાં રજુ કરવામાં આવશે.

News And Photos

- BBN

AGSDM Celebrates Silver Jubilee

2011-11-08T17:12:00.003+05:30

નોંધ: કમ્પુટર પ્રોબ્લેમ ના કારણે આ સમાચાર પ્રસિદ્ધ કરવામાં વધુ સમય લેવામાં આવ્યો છે.માંકરોડા - ભિલોડામાં પણ યુવા વર્ષ જાહેર કરવામાં આવ્યું છે તે સમાચાર પણ હાલમાં ત્યાર થઇ રહેલ છે ટૂંક સમયમાંજ રજુ કરવામાં આવશે

Due to technical problem delayed for the news. Inconvenience is regretted. Please stay tuned for upcoming news of Makroda-Bhiloda.

Rev. Fr.Xavier SJ

રવિવાર તા ૦૬-૧૧-૨૦૧૧ ના રોજ આણંદ કમ્યુનીટી હોલમાં અખિલ ગુજરાત વિદ્યાર્થી વિકાસ સંઘની (AGSDM , આશાદીપ) રજત જયંતી મહોત્સવ ૧૯૮૬ -૨૦૧૧ ઉજવવામાં આવ્યો હતો . આ પ્રસંગે ભૂતપૂર્વ વિધાર્થીઓ સાથે મળી મહોત્સવનું આયોજન કર્યું હતું. કાર્યક્રમના અંતમાં સ્નેહ મિલન હાલના તથા જુના AGSDM ના સભ્યો માટે રાખવામાં આવ્યું હતું જેમાં ભૂતપૂર્વ સભ્યો દ્વારા એક લાખ રૂપિયાનું ભંડોળ ભેગું કરવામાં આવ્યું હતું તે વર્તમાન AGSDM ના સભ્યોને આપ્યું હતું જેથી તેનો ઉપયોગ વિદ્યાર્થી ના વિકાસ અને પ્રવૃતિઓ માટે કરવામાં આવી શકે.

આ પ્રસંગ ને નિહાળવા માટે વિડિઓ ઉપર ક્લિક કરશો. આ વિડિઓમાં ભૂતપૂર્વ AGSDM ના સભાસદોનો અનુભવ અને તેમના જીવનમાં AGSDM નો કેટલો ફાળો છે તે રજુ કરેલ છે.

આભારવિધિ

Rev . Fr . Chagnacherry SJ.
Provincial Of Gujarat Province

આજના આ રજતજયંતિ સમારોહના મુખ્ય મહેમાન રેવ ફાધર ચંગનાચેરી પ્રોવીંસીયલ ઓફ સોસાયટી ઓફ જીસસ, અતિથિ વિશેષ ફાધર ઝેવિયર માંજૂરાન, ફાધર અર્વીન, ફાધર અમલરાજ, શ્રીચંદ્રવદનભાઇ,શ્રીઆઇ.પી.ક્રિશ્ચિયન ,વંદના,વિપુલ,મેહુલ, એ.જી.એસ.ડી.એમ ના ભૂતપૂર્વ તથા વર્તમાન સભ્યો, પરિવારજનો ફાધરો-સીસ્ટરો,વડીલો,શુભચિંતકો તથા આમંત્રિત મહેમાનો

કવિશ્રી મનુભાઈ ત્રિવેદીએ લખ્યું છે કે-

જુદી જિંદગી છે મિજાજે મિજાજે,

જુદી બંદગી છે નમાજે નમાજે,

છે એક જ સમંદર,થયું એટલે શું?

જુદા છે મુસાફર જહાજે જહાજે

સંર્ઘષોના સૂપડા સાફ કરી,અમાપ શક્યતાઓના અસીમ અવકાશમાં મોજભર્યું ઉડ્ડયન કરવાનું સ્વપ્ન પ્રત્યેક યુવાનનું હોય છે.મને અને મારા જેવા અનેક યુવાન-યુવતીઓને આવા અવકાશના દર્શન કરાવી root તથા wings બક્ષનાર એ.જી.એસ.ડી.એમની રજતજયંતિ મહોત્સવ ટાણે હું આભારદર્શન માટે અહીં ઉપસ્થિત છું

સૌ પ્રથમ તો પરમકૃપાળુ પરમાત્માનો આભાર કે જેની કૃપાથી આ કાર્યક્રમ આકારિત થયો અને સુંદર રીતે સંપન્ન થવા તરફ જઈ રહ્યો છે.

Mr. Chandravadan Macwan

આજના આ મહોત્સવમાં મુખ્ય મહેમાન તરીકેનું સ્થાન શોભાવનાર રેવ ફાધર ચંગનાચેરી પ્રોવીંસીયલ ઓફ સોસાયટી ઓફ જીસસ ,અતિથિ વિશેષ તરીકે પધારેલ ફાધર ઝેવિયર માંજૂરાન ,ફાધર અર્વીન, ફાધર અમલરાજ, શ્રી ચંદ્રવદન જેમણે પોતાની વ્યસ્તતામાં પણ અહીં હાજરી આપી,શબ્દોથી અમારા ઉત્સાહને બમણો કર્યો છે તે બદલ તેમના પ્રતિ હું ઋણભાવ વ્યક્ત કરું છું.

એ.જી. એસ.ડી.એમ સાથે નાતો ધરાવનાર તમામે તમામ સભ્યોએ આજના આ કાર્યક્રમ દરમ્યાન પોતાના AGSDM સાથેના સંભારણા તાજા કર્યા જ હશે.આ મહોત્સવને દીલથી વધાવવા બદલ આપ સર્વનો આભાર.

Rev. Fr. Amalraj SJ

આ ઉજવણીમાં જેઓ ખૂબ જ સહાયરુપ થયા છે તેવા ફા.અરવિંદ, ફા. અમલરાજ તથા આશાદીપ સ્ટાફ જેમના માર્ગદર્શન અને પ્રોત્સાહન બદલ આભાર.

આજના આ કાર્યક્રમની ઉજવણી આપણે કોમ્યુનીટી હોલમાં કરી રહ્યા છે. હોલ તથા અન્ય વ્યવસ્થાજન્ય બાબતોમાં હકારાત્મક સહકાર આપવા બદલ ફા.આલ્બર્ટ તથા આણંદ પેરીશનો હું અંત:કરણપૂર્વક આભાર માનું છું.

AGSDM ના રજતજયંતિ સોવિનિયરમાં દાતાશ્રીઓનો ઉદાર ફાળો અનન્ય છે. સોવિનિયરમાં શુભેચ્છાસંદેશ આપી પરોક્ષ રીતે અમારા કાર્યમાં મદદરુપ થવા બદલ આપનો આભાર.

શ્રી દિપકભાઇ તથા અનીકાબેને સુનીલ ફ્રાંસીસ,અશ્વિનભાઇ,સ્નેહલભાઇ,વિપુલભાઇ,અતુલભાઇએ સોવેનેયરને કલાત્મક સ્વરુપબક્ષી ટાઇપસેટીંગ તથા Editing નું કાર્ય સમયમર્યાદામાં પૂર્ણ કરેલ છે. અને આણંદ પ્રેસે સોવિનિયર સુંદર રીતે છાપી આપવા બદલ આપ સર્વનો પણ ખૂબ ખૂબ આભાર.

સમગ્ર કાર્યક્રમનું સંચાલન કરનાર ભાઇશ્રી ભાવિન અને મંજુલાબેનનો ખૂબ જ આભાર.

સ્વાગત ડાંસ કરનાર ફ્રેંકી,કૃતિ તથા દિપીકાનો આભાર.

AGSDMની રજતજયંતિની સેલીબ્રેશન ટીમ તથા કંવીનર વંદનાબેનનો આભાર.

મંડપ તથા સ્વાદિષ્ટ ભોજનની વ્યવસ્થા કરનાર શ્રી રજનીભાઇ જલારામ કેર્ટ્સનો ખૂબ આભાર.

માઇકની વ્યવસ્થા કરનાર શ્રી બાબુભાઇનો આભાર.

વ્યવસ્થાપક કમિટિ વિપુલ,પ્રફુલ્લ,ભાવેશ ,સ્વપનીલ,સ્ટીવન,પ્રશાંત,પ્રિતેશ, ચિંતન,અપૂર્વ,રાહુલ,જીતુ, અલ્પેશ,દિપીકા,રીના,અંકુર જેમના અથાગ મહેનત અને પ્રયત્નોથી આ કાર્યક્રમને લગતી સઘળી વ્યવસ્થાઓ કરી છે તે માટે સર્વ ટીમનો આભાર.

ગાયકવૃંદ માટે શૈલેષભાઇ અને ટીમનો આભાર.

આજના પ્રસંગને યાદગાર બનાવવા માટે ફોટોગ્રાફી અનેવીડિયોગ્રાફીની વ્યવસ્થા કરનાર સુનિલભાઇનો આભાર.

પ્રેસ રીપોટર તથા આ પ્રોગ્રામનું રીપોરટીંગ કરનાર સ્નેહલભાઇ, રવિકાંતભાઇ, ભૂમેલ બ્રોડકાસ્ટ ન્યુઝ BBN ના વિજયભાઇ નો ખૂબ ખૂબ આભાર.

ચેન્નઇથી પધારેલ AICUFના ફુલટાઇમર સ્વરુપ તથા મુંબઇથી પધારેલ AICUFના નેશનલ ટીમ મેમ્બર દિલ્હીનો તથા પેરીશથી આવેલ IMCS ના મેહુલભાઇનો વિશેષ આભાર.

અંતે ,આ કાર્યક્રમને સફળ બનાવવા પ્રત્યક્ષ અને પરોક્ષ રીતે ફાળો નોંધાવનાર સૌનો હું AGSDM વતી હૃદયપૂર્વક આભાર માની વીરમું છું.

(મનોજ કે.મેકવાન, આણંદ દ્વારા)

Silver Jubilee of AGSDM and Bhiloda Youth Celebration

2011-11-06T20:31:00.001+05:30

A.G.S.D.M

Note :

Please wait for the report and news of Bhiloda Youth Year Celebration and AGSDM ( Ashadeep) Silver Jubilee Celebration. Will be uploading tomorrow afternoon on 07-11-11. Due to technical problem will take sometime. Stay tuned......

કમ્પુટર પ્રોબ્લેમ હોવાથી ભિલોડામાં યુવા વર્ષની ઉજવણીનો કાર્યક્રમ તથા આજે AGSDM ની રજંત જયંતી મહોત્સવની ઉજવણી BBN ઉપર મુકવામાં સમય લાગશે. આવતી કાલે તા. ૦૭-૧૧-૨૦૧૧ ના રોજ બપોર પછી મુકવામાં આવશે. કૃપા કરી સાથ સહકાર સાથે થોડી રાહ જોશો.

- BBN

Bhumel Broadcast News

"એક શામ ઇસુ કે નામ"

2011-11-04T09:25:00.001+05:30

Dear All In Christ,

There will be a program called Jesus Nite in Bhiloda tonight . It is organized for North Gujarat tribal youth .

તા.૪-૧૧-૨૦૧૧

આજે સાંજે ભિલોડામાં "એક શામ ઇસુ કે નામ" નું આયોજન કરવામાં આવેલ છે . આ કાર્યક્રમ ઉત્તર ગુજરાતના આદિવાસી યુવાનો અને યુવતીઓ માટે કરવામાં આવશે. આ કાર્યક્રમમાં ૨૫૦ યુવાન યુવતીઓની નોધણી થઇ ચુકી છે. આ કાર્યક્રમનો ઉદ્દેશ આપણી યુવાન પેઢીને પ્રભુમય બનાવવાનો છે. વધુ માહિતી અને કાર્યક્રમની ઝાંખી કાર્યક્રમ બાદ BBN ઉપર બતાવવામાં આવશે.

-BBN

Photo courtesy : Google

Tura Salesian priest goes missing in Bihar

2011-11-01T00:08:00.000+05:30

Prof. (Fr.) Francis Fernandez (photo 2009)

Meghalaya, October 30, 2011: In what is suspected to be a shocking case of kidnapping, a 57-year-old Salesian priest from Tura has gone missing from the train he was travelling on from New Delhi to Guwahati en route to Tura with his last whereabouts located at Katihar in Bihar on the morning of October 27.

To make matters worse, a message from an unknown number about the death of the priest was forwarded to the authorities of Don Bosco College from Bihar and later his belongings were found dumped in a garbage bin at New Jalpaiguri railway station in West Bengal.

Rev. Fr. Francis Fernandez, who happens to be the Rector of Don Bosco College, Tura, left for New Delhi on October 22. From there he went to Dehradun to meet his nephew and also visited the Doon School before taking the Rajdhani Express from New Delhi for Guwahati on the 26th of this month.

He was due to arrive in Guwahati the next day. While the train reached its destination the priest was nowhere to be found.

Salesians from Don Bosco College, Tura, last received a message from Fr Fernandez that was sent from Katihar train station at 7:54 AM of Thursday informing of his destination.

“He was in a compartment that was filled with local people at Katihar railway station of Bihar. That was the last message we got from him,” informed senior Salesian priest Fr PD Johny of Don Bosco College, Tura.

The compartment B2-28 of Rajdhani Express 12424 was where the Don Bosco Rector was supposed to have been. It was filled with a large group of minority workers from Kisanganj and nearby villages at the time it reached Katihar station.

The Salesian community was completely unaware of the unfolding events until they received a SMS from an unknown number in broken English about the condition of the priest.

The message mentioned that Fr Francis has been hospitalized in Kisanganj, a notorious area for crime, with serious stomach pain and needed money for emergency operation. The message goes on to mention that a passenger collected money but it was too late as his appendix had ruptured leading to his death.

The message further states that the body was taken away for cremation by the passenger and the person sending the SMS. The last message from the sender, who has since gone incommunicado, claims himself to be a villager with no telephone.

Following receipt of the message, the Salesians of Don Bosco immediately alerted the authorities including the Railway Protection Force and the Intelligence Bureau for help with the case.

A frantic search was made at several train stations along the route since the last two days and it was only late Saturday night that police and railway authorities and search teams found the personal belongings of Fr Fernandez in a garbage pit near New Jaipalguri Railway Station in North Bengal. “From the garbage pit police retrieved the identity card of Fr Fernandez, his province directory of Guwahati Don Bosco Province, his flight ticket to New Delhi and a return train ticket to Guwahati, one of his favourite novels he took on his travels and other documents.

The closely knit family of Salesian fathers of Don Bosco are hoping for the best even as they fear for the worst. “We are deeply distressed and are praying for the safe return of Fr Fernandez,” informed Don Bosco College priests from Tura.

The Don Bosco College of Teacher Education, Tura, has put forward two numbers for any information on the whereabouts of the missing priest. The numbers are 09862588757 and 9436730717

- fwd: cm paul

News Sent to BBN By

Rev. Fr. Mayank Parmar, Kapadvanj

Religious Get Together In Khambhodaj

2011-10-27T12:39:00.003+05:30

Khambhodaj Shrine

Yesterday there was a religious get together in Khambhodaj village near Anand. As per the church authority there were more than 20,000 people got together at the Shrine of Mother Mary. This religious get together was started by Rev. Fr.Suriya SJ* in the early 40's at the time of Freedom movement of India. The religious get together is meant to thank Mother Mary for taking our prayers to Jesus. A lot many people have experienced the love of Mother Mary and Baby Jesus at this Shrine.

Please click on the video

* A Spanish Jesuit Missionary who passed away. May his soul rest in peace.

New Statue Of Jesus Monument In Bhumel

2011-10-16T21:35:00.002+05:30

ભૂમેલમાં થયેલ ઈસુની પ્રતિમા અને પવિત્ર ક્રોસને ખંડિત કરવામાં આવેલ ત્યારબાદ આ ખરાબ કૃત્ય કરનાર ને માફ કરતા ભૂમેલના લોકો અને તેમના ગોવાળ તરીકે આવેલ રેવ. બિશપ થોમસ મેકવાન નવી પ્રતિમાની સ્થાપના કરતા ઉપરના વીડિઓમાં જોવા મળશે.

Birthday OF Rev. Bishop Thomas Macwan

2011-10-14T17:00:00.000+05:30

Many Many Happy Returns Of The Day

14-10-2011

Rev. Bishop Thomas Macwan

Today Rev. Bishop Thomas Macwan (Ahmedabad Dio) is celebrating his Birthday. May God Bless him on this very special day.

Your Wishes and Comments will be sent directly to Rev. Bishop Thomas Macwan. Request you to write your name.

Rev. Bishop Thomas Macwan

Thank you very much.

Please Write your comments and wishes in the below given box.

ઈસુની પ્રતિમાને ખંડિત કરવામાં આવી_DESECRATION OF A RELIGIOUS MONUMENT IN BHUMEL

2011-10-11T18:03:00.006+05:30

"ભૂમેલના ખ્રિસ્તી ધાર્મિક સ્મારકમાં તોડફોડ, ઈસુની મૂર્તિ અને પવિત્ર ક્રોસની ભાંગફોડ"

આવો સાથે મળીએ, તલવાર નહિ પણ ઢાલ બનીએ.

Please click on video

ભૂમેલ ગામ એક Historical Village તરીકે ગુજરાતની ધર્મસભામાં ગણાવી શકાય. સૌ પ્રથમ વાર ગુજરાતની ભૂમિ ઉપર પગ મુકનાર રેવ. ફા. માનુયેલ ઝેવિયર ગોમ્સ મોગરી ગામમા આવ્યા હતા અને ત્યાંથી ઈસુને ભૂમેલ ગામમા લાવવા માટે એક ભાડે ઘર રાખીને રહ્યા હતા ( Book Ref. The History Of Gujarat Church) આજે એ શ્રદ્ધા ફૂલીફાલીને ક્યાંક ને ક્યાંક ગુજરાતીની ધર્મસભા ને આગળ વધારવા માટે કામ કરતી નજરે જોવા માટે મળે છે. આ અનુસંધાનમા ભૂમેલ ગામના લોકોએ સાથે મળીને ભૂમેલના ઇસુમય લોકો પ્રભુનું નામ લઇ બહાર ગામ જવા કે પછી નોકરી-ધંધે જવા ટાણે લોકો પ્રભુનું નામ લઇ દિવસની શરૂયાત કરે તેવા સુંદર હેતુસર ઇસુ સ્મારક ની સ્થાપના ગયા ઉનાળામાં કરી હતી. લોકોનો ભક્તિ પ્રેમ આ ઇસુ સ્મારકને કારણે વધ્યો હતો. પરંતુ આજે તા. ૧૧-૧૦-૨૦૧૧ ના રોજ સવારે ૧૨:૩૦ વાગ્યા પછી કોઈક ખરાબ તત્વો દ્વારા ઇસુ સ્મારકમા રાખેલ ક્રોસને અને ઉપર રાખેલ સજીવન પામેલા પ્રભુ ઇસુની પ્રતિમાને ખંડિત કરવામાં આવી. પ્રભુ ઇસુની પ્રતિમાના પગની આંગળીઓ ને તોડી નાખવામાં આવી હતી અને તેમની પાછળના ભાગને પણ તોડી નાખવામાં આવ્યો હતો (વધુ માહિતી માટે વિડિઓ જુઓ) આ પ્રસંગથી લોકોની શ્રદ્ધા ઉપર પ્રહાર કરવામાં આવ્યો હોઈ તેવી લાગણી સવારે ભેગા થેયલ ટોળામા રહી હતી. આ બાબતની જાણ થતાજ વડતાલથી સભા પુરોહિત ફા. એન્થોની તાબડતોબ દોડી આવ્યા હતા અને શ્રધાળુઓ ને મળી ત્યાં પ્રાથના કર્યા બાદ પેરીશ કાઉન્સિલના સભ્ય રોહિત મેકવાન તથા રૂપેશ મેકવાન ફાધર સાથે પોલીસ ફરિયાદ માટેની કાર્યવાહી માટે ગયા હતા.

આ ગેરપ્રવૃત્તિ ને કારણે આજુ બાજુ વસતાં પટેલ કુટંબોએ પણ આ ઘટનાને સખત શબ્દોમાં વખોડી કાઢી હતી. ભૂમેલ ગામના સરપંચ તરીકે રહી ચૂકેલ માજી સરપંચ શ્રી રસિકભાઈ પટેલ (સ્મારકની સામેજ રહે છે ) આ ઘટનાને સખત શબ્દોમાં વખોડી કાઢી જણાવ્યું હતું કે ભગવાનના સ્વરૂપ અલગ અલગ છે પણ આખરે તે એકજ છે અને આવા કૃત્યોથી આપણે તેમનું અપમાન કરીએ છીએ.

આખા ગુજરાતમા આવા ગંભીર પ્રસંગ ના બને તે માટે એકતા અને એકબીજાના સહકારથી પ્રભુનું સન્માન જાળવી શકાશે.

આવો સાથે મળીએ, તલવાર નહિ પણ ઢાલ બનીએ.

The broken fingers

The Holy Cross which is thrown away from the Smarak

ISU SMARAK

Bhumel is a historical village in Gujarat Church, The first missionary Rev, Fr. Manuel Xavier Gomes who had come to Mogri, had also come to Bhumel and stayed in a rental house (Book Ref. The History Of Gujarat Church) He spread the Good News in Bhumel and around the villages. Today the same faith has grown and it is now vibrant in Bhumel.

To help people pray to God people of Bhumel made Isu Smarak at the entrance of Christian Street. which was today at 12:30 am some one tried to destroy The Holy Cross and the statue of Risen Lord. It was removed from the Isu Smarak and threw away and they broke the fingers of the statue as seen in the photos and video. This incident has made the devotees of Christ angry, as they count, it is an attack on faith and insulting the Lord Christ.

- BBN

A Bridge

St. Vincent de Paul Celebrates 10 Years In Umreth

2011-10-09T23:36:00.001+05:30

St. Vincent de Paul is celebrating 50 years of helping poor and needy people across Gujarat. Today Umreth is also completed 10 years of helping poor and needy in Kheda district. There was a program organized by St. Vincent de Paul, Umreth today. Rev. Bishop Thomas Macwan (Ahmedabad Dio) Former Editor Of Doot Mr. Jhon Canis, Present Editor Of Doot Mr.Thomas Parmar and all invited guests made the program vibrant.

Please click on the video for more details.

New Rosary Church_ Inauguration In Amod

2011-10-08T23:06:00.001+05:30

Rosary Church at Runaj village in the Rosary year on the Rosary FEAST

It was long waited dream of people of Runaj came true as Bishop Thomas Macwan and the veteran missionary Fr.Pariza cut the ribbon of the church door on 7^th October 2011. The celebration began with band and singing and dancing as people brought the statue of Our Lady of Rosary along with the Bishop on the Bagi (horse Chariot). As the procession ended the blessing stone was unveiled by Fr.Pariza. Bishop cut the ribbon and entered the church and blessed it.

The holy mass concelebrated by twenty priests with Bishop was very much meaningful and colorful. Though it took around eight months to complete, yet the hard work of Runaj people has to be appreciated as most of the money has been collected and donated by them. Of course the Ursaline sisters of Amod did contribute their share in various forms. The entrance dance, choir and decorations of the altar was taken care by the sisters of Amod community. After the Mass the invited guests, donors and contractor were felicitated. The son of the soil Mr.Manoj provided dinner for all where people left with joy filled.

The Bishop, priests and people appreciated Fr.Charles G. the parish priest for all the hard work in undertaking this mission of dedicating the church to Our Lady Of Rosary on the fitting day of Rosary feast. The day ended as Fr.Charles proposed the vote of thanks and appreciated the generous contribution of the people. We hope and pray that the presence of beautiful church would strengthen the faith of the people of Runaj (Amod Parish).

News By Mr.Peterbhai Paulbhai Parmar - Runaj.

Photos and news received from Fr. Charles G Prakash

Relic Of Saint Faustina In Salun

2011-10-07T23:11:00.003+05:30

ગુજરાતની ધર્મસભા હમેશા ધાર્મિક્તા બાબતે આગળ રહેલી છે લોકો પ્રભુની નજીક નિકટતા મેળવી શકે તે હેતુસર પ્રભુ મંદિરોની સ્થાપના તથા મેળાઓનું અને સમૂહ પ્રાર્થનાઓનું આયોજન કરવામાં આવે છે તે અનુસંધાનમાં આજે સલુણ ગામમાં સંત ફૌસ્તીનાનો અવશેષ લાવી અને દેવળમાં ભક્તો માટે રાખવામાં આવ્યો. અહી આવતા ભક્તોને શાંતિ અને પ્રભુના પ્રેમનો લાભ મળતો રહ્યો છે.

અહી તા. ૦૭-૧૦-૨૦૧૧ ના રોજ આપણા લોક લાડીલા માનનીય બિશપ થોમસ મેકવાન (અવશેષ માટે મોટી કાર્યવાહી બાદ) પોલેન્ડથી પાછા ફર્યા ત્યારે લાવ્યા હતા જેને આજે ધામધુમથી મોટા સરઘસ સાથે સલુણ ગામના બસ સ્ટેન્ડથી દેવળમાં આનંદ ઉલ્લાસથી લાવવામાં આવ્યો હતો. મોટી સંખ્યામાં અહી ભક્તો દુર દુરથી આવીને હાજરી આપી હતી. આ કાર્યક્રમ બાદ શ્રી બિશપ સાહેબનું તથા હાજર રહેલ પુરોહીતોનું ફૂલહારથી સન્માન કર્યું હતું. ખ્રિસ્તયજ્ઞ બાદ આરાધનાનું આયોજન કરવામાં આવ્યું હતું.

માનવ મેદની અને તેમનો ભક્તિ રસ અને સંતનો અવશેષ જોવા માટે વીડિઓ ઉપર ક્લિક કરશો.

સંત ફૌસ્તીના વિષે વધુ જાણવા માટે નીચે વાંચશો.

Saint Faustina

Maria Faustina Kowalska, commonly known as Saint Faustina, born Helenka Kowalska (August 25, 1905, near Lodz, Poland then in the Russian Empire – Died October 5, 1938, Kraków, Poland) was a Polish nun, mystic and visionary. She is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church as a saint, and is known as the Apostle of Divine Mercy.

Throughout her life, she reported a number of visions of Jesus and conversations with him, which she wrote about in her diary, later published as the book Diary: Divine Mercy in My Soul.Her Vatican biography quotes some of these conversations regarding the Divine Mercy devotion.At age 20 she joined a convent in Warsaw and was later transferred to Plock, and then to Vilnius, where she met her confessor Michael Sopocko who supported her devotion to Divine Mercy. Faustina and Sopocko directed an artist to paint the first Divine Mercy image, based on Faustina's reported vision of Jesus. Sopocko used the image to celebrate the first Mass on the first Sunday after Easter - which later became known as Divine Mercy Sunday.

In her diary Faustina predicted that her work would be suppressed for some time, then accepted again. Two decades after her death the Divine Mercy devotion was banned by the Vatican, but was approved again in 1978 and she was declared the first saint of the 21st century in April 2000. The Divine Mercy devotion is now followed by over 100 million Catholics.

-Source and photo: Google

ચાવડાપુરામાં મેળાનું આયોજન

2011-10-06T23:41:00.001+05:30

Please click on the video

ગઈ કાલે તા. ૦૬-૧૦-2011 ના રોજ ચાવડાપુરામાં મેળાનું આયોજન કરવામાં આવું હતું, આણંદ અને આજુ બાજુના ગામડાઓમાંથી લોકો આવ્યા હતા. અહી બપોરે ૧૧:૩૦ વાગે માનનીય બિશપ થોમસ મેકવાને ખ્રિસ્તયજ્ઞ અર્પણ કર્યો હતો. વધુ માહિતી માટે વીડિઓ ઉપર ક્લિક કરશો.

ગયા વર્ષે આ દેવળનું ઉદ્ઘાટન કરવાાં આવ્યું હતું તે જોવા માટે નીચેના વીડિઓ ઉપર ક્લિક કરશો

“Invitation to the Wedding Banquet”

2011-10-05T09:01:00.002+05:30

9 OCTOBER 2011

INVITATION

Matthew 22, 1-14

Please click on the video for Sunday Gospel

Twenty Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

José Antonio Pagola

Through his parables Jesus progressively reveals to his followers how he experiences God, how he interprets life beginning at its deepest roots, and how he responds to the most profound problems of the human condition.

Rev.Fr.Vally de Souza SJ

Whoever enters into living contact with his parables begins to change. Something happens to us. God is not what we imagine him to be. Life is greater and more mysterious than our everyday conventional routine. It is possible to live with a new horizon. Let us listen to the starting point of the parable called: “Invitation to the Wedding Banquet”.

According to the story, God is preparing a final feast for all his sons and daughters, for he wants to see all seated by his side, around the same table, enjoying an abundance of life forever. This is an image that is dearest to the heart of Jesus, for it suggests the culmination of human history.

Compared to so many petty images of a God who controls and punishes, which prevent many from relishing the faith and enjoying their lives, Jesus introduces into the world the experience of a God who invites us to share a fraternal feast that will culminate in the best of our efforts, longings and aspirations being fulfilled.

Jesus devoted his entire life to spreading abroad this marvelous invitation of God: “The banquet is ready. Come!” This message formulates the way he announces God. Jesus does not preach doctrines, he awakens a desire for God. He does not pressurize anyone or impose anything. He invites and calls. He frees from fears and inspires trust in God. In his name he welcomes to his table sinners and undesirable people. His invitation has to reach everyone.

Men and women today need to discover the Mystery of God as Good News. We Christians must learn to speak of him more in a language inspired by Jesus to undo misunderstandings, clarify prejudices, and remove fears introduced by a lamentable religious discourse that has alienated many from the God who awaits us with everything ready for the final feast.

In these times in which the disparagement of religion prevents so many from hearing the invitation of God, we need to speak of the Mystery of his Love with humility and respect for all, without imposing on consciences or stifling life, but by awakening the desire for truth and light that remains alive in the most secret depths of human beings.

It is true that the call to a religious life is rejected by many, but the invitation of God has not died out. All can hear it – those who in the depths of their consciences listen to the call of goodness, of love and of justice.

Spread abroad the invitation of God

Source: URL of José Antonio Pagola's Buenas Noticias Web site

http://sanvicentemartirdeabando.org

Website for Spanish original and translations: www.eclesalia.net

Jose Antonio Pagola, vgentza@euskalnet.net , San Sebastian, Guipuzcoa, Spain.

English Translation by (Valentine) Vally de Souza S.J. vallydesouza@jesuits.net, Mandal, Gujarat , India.

Konknni Translation by Vasco do Rego S.J., vdorego@gmail.com, Jesuit House, P.B.112, Panaji, Goa.

Petlad-Mariyampura Medo

2011-10-03T16:27:00.004+05:30

Please click on the video for Petlad-Mariyampura Medo

The Report Is In English And In Gujarati

Mother Mary Of Petlad-Mariyampura

મરિયમપુરા, પેટલાદમાં ત્રિવેણી ઉજવણી.બીજી ઓક્ટોબર એટલે ગુજરાતની ધર્મસભામાં પ્રચલિત એવાં મરિયમપુરા, પેટલાદનાં અખંડ આરોગ્યદાયી માતાનો મેળો.પણ બીજી ઓક્ટોબર 2011 એટલે તો પેટલાદમાં ત્રિવેણી સંગમ. સૌ પ્રથમ તો ગત વર્ષે જાહેર થયેલાં “યુવાવર્ષ”નું સમાપન. ચાલુ વર્ષને અમદાવાદ ધર્મપ્રાંતનાં ધર્માધ્યક્ષ બીશપ થોમાસ મેકવાન દ્વારા “ ગુલાબમાળાનું વર્ષ ” તરીકે જાહેર કરવામાં આવ્યું અને આરોગ્યદાયી માતા મરિયમનો મેળો.

અસંખ્ય મરિયમ ભક્તોની મેદની વચ્ચે આવકાર સોસાયટી, પેટલાદ થી માતા મરિયમની પ્રતિમાને પુરા માન-સન્માન અને ગુલાબમાળાનાં રટણ સાથે સરઘસમાં લાવવામાં આવી હતી. ત્યારબાદ માનનીય બીશપશ્રી થોમાસ મેકવાન દ્વારા ભવ્ય ખ્રિસ્તયજ્ઞ અર્પણ કરવામાં આવ્યો હતો. બીશપશ્રીની રોમની યાત્રા દરમિયાન માન્યવર વડાધર્મગુરુ પોપ બેનેદિક્ત સોળમાંએ પોતાના પાવન હસ્તકમળો દ્વારા આશીર્વાદિત કરેલી ગુલાબમાળાએ મરિયમ ભક્તોની ભક્તિમાં ઓર વધારો કર્યો હતો. બીશપશ્રીએ વડા ધર્મગુરુ સાથેની પોતાની 100 મિનિટની મુલાકાતની પણ વાત કરી હતી. સૌ મરિયમભક્તો આનંદમાં આવી ગયા હતા અને બીશપશ્રીને તાળીઓથી વધાવ્યા હતા.

આ ભવ્ય મેળામાં, આ વર્ષને જ્યારે “ગુલાબમાળાનું વર્ષ” જાહેર કરાયું છે ત્યારે, પેટલાદ ધર્મવિભાગનાં સભાપુરોહિત પૂજ્ય ફા.ટોનીના માર્ગદર્શન હેઠળ યોજવામાં આવેલ માતા મરિયમ પરનું ભવ્ય પ્રદર્શન સૌ મરિયમ ભક્તો માટે આકર્ષણનું કેન્દ્ર અને ભક્તિનો તથા શ્રદ્ધાનો આધારસ્થંભ બની રહ્યું હતું. આ પ્રદર્શનનાં સફળ આયોજન પાછળ ફા.સંદિપ, ફા.અરૂલ, જિતેન્દ્ર ફિલીપસાહેબ અને તેમની ટીમનો અમૂલ્ય ફાળો રહ્યો હતો.

From Right: Rev. Bishop Thomas Macwan (A'Bad Dio.) and Rev. Fr Tony (PP Petlad)

આ મેળાને સફળ બનાવવા તથા પેટલાદનાં સૌ શ્રદ્ધાળુઓને તેની તૈયારી કરાવવા માટે માતા મરિયમની નવ દિવસની ભક્તિમાં જુદા જુદા ધર્મગુરુઓએ ધર્મબોધ આપ્યો હતો. આ ભવ્ય મેળાને ટાણે પણ ઘણાં ધર્મગુરુઓ હાજર રહ્યાં હતા.

ગુલાબમાળા વર્ષને ધ્યાન રાખીને તેની ઉજવણીના ભાગરૂપે “દિવ્ય તણખો” વિશેષાંક બહાર પાડવામાં આવ્યો હતો તથા ગુલાબમાળાની અંગ્રેજી તથા ગુજરાતીમાં પ્રાર્થના છબી છપાવવામાં આવી હતી. તથા યુવાવર્ષનું ભવ્ય સમાપન કરવામાં આવ્યું હતું. અમદાવાદ ધર્મપ્રાંતનાં જુદા જુદા ધર્મવિભાગમાંથી પણ અસંખ્ય યુવાનોએ હાજરી આપી હતી. ગાયકવૃંદનાં મધુર ગીતોએ તથા ઉપસ્થિત ધર્મજનોની ભક્તિએ વાતાવરણને પવિત્ર બનાવ્યું હતું.

સાચે જ ! આ એક પવિત્ર અનુભવ હતો.

Report by

Bro.Rajni

Please Read Report In English

Greetings.....

We the people of Petlad parish were very happy to welcome the day of 2nd October, because that is the day we celebrate the feast of our lady of Good Health. To make this day more meaningful, we prepared ourselves during the nine days of novena. Various priests were invited by our parish priest Fr . Toni. Each day had a different theme on Mother Mary. All the priests preached beautifully. Each day the devotees of Mother Mary were increasing. Seeing the big crowd we experience the faith of people there was very prayerful atmosphere all through novena. Each day's liturgy was celebrated by different community. The hymns sung by the choirs made the atmosphere more holy.

After these nine days of novena, the last awaited day had arrived that was the feast of our lady of good health.
we celebrated 57th feast of our lady of good health with great inner holiness and with blessings of our Mother Mary. Bishop Thomas Macwan declared this year as the "Year of the Holy Rosary".

As it was the end of the youth year, all the youth of Petlad parish took part in the success of the feast. All the preparation and liturgy was done by the youth. The beautiful and attractive decoration of the altar was done by the Little Daughter's sisters with the help of some parishioners. The choir of the church did a lot practice to sing holy and melodious hymns.

The Eucharist began with beautiful prayer dance. during the sermon, Fr. Paresh gave a report of all activities done through out the Youth Year and thanked all the people who gave their best towards the youth year. Rev. Bishop Thomas Macwan preached on Our Lady Of Fatima. He emphasized that all the families must say rosary daily.

After the Eucharist everyone enjoyed an exhibition on Mother Mary( could say that it was the first time organized in the history of Gujarati Catholic Church) which was done under the guidance of Rev. Fr. K. Antony and under the observation of Rev Frs. Sandip and Arul and Mr. Jitendra Philip and the team. It was a great and Informative exhibition one has ever seen. And also garba dance was arranged and everyone enjoyed whole kindheartedly. Prize distribution was done after the garba-dance.

Lastly we left the place with the prayer led by Fr. Tony (PP, Petlad). This celebration had made all come closer to Mother Mary and Her Son our Lord Jesus which we should continue throughout our life.

Report by

Carmeen and Sweta

Photos and Videos by

BBN

THE DANGER OF RELIGION

2011-09-25T12:13:00.002+05:30

Please click on the video

25 September 2011

THE DANGER OF RELIGION

Matthew 21, 28-32

José Antonio Pagola transleted by Rev.Fr.Valentine de Souza SJ

Jesus has been a few days in Jerusalem moving around in the neighborhood of the temple. He does not find in the streets the friendly welcome he received in the villages of Galilee. Religious leaders who pass his way try to discredit him in front of the simple people of the capital city. They will not stop till they send him to the cross.

Jesus remains unperturbed. With untiring patience he continues to call them to conversion. He tells them a simple anecdote which comes to his mind when he sees them: the conversation between a father who asks his two sons to go to work in the family vineyard.

The first son turns the father down with a brusque refusal: “I will not”. He does not give him any explanation. Quite simply, he just doesn’t want to. Later, however, he gives it a thought and reflects that he is rejecting his father and he goes to the vineyard with a contrite heart.

The second son listens amiably to the request of his father:”I will, sir.” He seems ready to fulfill his wishes, but soon forgets what he has said. He does not think of his father again. They’re no more than polite words. He does not go to the vineyard.

Just in case they haven’t got his message, Jesus, addressing “the high priests and the elders of the people”, applies the parable to them to challenge them directly: “I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.” He wants them to recognize their resistance to joining the project of the Father.

They are the “professionals” of religion: those who have said a big “yes” to the God of the temple, the experts in the conduct of temple worship, the guardians of the Law. They have no need to be converted. That is why, when the prophet John came to prepare the way of the Lord they said “no”; when Jesus came to invite them to enter into his kingdom, they again said “no”.

The tax collectors and the prostitutes, on the other hand, are “professional sinners”: those who have said a big “no” to the God of religion; those who have placed themselves outside the pale of the Law and sacred worship. Their hearts, however, have remained open to conversion. When John came they believed in him; when Jesus came they accepted him.

Religion does not always lead to doing the will of the Father. We can feel secure in the fulfillment of our religious duties and get accustomed to thinking we have no need to convert or change; those who have drifted from religion are the ones who have to do so. That is why it is so dangerous to replace listening to the Gospel with religious piety. Jesus said so: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

Spread abroad the call to conversion.

Source: URL of José Antonio Pagola's Buenas Noticias Web site

http://sanvicentemartirdeabando.org

Website for Spanish original and translations: www.eclesalia.net

Jose Antonio Pagola, vgentza@euskalnet.net , San Sebastian, Guipuzcoa, Spain.

English Translation by (Valentine) Vally de Souza S.J. vallydesouza@jesuits.net, Mandal, Gujarat , India.

HOW SMALL-MINDED WE ARE!

2011-09-16T22:07:00.001+05:30

TWENTY FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

HOW SMALL-MINDED WE ARE!

Matthew 20, 1-16

José Antonio Pagola translated by Re. Fr. Valentine de Souza SJ

Re. Fr. Valentine de Souza SJ

Jesus had told his disciples clearly: “Seek the kingdom of God and his justice.” For him it was the most important thing. However, they did not see him seeking that justice of God in keeping the laws and traditions of Israel as other teachers did. He even gave them a serious warning on one occasion: “If your justice is not greater than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the kingdom of God.” How did Jesus understand the justice of God?

The parable he told them left them bewildered. The owner of a vineyard went over and over again to the town square to hire workers. He did not want to see anyone unemployed. The first group worked hard for twelve hours. The last to arrive worked only sixty minutes.

At the end of the day, however, the owner ordered all to be given one denarius: no family would be left without dinner that night. The decision surprised everyone. How do you evaluate the behavior of this man who offers equal recompense for such unequal work? Isn’t the protest of those who have worked the whole day reasonable?

These workers receive the denarius agreed upon, but on seeing the last to arrive treated so generously, they feel entitled to demand more. They do not accept being considered equal. This is their complaint: “You have made them equal to us.” The owner of the vineyard answers the spokesperson of the group with these words: “Are you envious because I am generous?” This sentence contains the main teaching of the parable.

According to Jesus, there is a way of viewing life that is bad, unfortunate, and harmful, for it prevents us from understanding the goodness of God and rejoicing at his infinite mercy towards all. We refuse to believe that the justice of God consists in treating us with a love that transcends all our reckoning.

This is the Good News revealed by Jesus we would never have suspected and which we so much needed to hear. Let no one come before God with merits or acquired rights. We are all welcomed and saved not by our efforts but by his unfathomable mercy.

Jesus was concerned that his disciples were of a mind incapable of believing in that Goodness. On one occasion he said this to them: “If your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” We Christians have forgotten it. What light would fill the Church if we only dared to believe in the goodness of God without reducing it to our unfortunate small-minded dimensions. What joy would flood the hearts of believers. How ardently we would follow Jesus!

Spread the news of a Good God.

Source: URL of José Antonio Pagola's Buenas Noticias Web site:

http://sanvicentemartirdeabando.org

Website for Spanish original and translations: www.eclesalia.net

Jose Antonio Pagola, vgentza@euskalnet.net , San Sebastian, Guipuzcoa, Spain.

English Translation by (Valentine) Vally de Souza S.J. vallydesouza@jesuits.net, Mandal, Gujarat , India.

Konknni Translation by Vasco do Rego S.J., vdorego@gmail.com, Jesuit House, P.B.112, Panaji, Goa.

Gujarat Youth attended the World Youth Day 2011 in Spain

2011-09-12T23:24:00.001+05:30

Mr. Milan from Anand,Gujarat attended the World Youth Day 2011 in Spain. BBN has interviewed him. Please click on the video to know more about WYD.

BBN

A Bridge Between Christ And People.

Seminar For Catholic Youth

2011-09-11T23:40:00.001+05:30

આજે તા. ૧૧-૦૯-૨૦૧૧ ના રોજ ગામડી આણંદ, કમ્યુનીટી હોલમાં ધોરણ ૧૧,૧૨ અને કોલેજના યુવક યુવતીઓ માટે એર હોસ્ટેસ, હોસ્પીટાલીટી મેનેજમેન્ટ અને ટ્રાવેલ્સ મેનેજમેન્ટ અંગે પ્રેઝન્ટેશન અને રોજગારલક્ષી માર્ગદર્શનનું આયોજન કરવામાં આવ્યું હતું. આ પ્રસંગે મુખ્ય વક્તાઓમાં શ્રી લોઈડ રોસરીયો જેઓ Seatrans Logistics કંપનીના મેનેજિંગ ડીરેક્ટર છે તેમણે આપણા યુવાધનને માર્ગદર્શન પૂરું પાડ્યું હતું. આ સાથે શ્રી દેસ્મોંડ પીટર (Snr. Reg.Training Manager, Indian Aviation Management) અને સાથે આવેલ ટીમ દ્વારા યુવાવર્ગને યોગ્ય દોરવણી આપી હતી.

આ પ્રસંગની ઝાંખી માટે વીડિઓ ઉપર ક્લિક કરશો.

મિ. લોએડ રોસરીયો. મિ. પીટર અને તેમની ટીમ સાથે SFPY (Saint Francis Parish Youth)ના આયોજકો

આ પ્રસંગે ઘણા વિધાર્થી વિધાર્થીનીઓએ ભાગ લીધો હતો

આ પ્રસંગે ફા. નગીન એસ. જે, ફા આલ્બર્ટ એસ જે અને ફા. જેરી સિકવેરા એસ. જે ઉપસ્થી આપી હતી

આવા સેમીનારથી આપણા યુવાવર્ગને આ ઝડપી અને આધુનિક યુગમાં યોગ્ય માર્ગદર્શન મળી શકે છે અને તેનાથી તેઓ જીવનમાં યોગ્ય અને ઉચ્ચ કારકિર્દી તરફ જઈને ધર્મસભાના મહત્વના પાયા બની શકશે.

આ સેમીનારને સફળ બનાવવા પાછળ SFPY ના દરેક આગળ પડતા સભ્યને શુભેચ્છા પાઠવવી ઓછી પડે.

Special Thanks To Miss Deepti Davla and Mr. Taral Parmar

BBN

A Bridge Between Christ And People

NO END TO FORGIVENESS

2011-09-10T23:43:00.000+05:30

The Sunday Bible Reading video is in Gujarati

TWENTY FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (A)

11 September 2011

NO END TO FORGIVENESS

Matthew 18, 21-35

José Antonio Pagola

Rev. Fr. Valentine de Souza SJ

The disciples heard Jesus say unbelievable things on the love of enemies: prayer to the Father for those who persecute us, forgiveness for those who do us harm. Surely, it seemed an extraordinary message to them, but it was hardly realistic and raised huge questions.

Peter now comes to Jesus with a more practical, concrete approach that at least allowed them to solve the problems that occurred among them: resentment, envy, clashes, conflicts, and petty quarrels. How did they have to behave in that family of followers who walked in his footsteps? In particular: “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me?”

Before Jesus could answer him, Peter, impetuous as usual, hastens to make his own suggestion: “Up to seven times?” His proposal is of a generosity quite superior to the climate of strict justice prevalent in Jewish society. It went much further even than what was practiced among rabbis and groups of Essenes who speak of forgiving up to four times at most.

However, Peter is still thinking at the level of Jewish casuistry where forgiveness is prescribed as a friendly arrangement to ensure the orderly functioning of coexistence among those belonging to the same group.

The answer of Jesus requires us to rise to a new level. There is no end to forgiveness: “I tell you not seven times but seventy seven times.” It makes no sense to keep accounts of forgiveness. Whoever takes to counting how often he forgives his brother follows an absurd path that destroys the spirit that must prevail among his followers.

Among the Jews, there was a popular “Song of vengeance” of Lamech, a legendary hero of the desert. It ran like this: “ Cain will be avenged seven times, but Lamech seventy times seven.” Against this culture of revenge without limits, Jesus proclaims forgiveness without limits among his followers.

In just a few years, unrest has been growing within the Church, causing increasingly heartbreaking and painful conflicts and clashes. Lack of mutual respect, insults and calumnies are becoming more frequent. Without anyone regulating them, so-called Christian sectors use the internet to sow hostility and hatred, mercilessly destroying the reputation and lives of other believers.

We urgently need witnesses to Jesus, who firmly proclaim his Good News and humbly spread his peace, believers who keep forgiving and healing this morbid blindness that infects his Church.

Spread the pardon and peace of Jesus.

**********

"How do you stay positive, preach hope, and remain loving and big-hearted in the face of opposition, misunderstanding, hostility, and hatred?

. . . . Very few things, I believe, are more needed today, in both society and the church, than this capacity for understanding and forgiveness. To continue to offer others genuine love and understanding in the face of opposition and hatred constitutes the ultimate social, political, ecclesial, moral, religious, and human challenge. Sometimes church people try to single out one particular moral issue as the litmus test as to whether or not someone is a true follower of Jesus. If there is to be a litmus test, let it be this one: Can you continue to love those who misunderstand you, who oppose you, who are hostile to you, who hate you, and who threaten you - without being paralyzed, calloused, or condescending?" - Ronald Rolheiser OMI

Sunday With e-Sermon by Rev. Fr. Prakash

2011-09-10T13:33:00.002+05:30

Please click for on the video Sunday With e-Sermon by Rev. Fr. Prakash

- BBN

Birthday Of Mother Mary Celebrated By Anand, Legion Of Mary

2011-09-09T21:44:00.001+05:30

Yesterday Birthday Of Mother Mary was celebrated by Legion Of Mary, Anand. There were around 200 men and women and children gathered from Anand and near by villages and they celebrated the Feast with joyful songs and garba. It was a vibrant celebration arranged by them. Please click on the video to watch the celebration

-BBN

Birthday of Mother Mary _ Bandra Feast Celebration

2011-09-08T21:40:00.000+05:30

September 8^th the birthday of Mother Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, is celebrated with utmost enthusiasm and fervor by almost every Catholic denizen. A distinct example of Bandra Feast is one such example for the celebrations being on high passion levels. The feast is predominantly celebrated in Bandra, a Mumbai suburb and is being followed for numerous centuries. Hence the name Bandra Feast.

Vivian Pereria, a resident of Bandra, said, for the kinfolk join the mass in the morning probably at Mont Mary’s Basilica or other churches. "They then have family prayers at home and have a festive lunch or dinner with relatives from other suburbs invited for the feast. The modern lifestyle has taken its toll on this ritual, but we still have many families marking this occasion in Bandra," he said.

Fr. Larry Pereria, a resident historian, lives in Ranwar village in Bandra, highlighted that the feast the is regarded more the most vital than the fair for many people in Bandra. "It was the birthday of Virgin Mary, the mother of Christ and families would give it due importance. “The families who lived in various gaothans (villages) like Ranwar, Pali, Sherly, Rajan, Chuim and Chimbai were known to have parties at home with music and folk songs," said Fr. Pereira.

"While the actual day of Mother Mary's birthday fell on September 8, the Church would celebrate it on the next Sunday with a Mass in the morning. It is seen as a people's feast and attracts families particularly women," he said. In Bandra, the feast of Mary is strongly associated with the statue of Virgin Mary at Mount Mary's Basilica for several hundred years. Fr Francis Correia, who has authored a book on Mount Mary, said that the faith in Virgin Mary manifests itself when people of all faiths come to the Church to seek her blessings. When was the feast of Virgin Mary first celebrated? It goes back long ago said Fr Correia, he cites a report by a Jesuit priest written in 1669 which states. "

News And Photo Courtesy

Mr. Ananth (Y Reach)

Blessed Mother Teresa

2011-09-06T20:35:00.001+05:30

Mother Teresa quotes are all positive, inspirational words of wisdom.

Please click on the video

Mother Teresa

As the majority of photographs that we see of Mother Teresa are all of when she was older, I thought that it was more interesting to have a photo of her when she was younger.

Mother Teresa was born in Skopje, Macedonia on 26th August 1910. Her name at birth was Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu. She became a Roman Catholic nun and began teaching in India. She went on to work among the poorest of poor in the slums of Calcutta and founded The Missionaries of Charity. Mother Teresa won many awards over the years including the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. She died on 5th September 1997.

Details And Photo Courtesy
Spiritual Quotes To Live By

Non-violence is Mightier Than Violence

2011-09-04T22:12:00.004+05:30

Non-violence is Mightier Than Violence

By Fr. Anand Muttungal

The thirteen days’ long non-violent protest lead by Anna Hazare has proved again that non-violence has an upper hand against violence. Non-violence can be understood in two ways; first, to a general philosophy of abstention from violence because of moral or religious principle and the second one is the behaviour of people using non-violent action to attain a systematic transformation. This general version of non-violence became a pragmatic principle with the application of this religious principle into freedom movement lead life by Mahatma Gandhi. He used non-violence as a means of struggle to achieve political and social change. The term civil resistance or disobedience has become synonymous with non-violent movements. The civil groups use it to challenge a particular power, force, policy or regime.

All religious traditions propagate non-violence. Jainism and Buddhism has contributed much to the concept of non-violence which included abolitionism, the practice of not eating animal flesh, spiritual practices of non-harm to all beings and caring for the rights of all beings. We find exclusive manifestation of non-violent principles in the Sermon on the Mount by Lord Jesus. He protested the existing socio-religious system in a peaceful way. His death and resurrection on the third day has qualified his teachings on non-violence. Mahatma Gandhi who was greatly influenced by the teachings of Christ and many religious traditions has introduced a pragmatic political sense to this spiritual concept of non-violence. Today it is called Gandhian concept of non-violence.

The first non-Indian to use Gandhian form of non-violence was Martin Luther King. He used to win civil rights for African Americans. César Chávez used non-violence in the 1960s to get the rights for farm workers in California. The Czechoslovakian youths used non-violent protests in 1989 and called it "Velvet Revolution" which overthrew the Communist government. In 2002, Leymah Gbowee, a lady social worker, organized the Christian and Muslim women against Liberian civil war through non-violent prayer movement which brought an end to the Second Liberian Civil War in 2003. The latest of all is Anna Hazare’s fasting and non-violent protest.

The recently concluded thirteen day fast of Anna Hazare and whole lot of people following the guidance issued through the media by him is a sign of maturity of Indian people. It brought the parliament, political parties and civil society on to the same platform. It is true that Lokpal Bill is not a magic stick to stop corruption but the stir it created has declared a war against corruption. The happenings in the Parliament proved that India will not forefeet principles of democracy but the people’s demand is supreme in democracy. It was a rare blend of coordination between the Parliament and civil society in dealing with the demon of corruption.

Even though an ocean of people took part in the nationwide protest and fasting, no single incident of violence was reported. What surprised the nation was that the people after attending the offices, colleges and schools, joined the protest and in an unusual way the political parties called for non-violent protests, fundamental organizations used secular slogans to support the movement, in short it was a grand feast of the old, young, children, men and women from all walk of life. It was the voice of a nation standing against corruption.

This latest example of pragmatic use of non-violence has proved that violence falls apart in the might of non-violence. It must be a lesson to the religious and political fundamental organizations that violence has no justification in any way.

News Courtesy:

Rev. Fr. Anand Muttungal, Bhopal

Photos Courtesy: Google

NOTE:

Come and join BBN, Write your articles for our Catholic Society and Church of India, No matter where you stay and what language is spoken around you, anyone can write and send to us in English, Hindi or in Gujarati.

Send your articles news and events of Church, of Catholic Community celebration reports to bbnbhumel@gmail.com, OR vijaybbn@gmail.com

Be A Bridge Between Christ And People.

-BBN

Sunday with e-Sermon By Rev. Fr. Cardoz Anthony SFX

2011-09-04T21:01:00.001+05:30

Please click for the Sunday e-sermon

GATHERED TOGETHER BY JESUS

2011-09-03T19:21:00.002+05:30

TWENTY THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (A)

4 September 2011

The below given Sunday Bible Reading video is in Gujarati by well known BBN corespondent Miss Romika

GATHERED TOGETHER BY JESUS

Matthew 18, 15-20

José Antonio Pagola

Rev. Fr. Valentine de Souza SJ

The growth of Christianity in the Roman empire, apparently, was made possible thanks to the continuous birth of new small, almost insignificant groups which gathered together in the name of Jesus to learn together to be animated by his spirit and follow in his footsteps.

Undoubtedly, the involvement of Paul, Peter, and Barnabas and other missionaries and prophets played an important part, as well as the letters and writings that were circulated around various regions. The decisive factor, however, was the simple faith of believers whose names we don’t know, who gathered together to remember Jesus, hear his message, and celebrate the supper of the Lord.

We have not to think of large communities but of groups of neighbors, relatives and friends gathered at the home of one of them. Matthew, the evangelist, has them in mind when he recalls these words of Jesus: “Where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”

Many theologians think that the future of Christianity in the West will depend greatly on the birth and vigor of small groups of believers who, attracted to Jesus, gather centered on the Gospel to experience the real power that Jesus has to attract new followers.

The Christian faith will not be able to be sustained by the socio-cultural environment. Territorial structures that support the faith of those who have not abandoned the Church will be overwhelmed by the lifestyle of modern society, social mobility, the pervasion of virtual culture, and the way week-ends are spent.

The most enlightened sectors of Christianity will continue to concentrate on the Gospel as the stronghold or the decisive force to engender faith. Vatican Council II has already made it clear: “The Gospel… is for the Church the principle of life for its entire duration.” In any age and in any society, it is not we but the Gospel that engenders and founds the Church.

No one can predict the future. No one has prescriptions to guarantee anything. Many of the initiatives that flourish today will quickly run their course for they will not resist the power of a secular, plural, and indifferent society. Within a few years we will be engaged only in essentials.
Jesus, perhaps, will burst upon this skeptical, complacent society with unsuspected force through the power of small groups of simple Christians, attracted by his message of a loving God, open to the suffering of people, and ready to work for a more humane life. With Jesus, everything is possible. We have to be very alert to his calls. up paths to Jesus

Source: URL of José Antonio Pagola's Buenas Noticias Web site

http://sanvicentemartirdeabando.org/

Website for Spanish original and translations: http://www.eclesalia.net/

Jose Antonio Pagola, vgentza@euskalnet.net , San Sebastian, Guipuzcoa, Spain.

English Translation by (Valentine) Vally de Souza S.J. vallydesouza@jesuits.net, Mandal, Gujarat , India.