Short Film : Soldier to Saint

Wish you all a very Happy Feast Of St. Ignatius Of Loyola

Please click for the Short Film in Gujarati

Read More

GEBCI Annual Meet 2015

GEBCI - Gujarat Educational Board Of Catholic Institutions organised 2 days Annual Meet at Pastoral Center - Nadiad - Gujarat on 19th and 20th July 2015.The New Website was launched by GEBCI on 19-July-2015. Do visit and know more about GEBCI http://www.gebci.com

GENERAL INFORMATION & OBJECTIVES

The Gujarat Education Board of Catholic Institutions (GEBCI) belongs to the Catholic Minority Community (Catholic Diocese in Gujarat).

The main objects for which the GEBCI is established are educational. To further the cause of education particularly amongst its member-constituents and in general through educational institutions' work and activities in the State of Gujarat, irrespective of race, community, religion, language, social status.

The GEBCI provides guidance to its member-constituents and other educational institutions or educationalists as seek assistance on all matters related to education whether administrative, legal, financial or otherwise, and to follow up their activities.

The objectives of GEBCI includes planning, providing and coordinating provision of services in the cause of education in particular to its member-constituents and especially in the matter of sharing benefits and resources, solving problems of curricula, policies for recruitment and transfer of staff and students, etc. It helps in promoting related research activities and conduct studies and investigations as necessary on educational matters. It provides facilities for and to undertake the education, training, work-relationship adjustments and rehabilitation of its members and others in the educational field.

The subsidiary objectives of GEBCI includes, representing its member-constituents before any Court, Tribunal or other concerned authority be it Governmental, Central, State Semi-Government, Municipal, Panchayat or any other local authority in all matters related to education. The GEBCI represents its cause at State, National and International conferences or committees or organisations for furtherance of aims and objects similar to those of the GEBCI.

The GEBCI helps in setting up panels, study-teams, committees, workshops, seminars, conferences, etc., with a view to carrying out specially designed programmes for in-service training in education and to help render viable, projects schemes and plans, etc., undertaken by its members in the implementation of the GEBCI's Policies.

It institutes, offers and grants prizes, awards, scholarships and stipends in furtherance of the objects and takes over administration of scholarships and prizes. The GEBCI collects, organises and disseminates teaching and other material on education, through various media.

The GEBCI encourages and promotes mutual co-operation among member-constituents in particular, through co-curricular and sports activities. It helps in fostering close Manager-Head and Principal / Head-Staff relationships.

Special thanks to Rev.Fr. Royston Fernandes SJ (Secretary of GEBCI)

Please click : More Photos

- BBN

Read More

"Back-pack Journalism" seminar

TEAM BBN conducted "Back-pack Journalism" seminar with an aim of empowering people to give them a better world and better tomorrow. This seminar was held on 17-July-2015 at 

St.Xavier’s High School-Mirzapur, Ahmedabad.

BBN positively interacted with 100 NSS students. The focus of this seminar was to encourage students for the active participation in society as well as exploring carrier path. Basic concepts of photography, basic rules of photography like rule of third as well as replying to editors, writing scripts and short stories, positive communication through writing was explained. How one can use Social Media like WhatsApp, Facebook, twitter and blog etc. positively for better communication, for better world tomorrow.

The group based activities conducted among them. Each group came up with social issue and leadership qualities. Use of Mass and Social media was one of the major topics that were explained in detail to the NSS students.

Special Thanks to Rev. Fr. Titus Decosta (Principal), the students, the teachers,the staff.

For more photos : Photos

- BBN

Read More

Missionary Sr.Natividad Pastor ( Nati as she is loving called)

Missionary Sr.Nati

Sr. Natividad Pastor (Nati as she is loving called) set her feet in India in 1961 to serve the poor and specially the lepers in the leprosy hospital of Junagadh run by the Government. By profession she is a doctor. She was very active, enthusiastic and energetic. She used to go to the leprosy hospital by cycle. She not only dressed the patients their wounds, removed even the worms but she had been very kind, loving towards the patients. She worked with utter dedication and commitment.

In 1966 Nati was transferred to a new mission along with two more sisters to a remote place called Dediapada – South Gujarat. There the sisters opened the dispensary to cater to the needs of poor adivasi people. Sr. Nati attended the sick with all kinds of sickness including T.B and the people got cured by the loving touch of her hands. Once she had stitched the open skull of a little girl devoured by the tiger and the surgery she performed saved the life of little girl. Day by day the number of patients increased because of Sr.Nati’s dedicated service. She was very kind, patient, loving and at the same time stern towards the patients if they do not follow strictly the treatment given by her. Many Priests and nuns who are cured by her are very grateful to her. With that Nati’s fame spread far and wide. 

After 26 years of dedicated service in Dediapada Nati was transferred to Sagbara mission. Till recently she had been active in her apostolate of serving the sick and the poor. Gradually her health began to deteriorate and the eye sight diminished due to the Retina problem. It cost her much not to be in the dispensary which was a life stream in her life. But she accepted the will of God. She could not read anything but she dedicated her more time in prayer to be with the Lord. She is particular to do her own work and never give trouble to the sisters to do anything extra work for her.

Nati loved to be in the community in the company of the sisters. One of the drawbacks was she could not speak correctly neither English nor Gujarati. But all these years in her service to the poor and the sick Nati managed to communicate through the language of love. 

We are very grateful to Sr. Nati for all that she had been and she is. May God bless her with good health.

- Sr. Nancy Monteiro, Junaghad

Please click on the video, This footage was taken in Korvi by BBN

BBN

Read More

Towards a collective reflection - José Antonio Pagola

Fifteenth Sunday of the Year B – 12 July 2015

Towards a collective reflection

José Antonio Pagola

Jesus does not send his disciples without careful thought. To collaborate in his Project of the kingdom of God and prolong his mission, a life style has to be observed. If not, they will be able to do many things, but they will not bring his spirit into the world. Mark reminds us of some of the recommendations of Jesus.

In the first place, who are they to act in the name of Jesus? What kind of authority do they have? According to Mark, on sending them, he “gives them authority over unclean spirits.” He does not give them power over people they happen to meet along the way. Neither has he used his power to rule but in order to heal.

As always, Jesus is thinking of a more healthy world, free of malign forces that enslave and dehumanize human beings. His disciples will introduce his healing power among peoples. They will open paths in society, not by exercising power over people, but by humanizing their lives, alleviating the suffering of people, promoting the growth of freedom and fraternity.

They will take with them only a “walking stick” and “sandals”. Jesus thinks of them as pilgrims. Always on the way. Not tied to anything, nor to anyone, taking along only what’s indispensable, with the agility Jesus had to be present wherever someone needed him. The staff of Jesus is not to rule, but to help him walk.

They will have with them no bread, no beggar’s bag, no money . They must not be obsessed with their own security. They have with them something more important: the Spirit of Jesus, his Word, and his Authority to humanize the lives of people. Strangely, Jesus is not thinking of what they have to take along to be effective, but in what they do not have to have lest one day they forget the poor and are surrounded by their own prosperity. 

Neither should they take along a spare tunic. They will dress with the simplicity of the poor. They will not dress in sacred vestments like the ones the priests of the Temple wear. Neither will they dress like John the Baptist in the solitude of the desert. They will be prophets in the midst of people. Their lives will be a sign of the closeness of God to all, above all, to those most in need.

This society needs as never before the impact of men and women who know to live with little or nothing; believers who can prove that happiness does not lie in accumulating goods.

Those who live a simple life style and in generous solidarity are those who today best preach the conversión our society most needs.

Will we ever one day dare to make in the heart of the church a collective examination to allow ourselves to be enlightened by Jesus and to see how we have continued to stray from his spirit, almost without noticing it?  

Read More

Leadership Training at Amrutdhara, Kapadvanj

Please click for more photos 

Seminar Photos

Amrutdhara,
Kapadvanj
08-07-2015

Amrutdhara is a Salesian Catechatical Center for Gujarat.

Please click on the video

In 1995 a Leadership Seminar was started for 4 of Don Bosco rural schools. Namely; Kawant, Chhotaudepur, Narukot and Dakor.

It was a simple dream of many of the Don Bosco Fathers - Salesians . Everyone felt that the Tribal students need to be inspired for Leadership. So with this dream a Leadership Seminar was started in 1995. Of course, on the way it has met with numerous difficulties. During our interview with the director of Amrutdhara Rev. Fr. Alex SDB said, "I am happy to say that today it has reached to some standard. In between we did have a few other schools joining us. But not very regular and steady. In spite of all ups and downs the Leadership Seminar continued. Of all the years my experience of this year was the best. To tell you frankly, St. Anne’s school Waghodia made all the difference. This was the first time that they participated and to the full strength."

Fr. Alex is also planing to conduct the vibrant Leadership Training in different parishes of Gujarat during this year.

This year’s participation maximum. The students enjoyed to the full. They were taught to be a better leader for the school, for the society and for the nation. Rev. Fr. Mayank Parmar SDB and Mr. Pravin -Amrutdhara admin encouraged the students with leadership games, music and talks in their sessions.

The spirit of participation was praise worthy. There was a smile of joy and satisfaction on each ones face as they left the campus. A word of sincere thanks to all who made this day a total success. Praise be to God!

Leadership Training will lead the youth for the better world tomorrow

- Vijay BBN

Read More

Vimal Physiotherapy Center inauguration

Please click the below given link for more photos

Inauguration Photos

The detailed news will be published soon

Stay tuned

- BBN

Read More