AN INDUSTRIAL VISIT TO MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA

DIVYADAAN, JULY 19, 2010: On July 16, 2010, the third year students of philosophy from Divyadaan - Salesian Institute of Philosophy - Nashik, made a visit to the production plant of the Mahindra and Mahindra Company at Satpur, Nashik. This visit was part of their course that they were doing on industrial sociology. The visit was well guided and planned by Miss Asha Sabarwal of the Employee care and Administration section, Automotive Sector, Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd.

The tour began with a power point informative presentation on the company’s history, its development across the globe, the car models in vogue and the achievements of the company till date. The students were then led to different workshops where the Mahindra models of Logan, Xylo and Scorpio were being manufactured. Each of the three workshops was huge with the latest hi-tech equipments and there were even imported Japanese robots that processed the body of the vehicles. The machines were also handled efficiently by competent employees. This blending of human being and machine power gave a finesse to the automobiles that was astonishing. The engineering supervisors at different workshops gave lucid explanations on the complex process of the birth of a vehicle, and the actual assembling of a car which the students witnessed with their own eyes complemented this information. The accommodation and functioning of heavy machinery was exceptional and reflected the mind of a genius organization.

The relationship between the company and workers was made known by the various schemes offered for the benefit of the employees. The products of Mahindra that have spiraled upward are an outcome of this professional relationship.

The students dived into the discipline of the industry and made an enriching experience of it. A keen interest was seen by the fact that the students posed queries, clarified many a doubt and gathered a lot of good information. This academic visit was certainly made possible by our lecturer and our principal who gave the students an impetus to enter into the world of industries, become aware of the technology involved and broadly analyse its role in moulding society.

Cl. Bosco Carvalho, sdb

BISHOP’S VISIT TO DIVYADAAN

DIVYADAAN, JULY 2, 2010: On June 30, 2010 as we keep a filial remembrance of our father and founder, St. John Bosco, one could not ask for something greater than to have his Lordship Rt. Rev. Lourdes Daniel, the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Nashik and the Bishop of Amravati, to pay a visit to Divyadaan. It was indeed a privilege to have him among us. During his short visit, his Lordship assured the staff and students of Divyadaan of his prayers and wished them all the best as they continued their intellectual pursuits during this scholastic year. He was taken up by the vibrant energy of the community and was also pleased to see the way in which the activities of the house were being organized with certain finesse. The community of Divyadaan hope and pray that this visit may be one of the many visits of his Lordship to our community. Cl Mario D’Couto sdb

MARCHING AHEAD AT JAWAHAR MOKHADA

DIVYADAAN, JULY 1, 2010: On June 20, 2010, eighteen young dynamic clerics of Divyadaan began yet another year of their apostolate in the Jawahar-Mokhada region. It began with an orientation programme conducted by Fr. Anaclete and his team at the ‘Jungle Camp’, Walwande. The programme was well planned and conducted. It was very informative, wherein the staff by means of power point presentations and clippings beautifully summarized the aims and objectives of the Salesians in the Jawahar-Mokhada region. The brothers were guided into knowing the different tribes, cultures and festivals of the people of the region. This opened up many ignorant minds to new and amazing facts about our very own people for whom we work for. The brothers were then asked to share and evaluate their past experiences of working in that region with the people. This interaction kept the staff upbeat about the progress at various schools and took into consideration a couple of points that needed to be reconsidered and worked upon. This enriching experience came to an end with a meaningful talk given by Fr. Anaclete who encouraged and thanked the brothers for all their hard work. He also invited them to continue the good work of teaching at the various ashrams/schools in that region. He urged the brothers to be apostles of Don Bosco who wore his heart on his sleeves for his boys and maintained life long relationship with all those under his care. The brothers were grateful to the staff at the ‘Jungle Camp’ for the guidance and the help provided. They have pledged to be catalysts of change in this region thus heralding a brighter and stronger future for our country. Cl Sunil Pinto sdb

PRESENTATION OF THE 2011 STRENNA

ROME, JUNE 18, 2010: It is an historic detail, confirmed by each of the four evangelists, that from the outset of his evangelising activities (cf. Mk 1:14-15), Jesus called some to follow him (cf. Mk 1:16-20). These first disciples of his thus became "companions throughout the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out amongst us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day he was taken up from us" (Acts 1:21-22).

Evangelisation and vocation thus become two inseparable elements. Furthermore, a criterion of the authenticity of good evangelisation is its ability to give rise to vocations, to see to the growth of projects of gospel living, to completely involve those who are evangelised to the point where they become disciples and apostles.

Following on from the Strenna for 2010, “Lord, we want to see Jesus”, about the urgent need to evangelise, I am making a heartfelt appeal to the Salesian Family now to feel the urgency of, the need to call others.

Dear brothers and sisters, every member of the Salesian Family, I therefore invite you to be true spiritual guides for the young, like John the Baptist pointing out Jesus to his disciples and telling them: “Look, here is the Lamb of God!” (Jn 1:36), so they can follow him to a point where Jesus, aware that they are following him, turns to them directly with the question: “What are you looking for?” and they, overcome with the desire to profoundly get to know who this Jesus is, ask him: “Rabbi, where do you live?” (Jn 1:38), and he invites them to share the experience of being with him: “Come and see”. They will have experienced something immensely beautiful from the moment they “came and saw where he was staying and they remained with him” (Jn 1:39).

Here then is the pedagogical direction we must take:

1. Return to Don Bosco:

Make the Valdocco experience our own; it creates a family environment of great spiritual worth, one of apostolic involvement and spiritual accompaniment which is sustained by intense love for the Church and the world.

Show the beauty, the appropriateness of our Salesian vocation for today and its variety: a life completely given to God in the service of the young is well worth living.

Live our lives and help the lives of others to be understood as vocation and mission. And all this as a great gift which is experienced with God at the centre, in fellowship with all consecrated men and women dedicated to the poorest and most needy.

2. Become Don Bosco for the young people of today

Be aware of the central, obvious place of consecrated persons in the carrying out of the Salesian mission. This was Don Bosco's belief and experience.

Create a culture of vocation as was the case at Valdocco, one marked by seeking the meaning of existence, with transcendence as its horizon, sustained and supported by profound values, a planning mentality, and aimed at a culture of fellowship and solidarity.

Ensure accompaniment through the quality of our personal lives, our education to love and chastity, our responsibility for history, starting them out in prayer, apostolic involvement.

Make the Salesian Youth Movement a privileged place for the journey of vocational discernment: where young people experience and show how the current of communion flowing around Don Bosco, his pedagogical values, and Salesian Youth Spirituality results in a volunteer movement and projects of life.

Fr Pascual Chávez Villanueva sdb

A NEW BEGINNING

NASHIK, JUNE 12, 2010: The Feast of the Sacred Heart and the inaugural day was an auspicious combination at Divyadaan this year. This annual academic exercise consisted of the solemn inaugural Eucharist and the inaugural ceremony.

“The new year brings new learning”, were the words of Fr. Ajoy Fernandes, vice Provincial of Salesian Province of Mumbai, who presided over the inaugural Eucharist. While stressing on the blending of philosophy with our mission he said: “Our study is the journey of life, faith and love in view of the mission.” He drew inspiration from the Holy Trinity as being a blend of presence, purpose, wisdom and love. Further he added: “Philosophy should help us reach the mountain peak along a treacherous journey from where we are able to gaze at the intricate connection of life. The invocation of the Holy Spirit is like having a torch lit in the darkness for the clarity of the mind. We may at times loose sight of our friends or may be our purpose; hence to live life we not only need a mind but also a heart. The Sacred Heart enables us to connect to these with love since it loved us first.”

After the Eucharist the inaugural ceremony of the new academic year 2010-11 took place in the academic block. Following with the lighting of the lamp, Fr. Savio D’Souza, the Rector, welcomed the gathering. Fr. Robert Pen, the Principal, then presented the academic report of the year 2009-2010, after which Fr. Ajoy released the new academic calendar and declared the year open.

The key-note speaker of the day was Rev. Fr. Edison Fernandes, who holds the chair of educational psychology in Divyadaan. He enthralled everybody with his systematic exposition of his doctoral thesis: “A Phenomenological Exploration of Discrimination as perceived by International students: implications for Formation and Philosophy”. He dealt with the issue of discrimination enumerating its various causes like culture, name, race, colour of skin etc. According to him this only results into foreign students getting stressed, overworked and depressed.

In his opinion, this sensitive issue being of much importance deals with the harsh reality of discrimination as many theories have emerged about the dynamics of discrimination but few from the perspective of the victims of discrimination. Hence he drew his own method of research which was a laborious redaction from a vast data taken from personal interviews. He mentioned that philosophy tends to neglect empiricism and thus called for a combination of empirical findings and theory. He concluded with the message for all philosophy students to “uphold a philosophical option for the poor, marginalized and discriminated”.

Cl. Denver D’Silva sdb

THE ROAD THAT LEADS TO HEAVEN

NASHIK, JUNE 7, 2010: The first year philosophy brothers of Divyadaan ensued towards Trimbakeshwar for their first picnic of the academic year 2010-11. The Staff and the students decided to go to Trimbakeshwar, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas in India. In order to get there they climbed the Brahmagiri - the origin of the river Godavari. It was a timely outing for the brothers to freshen up before they began their philosophical endeavours. The journey began at 2 pm in the afternoon with the brothers getting ready in their hiking attire. Reaching the holy place by 2:45 pm, the brothers climbed to the summit of the Brahmagiri. At Trimbakeshwar the brothers learnt the significance of the place. A sage narrated the story of the genesis of the river Godavari. According to him anyone who came to this place was sure to attain salvation. He stated that the river Godavari took its course from here and a dip in this sacred water would cleanse one’s sins. He gave an example of a certain sage Gautam, who, after having committed a sin by murdering a cow had bathed in this river and was washed clean. The brothers on their way up the mountain were exposed to the culture of the place; the beautifully carved caves, the staircases, the statues and the old uninhabited houses created an atmosphere of wonder. After reaching the source of the river Godavari and enjoying the cool breeze, the brothers came hopping down to head back home. As the brothers returned from their religious trek, a sense of awe gripped them as they pondered on the mystery of nature and that of the supernatural phenomenon. It was indeed an experience that they would never forget. The brothers realized that it was the faith of the people alone that helped them live on in life as they witnessed many a pilgrim trekking on to meet their God. Nelson Mudaliar sdb

LOVE CALLETH … LOVE SENDETH

MUMBAI JUNE 1, 2010 On the feast of the Visitation of Our Lady, Fr. Manuel, Fr. Santarita, Fr. Jeffery, Fr. James Tuscano, Fr. Cletus and Fr. Savio D’Souza gathered together at the Salesian Training Institute to commemorate twenty-five great years of living the Salesian call to holiness. With grateful hearts the jubilarians said, “God Tussi Great Ho!” as they echoed sentiments of thankfulness and praise to the Lord for choosing them to be humble instruments through which HE would work wonders in the lives of all to whom they would be Sent In Love. The jubilarians stated that the Lord had worked marvels in their lives. It was through Him alone that they could reach out to touch and transform the lives of many. They all believed that through these twenty-five years they had many ups and downs but the love that they received from their superiors, companions and friends encouraged them to persevere and be faithful to their vocation. They called the gathering to put their trust in Jesus and to bank on His love, for without Him they would be nothing. After the Eucharist, a short family circle was staged. A sumptous meal provided by the STI community enhanced the celebrations.