Vivian D’Souza sdb JYOTI, FEBRUARY 25, 2009: The contemplative silence of Jyoti was shattered by the young excited altar servers trooping in from eleven parishes of the Vasai diocese, on the morning of February 23. Registration and division of teams was the first item on the programme. A whooping 411 youngst
ers were present for this grand event! The March Past was a colourful event, with each team vying to put up a good show with their attractive placards and mascots. Fr. Vivian D’Souza then welcomed the participants, animators and the youth who were on the organizing committee. This was followed by the lighting of the lamp by Fr. Blany Pinto, the altar servers’ invocation by one of the participants, a prayer for the altar servers, and the altar servers’ pledge recited by Fr. Bento D’Souza and repeated by all. Fr. Blany then declared the Rally open. The group was divided into 15 smaller groups and icebreaker were conducted for them by the Jyoti, Resurrection and Naigaon youth all over the sprawling campus. A snack break followed. The group then filled the Jyoti Church where they enthusiastically listened and participated in the Power Point Presentation by Fr. Blany. Through this presentation, interspersed with action songs, he familiarized them with the sacred books, vestments and articles used at the celebration of the Eucharist. Th
e celebration of the Eucharist, the high point of the day, then followed with the youth from all three parishes animating the liturgy and the singing. Lunch was followed by a cache of 26 fete games created, organized by the youth of the three Salesian institutions. Each parish group fought hard to secure valuable personal points for their respective parish. The fete games ranged from traditional to modern, from local to global and from culturally ethnic to technologically f
uturistic. The long awaited Box Cricket and Rink Football took centre stage in the next hour and a half, at the stadium especially designed at Jyoti. The youth of Virar then busied themselves counting up the points for the various activities and getting set for the Prize Distribution. The First Prize was awarded to Resurrection and the Runners-up prize went to Our Lady of Light, Jyoti. The Chief Guest for the evening was Fr Gregory D’Cunha who distributed the certificates and prizes. Thanks echoed across the gathering and brought this beautiful day to its fitting climax.
ers were present for this grand event! The March Past was a colourful event, with each team vying to put up a good show with their attractive placards and mascots. Fr. Vivian D’Souza then welcomed the participants, animators and the youth who were on the organizing committee. This was followed by the lighting of the lamp by Fr. Blany Pinto, the altar servers’ invocation by one of the participants, a prayer for the altar servers, and the altar servers’ pledge recited by Fr. Bento D’Souza and repeated by all. Fr. Blany then declared the Rally open. The group was divided into 15 smaller groups and icebreaker were conducted for them by the Jyoti, Resurrection and Naigaon youth all over the sprawling campus. A snack break followed. The group then filled the Jyoti Church where they enthusiastically listened and participated in the Power Point Presentation by Fr. Blany. Through this presentation, interspersed with action songs, he familiarized them with the sacred books, vestments and articles used at the celebration of the Eucharist. Th
e celebration of the Eucharist, the high point of the day, then followed with the youth from all three parishes animating the liturgy and the singing. Lunch was followed by a cache of 26 fete games created, organized by the youth of the three Salesian institutions. Each parish group fought hard to secure valuable personal points for their respective parish. The fete games ranged from traditional to modern, from local to global and from culturally ethnic to technologically f
uturistic. The long awaited Box Cricket and Rink Football took centre stage in the next hour and a half, at the stadium especially designed at Jyoti. The youth of Virar then busied themselves counting up the points for the various activities and getting set for the Prize Distribution. The First Prize was awarded to Resurrection and the Runners-up prize went to Our Lady of Light, Jyoti. The Chief Guest for the evening was Fr Gregory D’Cunha who distributed the certificates and prizes. Thanks echoed across the gathering and brought this beautiful day to its fitting climax.