Fr. Joaquim Fernandes sdb
MATUNGA, FEBRUARY 06, 2012: The book entitled "Nurturing Presence – A Spirituality for Educators based on the Pedagogical Insights of Don Bosco and Carl Rogers" by Kenneth Pereira; sdb was officially released by Rev. Fr. Edwin D'souza, Rector of the Shrine of Don Bosco's Madonna, Matunga, during the mass celebrated on the occasion of Don Bosco's feast at Matunga. This book is authored by Fr. Kenneth Pereira, a Salesian priest who holds Masters Degree in Philosophy, Theology and now earned a Master of Spirituality degree at St. Peter's Pontifical Institute in Bangalore. This book is a reworked version of the dissertation that he submitted there.
Speaking on this occasion Fr. Joaquim Fernandes, Director of Tej-Prasarini, Don Bosco Communications appreciated the painstaking efforts of the team involved, namely: Ms. Verona Vaz (Proof-reading), Ms. Rochelle Rodricks (Formatting, Layout and DTP) and Mr. William Fernandes of Intouch Graphics (Designing the cover and printing the book). I wish to express my sincere and heartfelt thanks to our Provincial Rev. Fr. Micheal Fernandes sdb for forwarding Fr. Kenneth Pereira's dissertation to our department and to disseminate the publication for the secular world. I like to thank Fr. Edwin D'Souza, Rector of the Shrine for giving us the opportunity to release the book on the festive day. My heartfelt thanks also to the staff of Tej-Prasarini, Don Bosco Communications.
Nurturing Presence - While much has been written on the means of bringing about the integral growth of the young, comparatively little has been written about the concomitant growth of those who regularly deal with them, namely parents, educators and youth workers. This book will hopefully fill that lacuna. The growth-oriented vision that this book offers is a blend of ideas and insights from Don Bosco and Carl Rogers, tracing their origins to the Bible itself. The common thread that runs through the entire book is the theme of nurturing presence.
His Eminence Cardinal Oswald Gracious, Archbishop of Bombay commenting on the book written by Kenneth Pereira states "This book is written in elegant language, this book navigates through various disciplines: Spirituality, Scripture, Philosophy, Theology, Psychology and Pedagogy, weaving them into a 'seamless robe' for all educators to wear. This book shows how the pedagogical insights of Don Bosco, the great educationist of the nineteenth century, can be made relevant for our times and circumstances by supplementing them with some of the ideas of Carl Rogers, the famed twentieth century American Psychologist."
Fr. Kenneth is presently in Don Bosco Baroda, as Rector and Parish Priest. Due to his commitments in the Parish he was unable to attend this inaugural programme. Fr. Edwin Dsouza presented the first copy of the book to Ms. Lea Pereira, mother of Fr. Kenneth Pereira. She has nurtured two of her sons as priests in the Salesian province of Mumbai. She told Kenneth if God is calling you to serve him Say a big Yes.
Don Bosco's preventive system of education calls for a spirit of total dedication and availability. Parents/Teachers/Educators cannot withdraw into a sphere of their own private pursuits by appealing to fixed working hours. He must present himself without any mask, as he is, as a friend among friends. One also needs the commitment to update oneself intellectually, in the interest of relevance and of competence to deal with the needs of the young. Don Bosco used to say to his boys: For you I study, for you I work, for you I live; for you I am ready even to give my life! .
The cost of the book is Rs. 250/- but as a special offer, the book will be available with twenty percent discount if purchased on or before February 29, 2012.
For further details kindly contact: Tej-Prasarini, Don Bosco Communications, Matunga, Mumbai 400019. Tel.: 02221450680/65007840. E-mail: tej_dbc@vsnl.net, Website: www.tejonline.com