BIS #4568 FATHER PROVINCIAL INSPIRES STUDENTS

by Ashwini Gupte

MUMBAI, SEP 21, 2015: Don Bosco High School, Matunga had a special visitor- the Bombay Salesian Society Provincial, Father Godfrey D'Souza, as part of his annual visitation on Sep 16.

Principal, Father Bernard Fernandes announced the jubilant news that the school was ranked  among the top 10 schools in the Mumbai East Zone by the Hindustan Times newspaper. 

Father Fernandes introduced the Provincial as a kind-hearted yet firm erudite gentleman, tech-savvy yet one who enjoyed the simple pleasures of life such as music and song.

Class IX C animated the morning assembly during the visitation. September 21, being International Day of Peace, the class depicted the real-life story of Sadako Sasaki and the thousand paper cranes. 

Sasaki, was a young Japanese victim of the Hiroshima bombings.  She was only two when the atomic bomb exploded less that 2 kms from her house. Though she had no visible injuries then, years later at 12, she was diagnosed with leukaemia-  attributed to the radiation exposure- to which she finally succumbed. 

While she was hospitalised for treatment, she spent all her time in bid to attain a wish, after the famous Japanese legend that promises to grant a wish to anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes.

For the assembly, class IX C, prepared a backdrop that displayed the image of her statue at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park which reads:This is our cry. This is our prayer. Peace in the world.

Provincial D'souza told the students that peace begins with each of us. Through the story of Abraham Lincoln, Father D'souza illustrated how we can destroy our enemy by winning him over with love.

Father D'souza then attended a cultural programme by the school's primary section. 

The visitation concluded with the Provincial meeting the staff, as well as the non-clerical staff.