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January 26, 2017We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a happy and Sprit-filled joyful New Year 2017. May the Infant Jesus bring you all good health and happiness throughout this year to be born. At this moment we whole-heartedly express our sincere gratitude and love for all what you are to the Sister Parish - the tremendous concern shown and all the necessary financial aids rendered for the growth and development of all the activities of the Kundukulam Parish including Primary and High School. We are always grateful for the St. Joseph’s Parish family, Moorhead as they regularly pray for us throughout the week during Rosary Prayer. The community of Sacred Heart, Kundukulam assures you all our daily prayers and you are always in our thoughts and prayers.
Appreciation and prizes go to a sub-station: Towards the end of October every year while commemorating the month as the month of Rosary, in a sub-station named Suravanthi, a few people and children are selected and given prizes on the basis of their regular attendance and piety. It is an exercise of encouraging and promoting spiritual activities of the faithful. Some school children show active participation in Rosary and night prayer. The pictures sent reveal you of this practice.
“Diwali” celebration:
Diwali is one of the biggest Hindu festivals in India. It is also known as the festival of lights signifying the victory of light over dark, good over evil, knowledge over ignorance and hopes over despair. It is also celebrated by Sikhs and Jains. Families will share gifts with neighbours and friends and it is customary to give to those in need. There are several legends behind the festival and it is celebrated in different ways in different parts of the country. In solidarity with our Hindu Brethren the Christians also join them in their happiness especially the children love to participate in the fireworks. You see in the photos sent via e-mail indicate how our village children celebrate it. This year this feast was celebrated on 30 th October.
All Souls Day:
On November 2 the faithful of each parish sub-station started cleaning the cemetery on the previous day and tried to decorate each grave with flowers. The Church prays for, and remembers, the faithful departed throughout the entire year and offers requiem masses up for the faithful departed in the state of purification. Masses were celebrated in each village as the Parish priest had arranged for priests in advance. It was lovely to see and witness in each village cemetery the faithful offered prayers on behalf of their departed relatives and friends. The pictures sent will show how people celebrated All Souls’ Day mass in their own villages.
Children’s Day:
India’s first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, was born on November 14. Besides his skills as a statesman he was very fond of Children. He visualized that the children are the future of a Nation and they need utmost care. They win over our hearts with their angelic eyes and innocent smiles. Nehru wished that his birthday to be celebrated as Children’s Day. Since his death in 1963, his birthday is being celebrated as children's Day in India. So the Children’s Day is dedicated to the children of India. Our children in the school celebrated this day and remembered the Nation’s first prime Minister and organized a cultural programme. The photos taken indicate the celebration of the day.
Fr. Britto meets the Islamic leaders in the nearby Town:
One of the neighbouring Muslim Headmasters of the Higher Secondary Schools received the ‘State Good Teacher Award’ by the Government of Tamilnadu. Fr. Britto was invited to felicitate him in the function and delivered a thought provoking speech. After the function the Islamic leaders in the town wished to have a small meeting with him. It was an informal and enriching gathering and all the Islamic leaders participated in the gathering expressed their desire to convene often such kind of gatherings to promote peace and happiness and to strengthen the mutual relationships. Fr Britto thanked them on their kindness and appreciation. The photos sent may illustrate better that event.
‘Anbiam’ – prayer meeting in a house:
On the first Sunday of December one of the two Anbiam groups (basic ecclesial communities formed in the local village) had organized a prayer meeting in one of their houses. Almost all the members of that group including children gathered together in union and sang devotional songs invoking Holy Spirit to guide them in prayer. A few nuns of the local convent also participated and guided them. This kind of prayer done in small group enhances their mode of spirituality and creates awareness among them about the daily need of prayer. It also induces a kind of sensitivity among the small children who attend this prayer group to make intercessions on their own following the example of the elders who pray. The purpose of this kind of prayer group is to bring peace, unity and better understanding and to lead a happy life in the village. The Parish Priest is well pleased about this group. You will find such groups praying together in a house are being shown in the photos sent.
Christmas Carols:
The highlight of every Christmas season is the arrival of Santa to each sub-station. People do expect eagerly every year along with their children to receive Santa bringing sweets into their villages. They were more excited and nervous to receive Santa and shook hands with him. The Parish Priest had arranged well the Christmas carols with the co-operation of Nuns, the choir and the little children. The local volunteers and the village leaders were very helpful in arranging transport to accommodate the group in three vans to go into all Parish villages singing Christmas songs melodiously. Mr. Savarimuthu, an active member of the Parish as well Vincent de Paul Society played Santa’s role and entertained all the children and elders gathered in the roadsides and streets. Everybody was delighted to hear the message of Santa and tried to dance with them. The interesting episode happened in some villages were dancing of the turkey and chicks and the cattle according to the tune of Santa’s singing and dancing. Some pictures sent illustrate such kind of interesting scenes. The Christmas carols were appreciated by all the villagers including Hindus who live close to the Christians.
Primary School Project:
The Primary School project is completed with the enormous generosity shown by the Sister Parish Community and it now looks blooming. The Children are zealously waiting for the arrival of Shawn in their midst to enter solemnly in the New Year 2017. We all thank the Sister Parish Community to make it possible for our dear children to have a beautiful atmosphere in learning their skills and education in a new renovated building. Thanks to Fr. Dr. Michael Raj, our Diocesan Procurator for his constant encouragement and guidance.
A HEARTY WELCOME SHAWN TO OUR INCREDIBLE INDIA
On behalf of our dear Bishop Most Rev. Dr. Susaimanickam, and Fr. Dr. Michael Raj, the Procurator of the Diocese, all the Parishioners of Sacred Heart and the Staff and the students of both Primary and High School, the local Nuns and the Vincent de Paul Society we whole heartedly welcome Shawn and Fr. John Melkies in our midst on the first of January, 2017.
Have a safe journey! God bless!
Fr. Dr. Britto