ASH WEDNESDAY


ASH WEDNESDAY

The Catholic boys of the school together with the Religion teachers assembled in the school hall for the Ash Wednesday Eucharistic celebration. The season of Lent, which the churches keep, begins on Ash Wednesday and continues for forty days.

The number forty is a Biblical number. It reminds one of Noah and the ark, when God let it rain for forty days and forty nights; the forty years that the people of Israel wandered through the wilderness; the forty days and nights that Jesus spent in the desert before he began his public ministry. 

The church gives us these forty days to prepare ourselves through almsgiving, prayer and fasting. 

It is a time of personal conversion, building a personal relationship with God, neighbour and self.

At the end of the mass the ashes were put on the foreheads of all those who were present.


Let us spend this time well to renew and rebuild our lives; remember God allows U-Turns.

God bless!

BACKYARD LAWNS' INVITATION


BACKYARD LAWNS

It was indeed a surprise outing and invitation for the youngsters of Dominic Savio’s by Mr. Anthony Gomes, the owner & proprietor of ‘Backyard Lawns’ at St. Peter’s Church, Bandra.

Mr. Gomes, a good benefactor of the Institution, wanted to celebrate the two events: the Silver Jubilee of Profession of Fr. Edwin and the Birthday of Bro. Roshan and especially to give the youngsters a good time. 

The boys were excited and that could be seen on their faces as it glowed!

The setting was indeed exotic, with trees and lights and sound to give it an atmosphere of celebration and joy. We were all delighted to be part of this surprise. As soon as we entered, we were greeted by Mr. Aniceto Gomes, another good benefactor of the Institution, Mr. Anthony Gomes and his dad Mr. Gomes.


The boys were then treated to starters that consisted of pani-puri; mini dosas, chicken tikka, veg cutlets, chicken kababs and some cool drinks to quench their thirst.

After a couple of rounds of starters, we had a short but sweet program. A couple of songs were sung by the DS Boys in Harmony with Mr. Haydn Dias their choir master playing the guitar. The DS Boys sang, ‘Guardian Angel, Your Raised me Up and Words’. The senior boys had a dance ready while the juniors danced to desi boys. 

An address expressing our thanks and gratitude to Mr. Anthony Gomes and his family was read out by Master Leon D'Souza.

With us were also a group of Senior citizens of the parish who were very entertained by the performance of our boys.

Fr. Edwin Colaco, Bro. Roshan Gonsalves, Mr. Haydn Dias and Fr. Godfrey joined in the dancing with the boys as the boys wanted us to be part of the dance. It was fun and they enjoyed having us around them doing the jig with them.

At five minutes to ten, we had the singing of Congratulations and then the Birthday song for Fr. Edwin & Bro. Roshan and the cutting of the cake and tasting it too. Fr. Edwin led the group in prayer, once again thanking the benefactors, Mr. Anthony Gomes, his dad and family and Mr. Aniceto Gomes for playing hosts and having us over with all out boys.

The dinner was indeed a banquet with a vast spread: biryani, chicken curry, fish fry, and pork; there was also a non-veg counter for the veggies and a large salad spread. The boys did have a wonderful time and ate to their heart’s content. The crowning point was the dessert with the chocolate fountain which the boys relished.

Some of the seniors who had gathered together began singing oldies and mandos and a number of our boys joined in the singing. Some of them were prominent members of St. Peter's Parish. Mr. Clarence Gomes, the Editor of Bandra Times was also one of those prominent citizens of the parish together with a few others.

It was time to say our good-byes and so we gathered together for a group photograph thanking God for this wonderful evening that the youngsters enjoyed and would remember for a long time.

Thank you Mr. Anthony Gomes and Mr. Aniceto Gomes for making this possible and making the evening so beautiful for our youngsters.

God bless you!

FAREWELL TO THE X STANDARD STUDENTS


FAREWELL TO THE X STANDARD STUDENTS

On Wednesday, 15th February 2012, the school organized a farewell for the X standard students. It was taken up by the IX standards.

There were a few prayers said on behalf of and for the out-going students and for all the lovely moments spent in Dominic Savio's all these years. 

A couple of meaningful songs were sung by some of the boys of the IX.

Fr. Crispino the Principal spoke to the X standard students giving them a few cues to life and living.




Master Partha Surve spoke on behalf of the X standard students and delivered a beautiful speech mingled with quite some humour and wit.

Fr. Godfrey the Rector helped the X standard run through the years of studying in DS and all that they learned. He asked them to carry with them the principles of right living as they have been taught in the school. 'Your parents,' he said, 'sent you to Dominic Savio's to make men out of boys.' 

Christopher & Sherwin entertained the crowd with a couple of their hit numbers dressed up as clowns to lighten up the spirits.

A beautiful short clip on the students and a message from most of the teachers was prepared by Master Shantanu Naik of the IX standard.


At the end, a bookmark was distributed to each of the out-going X standard students and a small plate of snacks.

Fare thee well my friends! and Good bye!

BRO. ROSHAN GONSALVES' BIRTHDAY


BRO. ROSHAN GONSALVES' BIRTHDAY

It was a long weekend for most of the boarders as they went home on Wednesday the 15th February after class and came back on Monday, 20th February to celebrate Bro. Roshan Gonsalves’ birthday in the evening.

At 7.00 pm we had the Eucharistic celebration to pray for Bro. Roshan and his intentions. After the Eucharistic celebration we had a short but sweet entertainment in the recreation hall. The two comperes did an excellent job. The DS Boys in Harmony sang a couple of songs and one of them most appropriate for the occasion, ‘Guardian Angel’ singing it especially for Bro. Roshan as he has been a guardian angel to the boys.

The junior group put up a dance and a skit. A brief but meaningful and apt address was read out for Bro. Roshan expressing in it what the boarders thought of him and what he meant to them in the boarding.

Fr. Godfrey the Rector in his speech thanked Bro. Roshan for his availability for the boys and his patience with them in trying to get them to grow up to be men of character.

Bro. Roshan in his speech first thanked the Almighty for the marvels worked in his own life and then thanked his parents and family. He said that he continued to find meaning in life in the Salesian congregation and was delighted to be in a loving community at Dominic Savio’s.

At the end of the program, some of the boys who had prepared some home-made cards presented the same to him and we all went for dinner.

Many Happy Returns of the Day Bro. Roshan! God bless You!

STAFF PICNIC


STAFF PICNIC

The school staff went for their annual picnic to Boscowadi, Uttan on Friday, the 17th February 2012. It was a long and winding way going down to the beach and were welcomed with music and coconut water to refresh our picnic spirits!

Boscowadi managed and maintained by the Salesian community of Bosco Boys’ Home, Borivali, is well laid out with lush green surroundings, coconut plantations, a beautiful swimming pool, a hall and of course also the beach.

The teachers after having toured the place, were offered a beautiful burgee pav breakfast with chutni sandwiches.

After breakfast some went for a stroll to the beach while others began a game of throw ball, the ladies versus the gents. Of course the gents won in spite of the ladies trying their best to confuse the referee with the scoring.

At 12.30 pm we went in for karaoke singing with Pamela leading the singing and all taking turns. It was wonderful getting back to the oldies and some of the staff took to the floor to dance and jig their way around.

In the meantime starters went around and indeed ‘all was good’. The lunch too was excellent.

Some, a very few in fact, ventured to swim in the sea and some in the swimming pool to cool the spirit in the already chilly waters.

The games, dog-n-d-bone; dumb charade etc were organized by Miss Valerie and it was fun watching all participate and enjoy themselves.

All good things come to an end and so did the day of fun-n-frolic. The evening ended with kanda bhajee and a cup of chai and a trek up the slope to catch the bus.


We look forward to our next picnic next year!