Deepen Your Faith Course
The Deepen Your Faith Course 2011-2012 will have its closing session on March 3, 2012 at St Andrew College Chapel at 5.30 pm. (Please note the change in timing.) There will be a short recollection followed by celebration of the Eucharist and distribution of Certificates. The chief guest will be Fr Lancy Pereira.
Lenten Bible Course
“Following in the footsteps of the Master!” - this Course will study St Mark’s Gospel, taught by Dr Renu Silvano OCV and Fr Fio Mascarenhas SJ, every Friday evening, 6.30 pm to 8 pm, beginning March 2, and ending on March 31, at the Catholic Bible Institute, 56 Hill Road, Bandra (W). Only 25 seats are available, so register soon (Call 2642 7648 or 98196 015620).
Christian Meditation Silent Lenten Retreat
Fr Charles Rodrigues, sj, Asst. Novice Master of the Jesuit Province of Chicago-Detroit USA will conduct a two-day Open Silent Retreat for the Community of Christian Meditators on Saturday-Sunday, March 3 and 4, 2012, at St Joseph’s Primary School Hall, Bandra from 9.30 am to 5 pm on both days. It will focus on a Lenten Theme and will include a period of silent meditation after each discourse. The Eucharist will be celebrated on Sunday.The cost is Rs 350/- per participant. Register and confirm participation on or before February 29, 2012 with any of the following: Bernadette - 2534 8281, Christopher - 2422 7551, Deborah - 2649 8986, Gemma - 98205 97543, Hector - 98205 31077 or e-mail: wccm2010@gmail.com. No registrations will be accepted after this date.
Workers’ Lenten Recollection
The Christian Workers Movement of the Archdiocese of Bombay is organising a Workers’ Lenten Recollection on the theme, “Witnessing Christ’s Love @ Work” on Sunday, March 18, at Joseph Cardijn Technical School, Khashaba Jadhav Marg, Next to Bhoiwada Police Station, near St Paul’s Church, Dadar, Mumbai 400 014 from 9.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. The Recollection will be conducted by Fr Jervis D’Souza, Additional Secretary to the Archbishop of Bombay. The programme will begin with the Eucharistic Celebration at 9.30 am and continue with the Lenten Recollection and conclude with lunch. There is no charge for the Recollection which is open to Catholics of all parishes of Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane and Raigad and also for Catholics of other dioceses too. Kindly register before Sunday, March 11, 2012 with Cajetan D’Souza on 86524 42560 or Willie Rodrigues on 98203 33201 or Macbeth D’Souza on 98701 48336 or e-mail secretary@cwmbombay.jislaaik.com
Stations of the Cross for Office-goers at Bandra
A 15-minutes Way of the Cross is being organised every Friday at 1.15 pm at St Joseph the Worker Church, Bandra (E). The church is located at a driving distance of 5-7 minutes from Asian Heart Hospital, Bandra Station (E) and Vakola. This service will be convenient for the office-goers of Bandra-Kurla Complex and adjoining areas.This service has been made possible through the efforts of the BKC Catholic Office-goers Association and the cooperation of the Parish Priest, Fr Xavier Amirtham, O. Praem, the Superior of the Nobertine community in Mumbai. The association can be contacted at bkc.cath.assn@gmail.com
Cardinal Asks Priests to Bridge Rich-Poor Gap
Cardinal Oswald Gracias, head of the Catholic Church in India, has urged priests to make a “conscious option” for the poor. “We have two ‘Indias’ and the priests should build a bridge between the two,” the Cardinal said at the Mass that started the annual meeting of the Conference of the Diocesan Priests of India. He regretted that the country’s progress has benefited only the rich who have “everything”, while the poor continue to live in inhuman conditions with no access to education and the minimum facilities.“We can make a difference to them. We have to make a conscious option for the poor,” he added. The February 14-16 annual meeting has chosen the theme, “New Evangelisation: Its Meaning, Relevance and Ways of Doing in India.” A week earlier, Cardinal Gracias had led the Indian bishops’ search for ways to help the Church contribute to the creation of a better India. “Go back committed with good ideas to change India,” he encouraged the priests, who met in Mumbai. He commended the priests for working together and helping one another. He contrasted it with the scenario of bomb attacks, explosions and violence. “Terrorism is an expression of dissatisfaction” over the unethical exploitation of the poor in the name of progress.He asserted that the world needs priests to build “a kingdom of justice, peace and equality” in society. The Church leader urged the priests to imbibe the example of the dedicated, selfless and courageous apostles to build a better India. The Cardinal urged priests to take the laity into confidence in evangelisation work. “We should be conscious that the laity is also the Church,” he reminded the priests. “The laity is our strength. We should not see them as problems, but as opportunities. We must empower them,” he added.
‘Ministry of The Word’ Commissioning
‘Behold, I am doing a New Thing’ was the theme of a spirit-filled event, the commissioning of 31 ‘Ministers of the Word’ (MOW) held at St Pius X College (Goregaon, Mumbai) on Bible Sunday February 19, 2012. The day commenced with a Holy Hour, followed by the Holy Eucharist celebrated by His Grace, Emeritus Archbishop Raphael Cheenath. The Archbishop very beautifully expounded the readings of the day and connected it with the theme and his experiences in Kandhamal. The Mass included an oath taken by all 31 commissioned MoW students, as they placed their right hand on the Bible, representing their commitment to teaching the Word of God through Bible Study in their respective parishes. Post-Mass, a felicitation programme was conducted by the current batch members in honour of the newly commissioned ones. The theme of the day was brought out beautifully by the backdrop, a blend of dance, skits and mesmerising singing. Fr Roland, the Coordinator of the MOW programme, gave a brief report of the activities of the previously commissioned Ministers in the year 2011. Applications are open for the new batch that will begin on Sunday June 3, 2012. For details, contact Fr Roland Fialho, Goregaon Seminary (Tel: 2927 1217, 2927 1554, 2927 1560).
See glance of Mow Commissioning
See glance of Mow Commissioning
Programme for Mixed Married Couples
The Family Cell of St Anthony Parish, Malwani conducted a programme for Mixed Married couples of all ages on January 26, 2012. Family Cell members personally met the Mixed Married Couples in the parish, with invitations. 60 couples and 15 singles of different faiths, one of the partners being a Catholic, participated in the event along with the Family Cell members and Fr Ajit Bandekar, Parish Priest and Spiritual Director of the Family Cell. Fr Reuben Tellis celebrated the Holy Eucharist at 5.30 pm; he stressed on the importance of mutual trust and confidence among the spouses. Couples renewed their marriage vows of love and commitment during the Mass. The liturgy was animated both in Hindi and English. Later, a get-together was held.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Passion Retreat
From Friday March 30, (7.30 am) to Sunday April 1, (6 pm) 2012 at Vinayalaya, Andheri (E), behind Holy Family Church, Chakala. OPEN TO ALL. Conducted by the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, Mumbai. Registrations open at the CCR Office, Dadar. - Tel. 2430 3626 / 2421 0881.
Don Bosco Summer Camps 2012
Camp I : Youth Pasch, Don Bosco Lonavla. Live and celebrate your faith (An Easter experience) for college and working youth (boys and girls) from April 4 – 8, 2012. Camp II : Bosco Mission Camp, Gujarat. Make a difference, celebrate culture (only for boys) – Post X onwards from April 12 – 17, 2012.Camp III : Bosco Leadership Camp, Boscowadi, Uttan. Lead your life to greatness (only for boys) – Std. VIII to X from April 20 – 23. Camp IV : Bosco Vocation Camp, Don Bosco Lonavla. Discern your call in life (only for boys) – Post- Std X onwards from May 2 - 6, 2012. Camp V : BOSCO VOCATION CAMP, Don Bosco Lonavla. Discern your call in life (only for boys) – Std. VIII & IX from May 8 – 11, 2012. Contact: Fr Brian Moras sdb (98205 14721) / Fr Glenford Lowe sdb (96196 99940). Don Bosco Youth Services (DBYS), Matunga (E), Mumbai 400019, Tel: 65291129/24154477 E-mail: dbysmatunga@gmail.com
Atma-Darshan Lenten Programmes:
Psycho-Spiritual Inner Healing Retreat …….……March 2 – 4(For Laity, Priests & Religious)Meditation For God Experience and Healing……March 9 – 11(For Laity, Priests & Religious)Spiritual Growth Retreat ……………………….....March 16 – 18(For Laity, Priests & Religious)Stress Management …………………………….. March 23 – 25(For Laity, Priests & Religious)Preached Retreat…………………………………. March 25 – 31( For Priests & Religious only)Contact: Atma-Darshan/ SVD Fathers, Gyan Ashram Campus, Mahakali Caves Road, Andheri (E), Mumbai-93. Ph: 2836 3120 / 2824 2419.
Annual Thanksgiving Mass for the Blind
THE CATHOLIC ASSOCIATION FOR THE BLIND will be holding its Fifth Annual Thanksgiving Mass on February 26, 2012 at 10 am at St Francis Xavier Church, Parksite Colony, Vikhroli (W), Mumbai. All Visually Impaired are invited to attend this Mass followed by a get-together. Contact Flora Ferraz – 2895 3803 (Hon. Secretary).
XIE’s Prayas Event
On the occasion of the Annual ‘PRAYAS’ Event and to usher in its Diamond Jubilee, St Xavier’s Institute of Education, Churchgate, is staging ‘MAMMA MIA’ (an adapted version) on Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at 6 p.m. at Patkar Hall, New Marine Lines. Passes are available at the College Office. Tel: 2201 4666/ 2201 4667 Cell: 98691 60043.
