BIS # 4414 SALESIAN BROTHERS MEET AT DAKOR


by Cl. Jerome Aruldass Edison

DAKOR-GUJARAT, MARCH 25, 2015: The Salesian Brothers of the Mumbai Province met together for their animation programme in Don Bosco Dakor, Gujarat. The brothers meet was held for three days from March 21-23, 2015. The meet was founded on the theme 'SALESIANS BE HOLY.' Eleven Salesian brothers attended the programme to explore their Salesian Vocation, Charism through their witness. 


This meet was prioritized on the 1st and 3rd Resolutions of the Brothers Congress. They were a) to pay greater attention to regular personal and community prayer, using the word of God as a springboard for our renewal and growth and
b) To commit ourselves to a personal plan of integral growth in the area of spiritual, intellectual, socio-emotional balance, physical development and of the cultivation of skills that serve our apostolic commitments.
 
On March 21, 2015 Fr. Godfrey D' Souza the Provincial of Mumbai Province celebrated the Holy Eucharist for the boarding children and the Salesian Brothers. He blessed and congratulated the Salesian Brothers for the gift of their vocation which is unique. Fr. Godfrey took the inaugural session whereby he stressed the importance on-'What is consecration for you as a religious.' His video on the witness of consecrated men and women edified the fact that consecration is being joyful.


During his talk he exhorted us to be men of God, to support one another in all aspects and a have a listening ear (Primacy of the Word). He further enlightened us on personal and community prayer. Community life needs fraternal give and take without any gossip. "We must shift from a life in common to a communion of life.  We should serve the young with the heart of Don Bosco."



Fr. Wilfred D'Souza, the Rector of Don Bosco, Matunga took the next session on the 'Year of Consecrated Life.' He emphasized on 'how we can Wake up the World through Peace, Love, Joy and Hope of the lord filled in our heart'. His session stressed the first resolution. He focussed on Pope Francis' message for the year of consecrated life.
-    Look at the past (charism) with gratitude
-    Live the present with passion (radically and sincerely)
-    Embrace the future with Hope. 

He spoke on the expectations for the year on consecrated life. In his talk, he maintained that a religious must be joyful, prophetic, experts in communion and going out to the existential peripheries. Chiefly he observed that 'You will find life by giving life, hope by giving hope and love by giving love.'


Fr. Isaac Arackaparambil the Rector of Don Bosco, Dakor took the session titled primacy of God in our lives related to the first resolution on March 22, 2015. He spoke on the things that keep us away from giving God prime place (power and violence, money, careerism, worldliness). The key quality sort in every religious is whether he or she is 'a person of God.' Holiness and primacy of God is for all. The reason for joining religious life is personal growth, community building and mission (bringing God's love to people as Jesus did).  At the culmination of the second day the brothers once again met together to have a comprehensive vision on their personal plan and project of life as a Salesian Brother. The final day of the meeting was animated by Mr. Prasad Chacko in connection to the third resolution. Mr. Prasad offered useful 'Management Tips in Social Action.'