BIS # 1091 DB BORIVLI MARCHES FOR PEACE

Harry Menezes

BORIVLI, AUGUST 31, 2008: The students of the secondary section of Don Bosco High School, Borivli, held a Peace March on Auguat 29, to protest against the persecution of the Christian Community in Orissa. The Bishops’ Conference of India and the Archdiocese of Mumbai had instructed all Catholic Schools in Mumbai to be closed on August 29, 2008 as a mark of protest against the atrocities being carried out in the state of Orissa. The management, teachers and students of Don Bosco High School, Borivli, decided to go one step further and organized a peace march with the theme “We protest violence of any form”. The march was held all through the neighbourhood of the school. With the cooperation of the Mumbai Police, the march was orderly and peaceful and by 9.00 am, the students with their teachers and some parents, completed the march and gathered in the School Auditorium, for a short prayer meeting. Fr. Allwyn Misquita conducted the prayer session after the march and in his inspiring talk to the students he stressed the need for religious tolerance. He pointed out that ‘Humanity’ is the best religion. Always think and talk positively, he said, and you will find solutions to all your problems. The programme ended at 10.00 am and all involved returned home feeling satisfied that they had lived up to the dictum: “Don’t ask for change, be the change!”