by Andrea Gonsalves
MUMBAI, AUG 26, 2017: Teachers from St. Dominic Savio School, Andheri, at their annual retreat that took place on August 21, were urged to focus on the happiness, 
holiness and spiritual quotient in a bid to become better educators and human beings.
Father Cletus D'Souza, the main speaker at the retreat, at the onset, sought to explain the word 'retreat' to the audience. He said that the audience must 'Re' – 'Treat' their ambitions and methods to achieve their end. "As educator's we need to bring out the best from our children. We need to have an attitude of gratitude," he said.
He explained the need for a 3-moment capsule, which essentially means everyone must 'Thank God', 'Say Sorry'- admitting mistakes and 'Ask God'. "If we have 'No God', we have no peace, and if we 'Know God' then we can have peace," he added.
He then advised the audience to avoid situations that lead to anger. "The word 'danger' is one letter away from 'anger," he said. Father D'Souza encouraged staff to follow a triple eight concept, where by they must have eight hours of sleep, eight hours of work and eight hours of family, friends, fun and frolic.
He requested teachers to maintain a journal and to make note on the day spent. "An unreflected life is not worth living," he said. Teachers were given hand-outs and were made to reflect on a self-portrait.
Father D'Souza also addressed the concept of 'fear' and 'space', essentially elaborating that fear could mean F-false, E-motion, A-ppearing, R-real and S-special, P-eople, A-round, C-aring, E-ndless.
During the retreat, Father D'Souza taught teachers how to pray and reflect on their lives using 5 fingers. Firstly, the thumb – closet to our hearts, the pointer – mentoring and guiding, the middle finger – authority (leaders), the ring finger - for love and the little finger - to guide little ones.