T.
JOHN BOSCO PARISH
ST.
JOHN BOSCO PARISH
Parish Notices, 9th March, 2008
5th Sunday of Lent.
Tomorrow / today is the Fifth Sunday of Lent.
Tomorrow / today 9th March is the last day of Sunday School for all classes, except Std. IV and Std. XI. Std. IV and XI will conclude the Sunday School Classes on Sunday 16th of March. We shall have a few sessions after the exams are over as an immediate preparation to receive the sacrament. You shall be kept informed of the dates.
Tomorrow / today, there will be a meeting of all the parents of the confirmation children together with those who are receiving Confirmation, after the 9.15 a.m. Mass. Next Sunday 16th March, there will be a meeting of all parents of First Holy Communion Children after the 9.15 a.m. Mass.
15th March is the feast of St. Joseph, Husband of our Blessed Virgin Mary. 15th March evening, we also begin the Holy Week.
Next Sunday 16th March is Palm Sunday. The blessing of the palms will be done at the Basketball Court, after the 7.00 a.m. Mass and there after will proceed to the Church in procession.
We have made arrangement for all of you to receive the Sacrament of reconciliation on the 12th , 13th and 14th of March from 6.00 pm. to 8.30 p.m. Kindly avail of the facility and do not make the priests wait.
The next issue of our Parish bulletin, ‘Bosco Beams’, is scheduled to be published towards the Easter tide. You are requested to send in your news, views and articles latest by 15th March. You could send your articles directly to Mr. Anthony Fernandes. His E-mail address is printed on the back page of the previous issue.
Fr. Brian is organizing leadership and Vocation camps during the summer Holidays. For details please look up the notice board, and those interested, give their names to the Parish Priest.
The All Mumbai Walking Pilgrimage to Pray for peace will be held on 15th March 2008, starting at 10.30 p.m. and terminating at Mount Mary’s Basilica with the sacrifice of Mass at 5.30 a.m. Archbishop Oswald Cardinal Gracias will bless and flag off the pilgrimage. Bishop Bosco Penha will celebrate the Holy Eucharist.
The Bible Cell will meet tomorrow / today after the evening Mass
Thanks to Sisters of St. Anne’s for cleaning the Church this Saturday.
Next Saturday, the cleaning of the Church will be done by Mr. Robert Machado and his team from Gorai I ‘A’ zone.
The SVP members will be making their usual second Sunday collection after all the Masses.
The Holy Week programme leaflets are available at the entrance of the church. You are requested to collect one copy per family. The programme is also displayed on the notice board.
The Bombay Catholic Sabha had held a candle light vigil on 30th Jan. on martyr’s day, outside Salvation Church, Dadar. The second candle light vigil was held in over 45 parishes in Mumbai on Feb. 23rd. On Feb. 27th there was a boat blockade by the locals and supported by the BCS which forced Essel World to shut down for a day. The next big protest event will be held at Azad Maidan on 15th March 2008, from 3.00 p.m to 6.00p.m. Bp. Oswald Gracious will also be present for the same. The main issues at stake are:
1. Stop attacks of minorities
Scrap SEZ at Gorai – Uttan belt.
Stop land acquisitions including Sahar Church in the garb of Sahar Airport expansion plan.
As a sign of total solidarity all are requested to be dressed in full white or full black to form a combination of black and white. Every member of the BCS must attend this rally and it is / is a responsibility to see that their unit and members of the parish participate in this rally in large numbers.
A little explanation on the issues that we are fighting for will be in place.
1. The plan to make the common man’s picnic spot into a special entertainment zone for the benefit of the rich and the famous. This SEZ will displace over one lakh twenty five thousand people of their homes and livelihoods. No rehabilitation put in place. We ask development for whom? The Archbishop Cardinal Oswald Gracias in his official questioned this type of development and urged parishioners to reflect on such issues which are not for the common good.
2. Sahar Airport Expansion Plan.
Mumbai International Airport Authority (MIAL) a private company duly supported by the Government is hell bent on acquiring the Sahar Land including the Church which has a 400 years old history and the Graveyard. This additional land is not for the actual use of the airport expansion but will be used according to informed sources for Luxury Hotels, Malls, Convention Halls, special parking spaces etc. Should we be quiet enough to be displaced from our own homes and the Church because someone decides to build such amenities for private benefit. Over 3 lakh people are going to lose their homes and no proper rehabilitation plans put in place.
No acquisition of our Church and Sahar land is sour just demand.
Attacks on Minorities in different parts of the country.
Is it a crime to be a Christian and be treated worse than criminals, beaten and hounded from our own homes and our Churches vandalized and destroyed?
These issues and happenings, we feel are happening in some distant areas. But we need to take a stand and seek from the Government that is supposed to protect our lives and livelihoods to ensure that we are safe. If we don’t shout now it could be our turn next time.
This is a season of Lent, and as Christ suffered for us, we need to extend our hand in solidarity for those who are suffering because of misplaced and wrong policies. Christ broke His body for us and ultimately died on the cross so that we may have salvation. We are only urging you to join in solidarity.
Hence the call to gather in large numbers will send a right signal to the Government to protect our interests, Which is their constitutional duty and responsibility.
As Bob Marley sang:
Get up! Stand up! Stand up for our rights! Get up! Stand up! Don’t give up the fight!
The SCC will meet as follows:
10th March, Yogi North, at the residence of Mrs. Claudina Pinto
11th March, Gorai I, at the residence of Mr. Alban Koli
12th March, Yogi South, at the residence of Mr. Victor G. Noronha
13th March, Gorai II, at the residence of Mrs. Diana Rosario
13th March, New MHB, at the residence of Mrs. Connie Martis
13th March, Eksar, at the residence of Mr. Agnelo Dias
14th March, Old MHB, at the residence of Mrs. Vilma Dantis
14th March, L.T. Road, at the residence of Mr. Vincent Pinto
14th March, Babhai, at the residence of Mr. Valerian D’mello
15th March, St. Anne’s, at the residence of Mrs. Charlotte Alva
Last Sunday’s collection was Rs. 17,250/- God bless you for your generosity.
PARISH PRIEST