Formed to be "Men for Others" - Graduation Day

10th July was a day to remember in the hearts of the Graduating students. "Forty Eight candles were shining brightly at the Loyola - Industrial Training Centre (ITC)" It was a pleasant experience to witness the unspoken feelings of gratitude in the Graduating students. The Chief guest at the function was Sri Belliappa ( Retd. Colonel, Indian Army). Fr William Sequeira (our Rector) along with Representatives from Mahendra & Mahendra company were the other distinguished guests. On this auspicious day, a new website for the Loyola ITC was launched by Fr William Sequeira, our Rector. The first year students enthused the gathering with their spectacular cultural program. The guests by their speeches encouraged and wished all success to the new Graduates. Truly, an unforgettable day for the graduates as it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience flooded with memories. Congratulations Fr John D'Souza, the Staff and students - indeed this day was a special one!

Guiding our "Angels" (First Probation)

Novitiate is a time where we cherish and enjoy many opportunities. One must not enter into the Novitiate in a hurry rather slowly detaching oneself from the noisy world outside. The First Probation is a time when this slow insertion into the Novitiate happens and the new Novices are placed under the care of a few of their Second Year companions who are appointed as 'Guides' (Anand, Ashwin, Alwyn, Joyson & Pradeep were the Guides during the First Probation) and they in turn introduce this new way of living to their 'Angels.' Here are the sentiments of two of those who were appointed as Guides this year.
Anand: I was appointed the Head Guide this year. Though it was a challenging task that was laid before me, I took it up with great courage and determination, trusting completely in God. It was a test for me to understand their temperament and deal with them. Most importantly, I had to be exemplary in my own lifestyle. The special task was to give a taste of the Novitiate and introduce them slowly to this way of life. I understood the pain and struggle involved in forming a person. I realized the role of parents in forming a child.
Joyson: I was given the opportunity to be a guide. What inspired me is the imagery of Jesus as a Shepherd. God bestows love and graces. The principle that motivated me was 'From each according to his capacity, to each according to his need.' God has indeed loved and shaped them through me. God led them to be instruments in my hands. It was a great experience to guide them. I remembered my own First Probation days. My angels had a lot to teach me.

My Vows Day

Prashanth Kumar: Our First Vows ceremony is indeed an unforgettable blessing in every Jesuit’s life. This is what I too longed for and prepared myself especially over the past two years. It was a humble act of surrender to the Divine. I was moved with a feeling of gratitude for all that the Lord had done for me and was now ready to ask Him, “What can I do in return?” Each word of the formula I uttered helped me to recall my vocation. These words were indeed filled with a divine energy and they hovered through my spirit. My vows have made my goals clearer and make me feel even more belonged to the Jesuit family.

Roshan Pinto: It was a day of commitment to the Lord and to the world, a day to remember the Annunciation to Mother Mary who said 'Yes' and received a Mission. It was time for me to sing deep in my being, “All to Jesus, I surrender.” These two years have been very significant in forming me because I feel humble and grateful to the Lord who has chosen me to be his companion. As I pronounced the Vows, a relationship developed with God, with the Society of Jesus, with creation and with fellow human persons. I feel blissful to belong to the Society of Jesus. This day has helped me create greater space in my heart for the values, virtues and companionship of Christ.

My Vows Retreat

Royston Pinto: “Falling in Love”

It all began with Jesus and his love; a love that gives, shares, cares, is alive, vibrant, warm and kind, a love that is unconditional and forever. I could share with the Lord, not so much through words but through feelings, thoughts and reflections. Whenever our Oasis of Love became dry, Fr Hilario filled it up with his Christ-like touch. There were obstacles for sure: a face of tension, heartaches, pain, confusion and weariness but all this challenged us. Our love for Christ could melt away every hurdle that came our way. We thank God for being with us always.

Wilson Fernandes: “Enriched with Christ’s Love”

Every big journey begins with a single step and my retreat proved to be that step for the journey for my Jesuit life. These days of silence and solitude have enriched me with Christ’s love. It was a time where I became one with the Lord in finding His will for me. It was also a time for me to beseech the graces that I needed for the life ahead of me. I feel blessed by God to become an effective instrument of service. I desire to share His love to all those who come into my life.

It’s all happening at the Loyola Institutions

“All study no games make a student Jack in the wonderland.” In order to derail the thread of monotony, we had a few inter-class friendly games which gave children a chance to expose their field talents and inspire others.

After failing twice Edmond Hilary challenged the Mount Everest ‘I will come again and conquer you because as a mountain you can’t grow but as a Human I can.’ This is what the students of Loyola have done who appeared for the SSLC supplementary exams. This year the Loyola High School has secured its highest ever results with 98% passes. The hard work of our Principal Fr Henry and that of our students too have finally yielded rich rewards.

“Life is a one way route, we can look back but we can’t go back, so enjoy every moment of your life,” was the message given by Fr Rector, as he celebrated his Sixtieth birthday along with the students, at the Loyola Institutions.

“The single finger which wipes out tears during our failure is much better than ten fingers that come together to clap for our victory.” We had the inaugural ceremony of the Student Council on 1^st July, where all the students took the oath with full gusto, all set to wipe out the tears of the rest.

‘While building your team always search for people who love to win, if it is difficult at least look for people who hate to loose.’ We had the PTA Annual General Body Meeting (AGBM) on 5^th July. Fr Henry presented the report to the parents while Fr John delivered the keynote address. At the end the new PTA committee was elected which will function over the next two years.

Entrance Day ( Welcome First Years)

Our hearts were filled with immense gratitude towards God on 19th June as fourteen (Arvind Royce, Ashwin Rebello, Avinash D'Souza, Dolwin Cutinha, George Pinto, Jaison Pais, Lawrence D'Souza, Mark Pereira, Noel Nazareth, Praveen Gonsalves, Rocky D'Souza, Roshan D'Souza, Shanthraj and Wilson Saldanha) new bright, sparkling, radiant and charming stars that came from different places joined the Novitiate. They journeyed together fruitfully through the First Probation (A time for a Novice to know and love God and the Society of Jesus and to commit oneself totally to Christ Jesus and His mission). It was the ‘Entrance Day’ for the freshers on 2nd July when they began their Second Probation in the Society of Jesus. We had a solemn Eucharistic celebration to commemorate this day. Fr William, our Rector, was the Main Celebrant. He preached an inspiring homily. After the Communion, a hymn was sung to the Holy Spirit followed by a prayer for the descent of the Holy Spirit. The freshers then recited "The prayer of a Novice on the Entrance day." Soon after the prayer, there was the ceremony of the laying of hands on the first year Novices by Frs William, Dion and Sunil. The Constitutions of the Society of Jesus were then handed over to each of them by Fr Dion while Fr Sunil gave them a picture of Jesus. “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” As the novices have taken the first step in the Society of Jesus, their presence has brought a lot of joy and happiness to our community.

"The Laying of Hands "

The ‘Entrance Day’ for the freshers was on 2nd July when they began their Second Probation in the Society of Jesus. We were nourished by the celebration of the Eucharist. After the Communion, a hymn was sung followed by a prayer for the descent of the Holy Spirit. The freshers then recited 'The prayer of a Novice on the Entance day.' Soon after the prayer, there was "the ceremony of the laying of hands" on the first year Novices. The imposition of hands has a 3-fold significance. Firstly, it is the gesture of invoking the gift of the Holy Spirit. Secondly, it is a symbol of welcoming a new entrant into the community. Thirdly, it reminds one of the mission s/he receives at Baptism.