Kho-Kho Winners

The high school has a reason to cheer. The first sport event that was held for this academic year has raised our hopes for greater things. The girl’s Kho-Kho team has come out victorious in the event held by “Young Pioneers Sports Club ®.” It was a district level inter-school competition. The winning team has got to its credit Rs. 10,000/- cash award as well. Two of our students have got individual prizes too. One was chosen as the Best Defender and the other one as the Best All Rounder who also received a cash of Rs 5,000/-. We congratulate our children.

Getting the Parents Together

Getting the parents together was one of the aims of Fr Henry Saldanha S J. That came true on 27^th of this month. The parents of primary, high school and college were called for a gathering. The response really surprised us. In the beginning Fr Henry, the principal, explained the aims and objectives of having this meeting. The parents were asked to join their hands in building a better society. Speaking at the occasion, the acting Rector, Fr Dion said, it is not only the responsibility of the school to form the children in human values but also the parents have a greater role to play. We need citizens who spread love, peace and harmony and not violence. While addressing the parents Fr Henry S J said, we need the support of the parents who are ready to spend their time, energy and above all valuable suggestions. The parents were really impressed by the efforts of the school which was so much visible in the way they volunteered to be part of Parent Teacher Association (PTA). We are sure lot of things will happen in the days to come with the active participation of the dedicated staff as well as the parents.

Inter-Novitiate Seminar on Prayer

“Prayer and Prayer Methods”: A 3-day Inter-Novitiate seminar was organized at Mount St Joseph. 102 novices of the C.R.I Bannerghatta zone from 8 different men and women religious congregations (Holy Trinity Ashram, Holy Mary Convent, Holy Spirit Convent, Joseph Nivas, FSI Novitiate, Alverna Novitiate, La Salle Arpana Nivas & Mount St Joseph) attended this seminar. The resource persons were Frs Dion and Sunil, who along with a textual overview (theory inputs) gave us personal experiences as well as a number of practical sessions. Indeed we novices have benefited a lot from this seminar and it has redefined our approach to prayer. The best is often at the last. The seminar concluded with a panel discussion in which all the novice directors and novice

directresses were invited. They answered our doubts and problems that we generally face in our prayer life. The highlight of the seminar was the panel discussion. All the novices were nourished spiritually, intellectually and emotionally. It was time for our novices to interact with the novices of other religious congregations. Some are already looking forward to many more inter-novitiate seminars/courses of this kind! Above all, the seminar was really fruitful and full of deepening insights.

Graduates from Loyola ITI

(Contributed by Mr Prabhu Lawrence
1st year M M V student)

The management, staff and in particular junior students felt mixed feeling as we bid good bye to our graduates. The solemn graduation ceremony was held in the ITI premises on 21st July. Over 60 students from four different trades moved out of this college. To grace the occasion we had local eminent personalities. The whole day was set aside for various activities. In the morning we had matches and in the afternoon formal programme as well as cultural programmes. Students who had excelled in various field were honoured during the graduation ceremony.

Gathering Our Fruits

It was a moment of joy especially for the teachers who are serving in our high school for the last 20 or more years. For the first time the old student came to the campus with their old memories. They were really emotional as they met their teachers and proud to say what they are doing. The staff and the management felt so happy to see the giants who have made mark in the society. The dynamic Principal, Fr Henry Saldanha S J, presented his plans and it was well accepted by our alumni. Speaking on the occasion Fr William Sequeira S J said that it is our dream to see more and more students feel that this is their home . The senior most teacher Madam Kripalini, who knew practically all the students was the MC for the occasion. She remembered some of the important personalities in the present society who had come up to that stage due to Jesuit Education. The first meeting with the old students has enthused everybody in the campus. We look ahead glorious days in the near future through the active participation of our old students.

Goodbye and Welcome

The Loyola Primary School will be with out a familiar face. Sr Pushpalatha who served in the Primary School bid adieu to us all . Since her Provincial has asked her to pursue further studies it is unavoidable where she has to go away from here. In her place we have Sr Carmine Dias from Holy Cross Congregation. As we thank Sr Pushpalatha for her service, we also wish all the best to Sr Carmine. The farewell and the welcome was a grand event. The children with the assistance of the teachers put up a good programme the mark the event.

PRERANA - Ignatian Spirituality Centre, Bangalore.

Prerana (Ignatian Spirituality Centre) is buzzing with activities; just now there is a three-month Renewal Programme going on with 17 participants. Prerana is a new venture of the Karnataka Jesuit Province recently begun with the purpose of sharing the riches of Ignatian Spirituality with all sections of the People of God by means of training courses and renewal programmes for formators, formees, community animators, spiritual directors etc. Prerana specially welcomes lay people either in groups or individually particularly married couples for a quiet time together. Counselling help is available. Facilities are also available for groups and organizations who want to conduct their own Programmes. Situated just 15 Kms from Bangalore City Railway Station on a large campus of Mount St Joseph/Dhyanashrama on Bannerughatta Road, this brand new facility surrounded by rich greenery is an oasis of silence and peace and is an ideal get-away from a busy, noise-filled stressful life.

About the Courses: Four main courses are arranged - one of 3 month duration and the other three of 6 weeks each. Each course consists of different modules and concludes with a 30 day Ignatian retreat. Those who do not wish to attend the entire course may opt for one or more individual modules.

Apply to:
The Director (Prerana)
Mount St Joseph
PB 7645, IIMB Post
Bannerughatta Road
Bangalore - 560 076.
Tel: (080)32402408/26485778
Cell: 9449590034
Email: preranaisc@gmail.com

National Players at MSJ

Loyola Composite PU college is creating waves in all possible ways. 5th of July was a special day for the children as well as for the staff of this institution. It is for the first time in the history of this institution where we had International players visiting our campus and to encourage our children to take an active role in the various sport events. We had two young men i. e. Mr Raghunath and Mr Nilesh who have made our country rich through their contribution to the sport of hockey. Both of them are playing for our country. ( Both were the students of Fr Henry, the Principal). They spoke to our children saying, if you work hard you can represent our country. To encourage this sport Mr Raghunath and Mr Nilesh have promised to sponsor 30 sets of required things for hockey game. We are grateful to them for their generous support. We also had amidst us Mr Manohar Katke, (Hockey coach from the Sports Authority of India) Mr Ashfaq (Basketball coach from the Sports Authority of India), Mrs Indira (Kabaddi coach,Sports Authority of India) and Mr Boniface Lewis (former Sports Secretary, Indian High School- Bangalore). All of them spoke to our children and explained the various schemes available to a sport person. It was a great help in motivating our children. Many children have come forward to take an active part in the sports in the days to come. We are indebted to our well-wishers for making themselves available to render their services to the unprivileged children.

Welcome First Years (Entrance Day)

Our hearts at MSJ were filled with immense gratitude towards God on the 19^th of June as fifteen (Martin, Anand, Pradeep, Yesunath, Alwyn Misquith, Arvin Pais, Ashwin D’Silva, Jason Martis, Jaison D’Souza, Joel Fernandes, Prashanth Saldanha, Joyson Vas, Ruben D’Souza, Ryan Rodrigues and Rajesh Sankuru) new bright, sparkling, twinkling, charming stars coming from different places joined the Novitiate. They journeyed together fruitfully through the First Probation (It is a time for a novice to know and love God, the Society of Jesus and oneself by committing totally to Christ Jesus and His mission). It was the ‘Entrance Day’ for the freshers on the 2nd of July when they began the Second Probation in the Society of Jesus. In the evening, we had the Eucharist. Fr William Sequeira 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 recited the prayer of a novice on the entrance day. Soon after the prayer, there was laying of hands on the first year novices by Frs William, Dion, Sunil and Jossie D’Mello. A picture of Jesus was given by Fr Dion to each of them. “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.

Happy Birthday Dear Frs William & Arokiasamy

The MSJ Community celebrated the birthday of Fr William Sequeira (Rector) and Fr Arokiasamy (Minister) on the 29th of June. It was a great and memorable day to all the members of our community. In the evening, there was a prayer service conducted by the novices. There was a short cultural programme followed by a sumptuous meal. "Our life is like a journey on a road. Each birthday is like a milestone on the way. When we complete each mile, the milestone reminds us about the wonders and miracles that God has done in our lives. The road may be narrow and difficult but God helps us to walk on the way till the end." These were the sentiments of Frs William & Arock as they celebrated their birth anniversary in a meaningful and fruitful manner. "A heart is happiest when it beats for others." This sentence summarizes the lives of both Frs William & Arock as they are ever ready and available to serve the community and the society. May God grant them good health, success, fruitful ministry and many more years of joyful service.