WEBSITE TO BE LAUNCHED SOON BY SFS CHURCH, SHAANWADI

सत. फ्रांसिस डे सलेस चर्च

शान्वादी, नगर रोड, पुणे १४ (इंडिया)

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History: SFS Parish Church stands on the land purchased by Fr. Francis Moget in 1965. Shaanwadi receives its name from the village of Shaan in Liechtenstein, Switzerland. Thanks to the support and help of the people there, SFS School and Parish Church has become a reality. In 1990 Fr. Perry Da Silva msfs as Parish Priest initiated the process of marking the boundaries and recording the number of Parishioners who were affiliated to SFS Church. From 1991, Fr. Terrie Pinto took charge and helped to consolidate the faith of the parishioners. Under his initiative SFS Church and the Priest-residence were built and inaugurated. Through the years the Parish grew in number and fervour. This encouraging reality led to the sub-division of the parish into three parts. SFS Church continues to serve the needs of about 1000 Families.

Fransalians: -

Patroness: Mother of Sorrows

Our Lady of Sorrows (Compassion) is our patroness and our Founder Fr. Peter Mermier had a special devotion to the Mother of Sorrows. On 15 September we celebrate her feast. This celebration reminds us of our call to participate in the redemptive suffering of Jesus for the humanity today. We are called to suffer for others, to suffer for the mission we have been entrusted with and we have taken it up as intrinsic to our missionary and religious commitment. Compassion also means 'to be with'. It is a call to be with the suffering humanity, our people, and our confreres. We are called to be compassionate to people in every sense of the term. In our schools, parishes, formation houses, we must educate people to be compassionate in a world of competition. This is the tradition of life each one of us is called to inherit from our founder and pioneers. It has been a good tradition in the province to renew our religious commitment on the Feast of Mother of Compassion in our apostolic communities and formation houses. It is not that we are unmindful of our commitment to the Lord but rather we re-focus ourselves and this renewal as a community has deep bearing on each one of us. We find the meaning of this renewal in 1Thes 4/1- "Finally, brothers, we urge you and appeal to you in the Lord Jesus; we instructed you how to live in the way that pleases God, and you are so living; but make more progress still".

HYMN TO THE MOTHER OF SORROWS

O Mother most afflicted

O Mary sweetest Mother

O dear and loving mother

Standing beneath that tree

We love to pity thee

Entreat that we may be

Where Jesus stands rejected

O for the sake of Jesus Near to thee and

thy dear Jesus

On the hill of Calvary

Let us thy children be Now and eternally

Founder: Fr. Peter Marie-Mermier

The political disturbances in the country, especially the French Revolution had its impact in the spiritual realm too as it left the people in a deep spiritual crisis and indifference towards their religious duties. Sensing the signs of the time Fr. Mermier took upon himself the task of a spiritual renewal in his people by preaching parish missions. This special apostolate in turn gave rise to a community of preachers gathered around Fr. Mermier. His firm missionary zeal was amply clear from his slogan “I want missions.”

Peter Marie Mermier was born on 28 August 1790 at Vouray in the parish of Chaumont en Genevois, in Savoy. The French Revolution had badly affected the Church in Savoy and many priests left the country while a few went in hiding. Peter’s parents, who were fervent Christians, risked their lives and property by welcoming the priests. Between the age of four and ten Peter had the rare privilege of assisting at the Mass celebrated secretly in the house. The faith and courage of his mother and of those daring priests motivated him to make a decisive choice for the Lord.

The revolutionaries had closed Churches and schools. So Peter Mermier had his primary education by his own mother. Peace returned to Savoy in 1800. He did his secondary school studies as a boarder in Melan. In 1807 he was received at the major Seminary of Chambery. He was fervent at prayer, a hard worker and with thoughtful regard for his fellow students. He was ordained priest on 21 March 1813 at the age of twenty-three and a half. His first appointment was at Magland as Assistant Parish Priest to Canon Desjacques. As a young priest he was a tireless worker. He taught the little ones by day and continued his theological studies by night. After three years he was asked to teach at the college of Melan and be Prefect of Discipline. The Arch Bishop of Chambery appointed him Parish Priest of Le Chaterlard in 1819, at the age of thirty.

Fr. Peter Marie Mermier was an austere priest of unbounded zeal. But most of the people were indifferent to Catholic Faith and practices due to the influence of Jansenism, Gallicanism and French Revolution. With a view to enliven the people in true faith he contacted Joseph-Marie Favre who gave missions in the diocese of Chambery with great success. They met in 1821 and it was very significant for Fr. Mermier as he fell in love with the apostolate of Parish Mission. In the same year they, with the help of a few diocesan priests, dedicated themselves exclusively for this task. They went from parish to parish staying from 4 to 6 weeks in each parish. They prayed, preached and motivated the people to build up their faith. It was a wonderful opportunity for solid religious instruction and reconciliation.

Mgr. de Thiollez, Bishop of Annecy, appointed him spiritual director at the major Seminary in 1823. But in 1826 the Bishop permitted him to dedicate himself entirely to the mission. Gradually a small group of missioners were formed. In the meantime Fr. Peter Marie Mermier sensed the irreplaceable role of the parish missions, the necessity of a religious Congregation of Missioners and the meaning of the patronage of St. Francis de Sales.

Peter Joseph Rey became the new Bishop of Annecy in 1832. He allowed the missioners, at that time six in all, to move to a house in La Roche in June 1834. On September 29, 1836 Bishop Rey gave provisional approval for their rule and they were known as Missionaries of Annecy. They set up a motherhouse in Annecy at a place called La Feuillette on August 8, 1837. It became a house of prayer and study. It was the house where the young religious received their formation in the apostolic and Salesian life. The civil approval to the new religious society from the Duke of savoy came on October 15, 1838. It stated that the Missionaries were approved under the title of St. Francis de Sales. On October 24, 1838 Bispop Rey issued an official document giving canonical approval to the Congregation founded by Father Peter Mermier known as the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales.

Fr. Peter Marie Mermier founded the Congregation of the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales for parish mission, foreign mission and education of the youth. His missionary zeal impelled him to ask the Holy Father for a mission abroad and accept a vast mission territory in India when the Congregation was in its infancy with just eleven professed members. As regards education he opines that one has to be a mother to the pupil by one’s tenderness and a father by one’s prudence. He accepted the management of the college of Avian in 1856 and the college of Melan in 1857. In Chavanod he came into contact with Claudine Echernier who wanted to live a humble recollected life devoted to the apostolate of the poor in 1837. This resulted in the founding of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Cross of Chavanod for the education of the needy girls. They had to work in the poorest and lowliest circles in the country.

Between 1828 and 1857 Fr. Mermier himself conducted ninety missions. He considered sermon as the chief means of proclaiming the word of God. He adopted carefully prepared simple preaching. He spoke with faith and conviction using a fatherly tone of voice marked with a kindly understanding of sinners like St. Francis de Sales. He guided the missionaries to live a life of pleasing and kindly charity in their apostolic ministry and daily relationship. He considered devotion to Our Lady of Seven Sorrows to be an eminent Salesian devotion.

In spite of his old age Fr. Mermier took over the Parish of Pougny as priest-in-charge on 26 June 1857. Even in his old age he retained a lively and curious mind. His last years were a time of purification and edification. He fell seriously sick in Pougny and was taken to La Feuillette. His eye-sight and thinking capacity weakened. As he was a little better he took up a pilgrimage to Our Lady of La Salette in July 1859. He suffered a fierce attack on June 6, 1860 and became fully blind. Meanwhile the Sacred Congregation of Bishops and Regulars approved the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales as a congregation with simple vows.

On 10 August 1862 Fr. Peter Marie Mermier had a fall, which caused a double fracture of his right leg. He left for his heavenly abode on 30 September 1862.

Patron: St. Francis de Sales: A Brief Life Sketch

Francis de Sales was born on 21st August 1567 at Thorens near Annecy in France. His birth took place prematurely in the seventh month with great danger to the life of the mother and the boy. He was the eldest of the thirteen children in the family. Before his birth his mother consecrated him to the Lord in the presence of the Holy Shroud. His father, Francois de Boisy and mother, Fraciose de Sionnas led exemplary Christian life and provided a healthy human atmosphere for the growth of their children. Francois de Boisy was a man of resolute judgment, firm in his decisions, good to his subjects and a declared enemy of heresy. Fraciose de Sionnas was a woman of deep piety, generous, noble minded, modest and amiable with every person and a real mother.

The exact date of his baptism is disputed. Yet, it was probable that he was given emergency baptism privately. But the ritual solemnities took place on August 28, 1567. The very early youth of Francis was spent in a village called Brens, which was a place of exquisite beauty. Between the ages of three and five he received his first Christian formation from his mother and Francoise Duret was his first teacher.

From 1573 to 1575 Francis was educated at La Roche, a short distance from Thorens. He had his further education in Annecy between 1575 and 1578. During this period he received his Holy Communion and Confirmation on the same day by Bishop Giustiniani in the advent of 1575. From his earliest years he was attentive and calm, not fond of games and often thoughtful. He began to show astonishing curiosity about the mysteries of faith. He laid down time for daily prayers, reading pious books and visiting churches. Holy Eucharist became the centre of his life. Meanwhile his vocation to priesthood was taking shape. He received tonsure on September 20, 1578 from Galsois de Regard, Bishop of Bagnorea.

Francis de Sales had his college studies in Paris from 1582. He did four years of classical studies in the Jesuit college of Clermont. There, intellectually Francis became a man of Renaissance, obtaining a bachelor’s degree in arts. In obedience to his father’s wish he acquired skills expected of the nobility from an academy. He began his studies in philosophy in October 1585. During these years he found intellectual pleasure in exploring the subjects of dogma, Positive Theology, Moral Theology, Holy Scripture, Patrology, Debating and Polemics.

At the age of seventeen Francis de Sales had to fight a great crisis, which lasted for six weeks from December 1586 to January 1587. It was a temptation to despair due to the influence of Lutheran and pre-Jansenistic pessimism on the contemporary way of thinking. He thought that he was predestined to hell by God’s infallible judgment. At this juncture he turned his devotion towards Mary, recited the Memorare, prostrated in front of her statue and made a heroic act of abandonment. The crisis left him immediately.

His father wished him to follow a career in the service of the state. So after his return from Annecy in 1588, he was sent to the university of Padua for the study of law. Here also he found time to study some theology. He was a keen observer of life, things and people. In Milan he visited the tomb of Saint Charles and this confirmed his desire to be among the saints. Placing himself under the spiritual direction of Anthony Possevin, a Jesuit, he drew up a rule for his interior and exterior life, renewed his promise of virginity, and recited the Divine Office. In September 5, 1591 he received his doctorate in both civil and Canon Law.

Francis de Sales, hot-tempered by nature, worked at tempering it very early in life and acquired gentleness after a persistent effort for twenty years.

On his return from Padua, his father’s plan was to make him a senator and suggested that he enter into marriage with a wealthy and beautiful woman called Franciose Suchet. He had made up his mind to become a priest. He asked his father permission to become a priest. As a means for overcoming parental opposition, Louis de Sales, a cousin and a priest, obtained through Claude de Granier, the Bishop of Geneva, an apostolic bull conferring on Francis the Provostship of the Church of St. Peter in Geneva. The permission was finally given after serious objections. He was ordained Deacon on 21st September 1593 and was ordained priest in the same year on 18th December.

Francis de Sales undertook a hard and difficult mission to work among the Calvinists in the district of Chablais, one of the eight states of Savoy, on 14th September 1594 together with his cousin Louis de Sales. Overcoming privations and oppositions of every sort including attempt on his life, through prayer, penance, preaching, writing, public debate with the Calvinist ministers and perseverance he brought back the whole district to the Catholic Faith. In Chablais he had introduced an innovative method of presenting in a simple and direct manner some doctrine of faith, and criticizing the teaching of the reformers in leaflets and of distributing them to the people for two years. These leaflets have survived incompletely in a work known as Controversies. He was instrumental in establishing a college under the Jesuit management, a group of secular priest following the Oratarian rule and a hostel at Thonon.

Francis de Sales was the Duke’s choice, the Bishop’s choice, and the Peoples’ choice for the Bishopric of Geneva. In March 1599 Pope Clement VIII confirmed the choice. Following the death of Claude de Granier, he was consecrated Bishop of Geneva at Thorens on 8th December 1602. He was a good shepherd. He cared both for the rich and the poor, yet with a special preference for the poor. He bore within himself the spirit of Christian humanism. He took initiatives for the formation of the clergy and for the spiritual formation of the youth. A confraternity of the lay people was established for the purpose of teaching Christian Doctrine. During his lifetime he preached more that 4,000 sermons. He was a preacher of power and charm, one who spoke both as a father and a teacher. He also served as a spiritual director to a number of people.

The most known books of Francis de Sales are: Introduction to the Devout life and A Treatise on the Love of God. Both are hailed as spiritual classics. He founded the Visitation Order together with St. Jane de Chantal on 6th June 1610. This Order is to accept as members the poor, the weak in health, the handicapped who are able to follow the demands of community life, the widows whom normally the other religious orders do not admit. They would practice the virtues exemplified in Mary’s visit to Elizabeth that consist of humility, piety and mutual charity. They would also engage, to a limited degree, in works of mercy for the poor and sick. But later, acceding to the wish of the Bishop of Lyons, he discontinued the external works of charity and adopted the cloistered way of life for his nuns.

He passed away at the age of fifty-five of cerebral hemorrhage at Lyons on 28th December, 1622. On 28th December, 1661 he was beatified by Alexander VII and was canonized on 19th April 1665 by the same Pope. St. Francis de Sales was declared Doctor of the Church on 16th November 1877 by Pope Pius IX. Pius XI proclaimed him the heavenly patron of all writers on January 26, 1923.

St. Francis de Sales is the Apostle of Chablais, the Gentleman saint, a Doctor of the Church and the Patron of Writers. Various religious congregations have been founded under the patronage of St. Francis de Sales. And he is the heavenly patron of the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales also known as Fransalians.

St. Francis de Sales: Doctor of Love

"He was not a gloomy, austere saint but most amiable and friendly with all. Endowed with every virtue, he excelled in meekness of heart, a virtue so peculiar to himself that it might be considered his most characteristic trait. His meekness, however, differed altogether from that artificial gentility which consists in the mere possession of polished manners and in the display of a purely conventional affability. ...

This virtue, which grew in the heart of St. Francis as a delightful effect of his love towards God and was nourished by the spirit of compassion and tenderness, so tempered with sweetness, the natural gravity of his demeanor which softened both his voice and manners that he won the affectionate regard of everyone whom he encouraged.

"Making the crooked paths straight and the rough ways plain, Francis has shown that the way to devotion was so accessible for all Christians, that thereafter piety shed its light in every place, in the palaces of kings, in the tents of warriors, in the courts of law, in the homes of business and manufacture, and even the humble hamlets of shepherds.

St. Francis de Sales was proclaimed Doctor of the Universal Church by Pope Pius IX on 07 July, 1877. His work on Spiritual Direction led to the publication of the great classic Introduction to the Devout life, and the other great, but later work A Treatise on the Love of God. Fundamental to these works is the doctrine that the spiritual life is not just for the religious and the clergy, but for everyone. It is for this reason that he is seen as the first great writer since the Early Fathers to be concerned with the spirituality of the laity. He considered it a heresy to say that a lay person could not attain sanctity and holiness of life through the grace of God. It is for these reasons that St. Francis de Sales may be considered also the patron of Lay Spirituality and the Lay Apostolate.

The Gentleman Saint

Unlike many of the saints – whose lives full of marvellous occurrences seem to be beyond the reach of ordinary Christians – the life of de Sales presents nothing sensational. His ideals of moderation and charity, of gentleness and humility, of cheerfulness and abandonment to God’s will are expressed with a common sense spirituality that is gentle and respectful of others – this lifestyle earned Francis the appellation of ‘Gentleman Saint.’ Furthermore, his ecumenical sensitivity and his personal gentleness together with his common sense rejection of extremes of the spiritual life of the lay people contributed to his being credited with this title.

Home/Mass Schedule – Week Days & Sundays

Weddings and Funerals:

Pre-baptism Catechesis (English) – I Sunday

Pre-baptism Catechesis (Marathi) – III Sunday

English Baptism: II Sunday

Marathi Baptism: IV Sunday

Choir Practices: Every Saturday 7.00 PM

Sunday Parish Office Will Remain Closed.

Parish Team – Fr. Jerry Misquith, msfs. (Parish Priest)

- Fr. Cyril George, msfs. (Assistant Parish Priest)

- Fr. Albert Fernandes, msfs. (Assistant Parish Priest)

- Fr. S. Jayaseelan, msfs. (Priest-in-charge, Lohegaon)

- Bro. John Kennedy, msfs. (Regent)

PPC Members:

St. Francis Xavier, Somnath Nagar: Richard Mascarehnas

St. Anthony’s, Mogetwadi: Joe Rodrigues

St. Peter’s, Shilanand Society: Stanley Gaikwad

St. Joseph’s, Tata Guard Room: Benjamin D’Costa

St. Michael’s, Sunithanagar: Baniel

Our Lady of Fatima, Ganesh Nagar: Maria Paulraj

O.Lady of Vaillankani, Sopan Nagar: Sanjay Rodrigues

St. Lawrence, Gardenia – Shubham: Amelia D’Silva

Infant Jesus, Potte Chawl: Martha Bhingare

Good Shepherd, Panch Mile: Seema Dias

Mary Help of Xtians, Chandan Naga: Alex D’Souza

St. Sebastian, Shaan Hall: Salve

St. Raphaela Mary, Kharadi: Daniel Satdive

St. Anne’s, Yammuna Nagar: Nirmala Borde

Mother Teresa’s, Viman Nagar: Iris Dawson

O. L. P. H., Viman Nagar: Rajama Jose Fernandes

St. Paul’s, Viman Nagar: Maria Mistry

St. Paul’s, Konark Nagar: Maria Mistry

John the Baptist, Viman Nagar: Moses Paulraj

St. Andrew’s, Sainikwadi: Isidore Pereira

Faith Formation: Lawrence Palande

Family Cell: Joaquim Fernandes

Helpline: Edwin Alex

Finance Committee: Pascal Lopez

Catechism Cell: Veronica Bhutkar

Communication Cell: Angeline Rodrigues

Youth Representative: Michael Naidu

Religious: Bro. John Kennedy, msfs.

Bro. Bosco, msfs.

Sr. Janet, HSHJ

Sr. Selvi, DMI

Sr. Vandana, FS

Sr. Urmila, O.P.

SFS Church Briefs:

• Vailankanni Feast Celebration:

The Devotion to Our Lady of Vailankanni is the most popular devotion in South India. This devotion was started in our Parish about 8 years back by Fr. Nazareth D’Silva, msfs. who is now in Germany. Initially it was to cater to the faith of those having devotion to our Lady of Vaillankani, but now it is become a common devotion of the people in our Parish and of the Parishes all around Pune. We had nine days Novena in hounour of Our Lady beginning with the Flag hoisting on 29^th August 2007. The Feast of Our Lady of Vailankanni was celebrated on 8^th September. Since the crowd is large for this devotion the Feast Organizers put up a huge pandal in the church Premises. This Pendal could accommodate about 1500 people. On the final day there was a Procession held from Divine Mercy Parish to SFS Parish. Our Lady was carried in a PALKI which is a typical Indian Tradition. The Main celebrant for the Feast Mass was Fr. Jerry Misquith, msfs. the Parish Priest. There were about 10 concelebrants who were mostly Fransalians. About 4000 devotees were present for this service. All the devotees went home joyously after the fellowship meal.

· Christmas Celebration:

We had a grand Christmas celebration this year. The Advent services of inviting Christ into our hearts were done by having Eucharistic Celebrations in every Small Christian Community. The committee prepared the Crib and the youth went round singing carols along with religious sisters and brothers. They visited all the Small Christian Communities. The communities welcomed them in their areas and as a group sang Christmas Carols.

On 24^th December the helpline presented Christmas hampers to fifty poor families of our Families so that they all get to celebrate Christmas happily. Christmas eve was very bright and appeasing with Eucharistic Celebration with melodious singing by our choir.

On 26^th December, the entertainment committee conducted Christmas tree programme for nearly 200 of our Parish Children. They participated in various games and won many prizes. Christmas sweets were distributed to all of them. They went home happily.

• Parish Day Celebration:

Parish Day was celebrated on 27^th December 2007. On this day the entertainment group, the PPC Members and the Youth conducted various games and competitions. Most of the SCCs participated in dance and singing. Group dance and songs were held. All of us shared the snacks which the Parish supplied.

• Marathi Day Celebration:

On 24^th November our Parish Marathi Speaking People had a get-together. All the committee members of Marathi speaking group came together to plan out for the ‘Marathi day’. They appointed area leaders for every SCC’s and reached out to every Catholic Marathi speaking family. The celebration began with the Eucharist. Fr. Bhaosaheb Sansare, SJ was the main celebrant. He spoke in his homily tips about togetherness in Christ. After the Eucharist all came down to the Parish quadrangle for speeches and agape. 85 percent of the people attended this event. It was a wonderful coming together. This Group is called “Shaanwadi Marathi Sabha”.

• Konkani Day Celebration:

Our Parish has a Konkani speaking group which organizes their Patron’s Feast every year. Likewise this year too they celebrated the Feast of St. Francis Xavier. A lot of preparations were done to make this day a successful one. The choir group came for practices regularly. The liturgy was well planned and well prepared. Fr. Mario D’Souza, msfs., the Provincial (Fransalians of Pune Province) was the main celebrant. He spoke on how we all ought to do missionary work. Variety of Goan and Manglorian dishes were at the stalls. All enjoyed the food of their taste. It was a wonderful day. They are well known for conducting “Shaan Rock” – Dance for Couples. This year it was on 29^th December. They had a very good response. From next year they have planned to have “Shaan Rock” on every First day of January.

• Tamil Day Celebration:

Tamil Day celebration was held on 20^th January 2008. This celebration was the celebration of the Feast of the harvest known as “PONGAL”. This is a well known feast of the Tamilians, which is celebrated for a period of four days i.e. from 13^th to 16^th January of every year. The Tamil families of our parish came together for this celebration of PONGAL to brush up their old memories of traditional celebration. The preparations seemed to have put them all in a good tone of joy and happiness. Each family contributed towards the expenses of the same. The liturgy was well prepared by the Papal Brothers and DMI Sisters. The main celebrant was Fr. Maria Arul Stephen, Fr. Madhan, from Papal Seminary. The traditional decorations added up to the colour of the feast. The most popular dish was the preparation of POGAL – meal of the newest grains was served to all. Traditional games like breaking the pot and various other entertainment dance and songs were held. The priests and Nuns were given a token of love each. The celebration ended up with the festive meal. Thanks to Papal Brothers and DMI Sisters for animating the whole programme and for helping the people.

Announcements

Popular Devotions

Here in Shaanwadi, the Parish Team believes that our lives become more meaningful if we are in touch with the Sublime. Therefore give many opportunities to the parishioners in their popular devotions.

MONDAYS: The Rosary – in the evening before the Eucharist.

TUESDAYS: Novena to St. Anthony of Padua – mornings and evenings – Marathi and English – before the Eucharist. This devotion was initiated in Year 2001.

WEDNESDAYS: Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help – mornings and evenings – Marathi and English – before the Eucharist. This devotion started with the erection of the parish.

THURSDAYS: The Rosary in honour of the Mother of Sorrows – Patroness of the Fransalians – in the evenings – before the Eucharist.

FRIDAYS: The Divine Mercy Chaplet – mornings and evenings – Marathi and English – before the Eucharist.

SATURDAYS: Novena to Our Lady of Vaillankanni – mornings and evenings – Marathi and English – before the Eucharist.

Parish Finance Committee:

Parish Finance Committee is constituted in November 2007. The present committee consists of the Parish Priest, Fr. Jerry Misquith, msfs. and has 3 parishioners as members:

Mr. Pascal Lopez

Mr. Benjamin D’Costa

Mr. Edgar Quadros

The committee discusses and decides on various means of running of the parish and raising funds for the various activities of the parish, maintenance of the church buildings, etc. The committee also looks into ways of helping in various charitable ventures of the parish.

Parish Feast:

We began with the Novenas in honour of our Patron St. Francis de Sales on 18^th January. The preachers were two Salesians and the rest Fransalians. Fr. Vincent Lourduswamy, msfs. was the main celebrant on the Feast day which was celebrated on 27^th of January. All the Small Christian Communities of the SFS Parish took care of the liturgy. The liturgies were well prepared. Participation of the parishioners was very encouraging.

Church Fete:

Every year the Parish conducts Fete to incur financial help for the Helpline. This year too we conducted the Fete which had a very good response. Various communities sponsored the stalls. We encouraged parishioners to gather advertisements. Soon after the festive Eucharist the Fete went on upto 9.45 pm. The crowd was that visited the fete was very satisfying. We enjoined the togetherness during the fete.

Shaanwadi Fiesta:

It’s a time for fun and enjoyment. The vibrant youth of our Parish took up ‘Shaanwadi Fiesta’ to encourage the communities to explore and expose the talents of their members. The Fiesta was well organized under the leadership of Bro. Prakash, msfs. and Bro. Peter, msfs. They spend days to get set with various activities for the same. The activities conducted were football, solo singing, single and group dance, quiz, drawing, group singing, rangoli, etc. Most of our children partook in it. The Prize distribution ceremony was held on 27^th December 2007.

Kids Website:

Youth Website:

Lohegaon Website:

Helpline:

HELPLINE was introduced in our Parish in the year 2000, with a heart for the poor of the parish and a spirit of reaching out to them, with the intention of helping them in some of their problems. The spirit of REACHING OUT has helped many in finding solutions to their pain and anxiety. Helpline continues its services to the poor and the needy of the parish in the following areas:

• Financial and other aid to those who are burdened with heavy hospital bills.
• Operates a free general Health Clinic which functions on Sundays through the generous services of Dr. Jack Mendes.
• Distributes clothes and food/ration to the needy parishioners on Sundays. Distributes used clothes to the needy regardless of caste and creed every month
• Distributes free text books and note books to the poor children of the parish at the beginning of the year.
• Pay school fees of the poor and deserving children
• Gives gift hampers worth Rs. 500/- to nearly 50 poor families of our Parish. During Christmas so that they also celebrate the Christmas day with this hamper.
• Helped Fr. Lourdu of this Diocese who looks after the poor and street children. He was given used clothes, cash, grains, etc. Also helped Snehalaya – center for handicapped children.

A big thank you to: Fr. Baptist, msfs. and Fr. Noel, msfs. For providing medicines to the clinic; Dominican sisters for helping us in getting rice and wheat at subsidized rates; Dr. Jack Mendes for coming regularly every alternate Sundays to the clinic; our parish Brothers and Sisters who wish to remain anonymous for their wonderful help and support financially in meeting the needs for fees, and tuitions, and education of our needy children and sponsoring some of our children.

Thanks a million to all who are part of this committee and who give their time for the poor and the needy.

Snehankit:

Snehankit is a magazine of the Parish which helps the parishioners to give their write ups and views. As per the need of the parish the communication cell brings out the magazine. This magazine contains reports, articles, poems, information, jokes, etc. in English, Marathi and Hindi. Every individual of the parish is free to expose one’s talents of writing. The last issue of Snehankit was released on the Feast of Our Lady of Vaillankanni (8^th September 2007). The magazine was themed as “Mary: A woman of Faith and Courage leading us to God”.

Faith formation:

• St. Vincent de Paul Society:
• Legion of Mary:
• Neo Catechumanate
• Praise and Worship:
• Healing Service (Marathi):

Every Last Thursday of the month, the Catholic convention group of Poona Diocese organizes prayer and healing service for the Marathi speaking group under the leadership of Fr. George D’Souza. Fr. Benny and the Team from Amala Ashram, Kolhapur conducts the Service without fail. The participants are not only the Catholics but also the people of other faith. The emphasis is given on catechizing people in Holy Eucharist, Confessions, Rosary and the Word of God. Many people have given testimony and witness for having received the touch of Jesus during the prayer and healing service. It’s a wonderful experience. “COME all you who labour and and our heavily burdened and I will give you REST” Our Lord says.

· Adult Catechesis: Adult Catechism:

For this year we had about 7 adults for catechism. Fr. Albert trained these six adults in Catholic faith. Three among these received baptism and first Holy Communion. There are four more yet under training. We see a lot of research work done by these students. They show high respect and reverence towards Catholicism and are eager to know more about Christ. They are taught the basic catechism and the Catechism of the Catholic Church for a period of six months. They have shown a great interest in becoming Catholics. They are very regular for their classes.

• Pre-baptismal Catechesis:

The parish conducts pre-baptismal catechesis for the god-parents and parents of the children to be baptized on every 1^st Sunday in English and 3^rd Sunday in Marathi. These classes are held to cater to the faith formation of the Parents, God parents and their children through persons concerned.

Sunday School:

SFS Sunday school consists of 250 students. These students are prepared for first Holy Communion, Confirmation, etc. The teachers include religious Brothers, Sisters and the laity. The growing number of students and teachers is very appealing and encouraging. The students are taught with the help of Poona Diocesan Syllabus for the Diocese. The students are very regular for Church activities. Various activities taken up for the year are well planned by the Coordinator of Catechism along with the teachers. Christmas tree Programme was held for all the catechism children. The students were active participants for “Shaanwadi Fiesta 2007”. For the “Parents Day and the Teachers Day” the children put up a beautiful programme. Children did well in their Semester examinations. The activities such as Singing Competition, Dance Competition, Bible Quiz, fancy Dress completion, etc. Seminar was conducted for the students and the teachers. On 16^th December, 50 children received First Holy Communion. On 24^th Feb. ’08 the teachers and the students went for a picnic. Special confession was arranged for the students and the teachers during the season of lent. The teachers attend regular Training Programmes and seminars conducted by the Diocese. Confirmation is to be held on 6^th of April.

Altar Servers Association: Every Saturday the Altar Servers are prepared to serve at Sunday Masses. They are regular and punctual. They are also trained in various games. They take part in Altar Servers Association conducted by the Diocese.

Family Cell:

The family cell of our Parish is just getting organized with this important cell of the time. There are many families who need our help. This cell will cater to the broken and separated families. All the SCC leaders will have to make a proper study of the families in their areas and make a report of the same. The family cell along with the Parish team will either call the persons concerned or will go to their families to help them to resolve the problems that hinder them to live proper family life.

Communication Cell:

The “COMMUNICATION CELL” was introduced in the parish mainly to encourage the parishioners to express themselves. It was introduced in the year 2003 under the leadership of Mr. Theo Bhosale and Fr. Baptist. The communication cell is one of the active cells of the parish. It mainly comes up with parish bulletins and also the parish magazines.

The main objective of the communication cell is to form a medium where for the parishioners to express themselves. The parishioners can do this through the medium of the yearly magazine namely ‘THE SNEHANKIT” and also the bulletins that are released. The SNEHANKIT mainly contains articles from parishioners where the people can express themselves through poems, thoughts, jokes, etc. These articles are written not only in English language but also in other languages like Marathi and Hindi. This shows that people from various linguistic communities are free to write and bring out the talents hidden in them. These articles may also be messages or compliments from some parishioners to all the others

Secondly the SNEHANKIT and the bulletin also helps the parish priest to speak to the parishioners and share his views and plans for the future. The parish magazine also contains reports from different Basic Christian Communities and the various cells working in the parish. This gives an idea to the people about all the activities carried out in the parish and helps them to participate in them. It also contains messages from different religious institutions in the parish.

Other than this the magazine also gives the information about the parish happenings- e.g. marriages, baptisms and also sad demises.

The communication cell is also responsible for the release of the PARISH DIRECTORY, which contains the contact numbers, and addresses of all the parishioners. It also contains contact information about various institutions in the parish. Also it contains contact numbers of different schools, hospitals, and other emergency numbers like the ambulance, police station, fire station, etc.

On the whole the communication cell works on just one motive and that is to bring people together and listen to their views and also help them to develop. The present members working for the committee are:

v Fr. Cyril George

v Mrs. Bernadette Dias

v Mrs. Sangeeta

v Miss. Angeline Rodrigues

We present members of the communication cell work for the upliftment of the parish by the medium of the magazine and the bulletin. We look forward to keep alive the aim for which the communication cell was introduced and we also look forward for more participation from the other parishioners.