SFS CHURCH BRIEFS

OUR LADY OF VAILANKANNI FEAST CELEBRATION 2008

OUR LADY OF VAILANKANNI FEAST CELEBRATION 2007

The Devotion to Our Lady of Vailankanni is the most popular devotion in South India. This devotion was started in our Parish about 18 years ago by Fr. Nazareth D'Silva, msfs. who is now serving in Germany. Initially it was to cater to the faith of those having a very special devotion to our Lady of Vaillankani that this devotion was initiated but now it has become a great devotion of the people of our Parish and of parishes all around Pune. We began the Novena with the Flag hoisting on 29^th August 2007. The Feast of Our Lady of Vailankanni was celebrated on 8^th September, which is Her Birthday. A large ‘Pandal' big enough to accommodate 1500 persons was especially erected for the purpose. On the Feast day, the festivities began with a procession held from Divine Mercy Parish, Wadgaonsheri to SFS Parish. Our Lady was carried in a ‘PALKI- a typical Indian tradition. The Main celebrant for the Feast Mass was the Parish Priest and there were 10 concelebrants who were mostly Fransalians. About 4000 devotees were present for this service. After the Eucharist, as per tradition, all the devotees partook in a festive meal prepared by the parish.

SHAANWADI FIESTA

It's a time for fun and enjoyment. The vibrant youth of our Parish took up the ‘Shaanwadi Fiesta' to encourage the Small Christian 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 spent days to get set for the various activities of the event. The activities conducted were football, solo singing, single and group dance, a Bible quiz, drawing, group singing, rangoli competitions, etc. Most of our children, youth and adults partook in it. The Prize distribution ceremony was held on 27^th December 2007.

CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION

We had a grand Christmas celebration this year. The Advent services of inviting Christ into our hearts was done by having Eucharistic Celebrations in every Small Christian Community of our parish. Cribs were prepared and displayed in the church and the quadrangle. The Youth together with the religious sisters and brothers went round the parish in a beautifully decorated Float, singing carols. They visited all the Small Christian Communities who welcomed them warmly and joined them in the singing and fellowship.

On 24^th December the ‘Helpline' presented Christmas Hampers to fifty poor families of the parish so that all of them could celebrate Christmas happily. Christmas Eve was very bright and appeasing with Eucharistic Celebration and 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 the dance items and in the singing. Items of group dance and songs were held.

MARATHI DAY CELEBRATION:

On 24^th Noveember our Marathi speaking parishioners calling themselves “Shaanwadi Marathi Sabha” came together for the ‘Marathi day'. The appointed area leaders for every SCC's had previously reached out to every Catholic Marathi speaking family, to plan for this day. The celebration began with the Eucharist with Fr. Bhaosaheb Sansare, SJ being 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 parishioners attended this event. It was a wonderful coming together.

KONKANI DAY CELEBRATION

Our Parish has a Konkani speaking group named as ‘Shaanwadi Konkani Sabha'. This group, in order to bring people closer to God through the medium of their mother tongue, organizes a Konkani Mass every First Sunday of the month and various activities during the year.

Their patron is St. Francis Xavier, whose feast they celebrate every year in a grand manner. A lot of preparation, in every aspect, goes into 'Amchea Goenchea Saibache Fest'. This year, Fr. Mario D'Souza, msfs, the Provincial of the Fransalians of Pune Province was the main celebrant. After the Eucharist, the air of festivity continued with a well-organized get together with a variety of Goan and Mangalorean dishes to tempt the taste buds. Every one who came enjoyed the event and went home asking for more in the years to come.

The Shaanwadi Konkani Sabha is well known for conducting “Shaan Rock” – Dance for Couples. This year it was on 29^th December. They had a very good response. In the coming years they have plans to have “Shaan Rock” every First of January.

TAMIL DAY CELEBRATION

Tamil Day celebration was held on 20th January 2008. This celebration is a celebration of the Feast of the Harvest known as “PONGAL”. This is a well known feast of the Tamilians, and 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 revive old memories of their traditional celebration. The preparations seemed to have put them all in a good mood of joy and happiness. Each family contributed towards the expenses of the same. The liturgy was well prepared by the Papal Seminary Brothers and DMI Sisters. The main celebrant was Fr. Maria Arul Stephen, Fr. Madhan, from Papal Seminary. The traditional decorations added colour to the feast. The most popular dish was the PONGAL – meal of the newest grains - which was served to all. Traditional games like breaking the pot and various other entertainment of dances 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 Seminary Brothers and DMI Sisters for animating the whole programme and for helping the people.

PARISH FEAST

We began with the Novena in honour of our Patron St. Francis de Sales on 18th 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 liturgy was well prepared. Participation of the parishioners was very encouraging.

CHURCH FETE

Every year the Parish conducts a Fete on the Parish Feast day to garner much needed financial help for its charitable arm ‘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 for raising funds. Soon after the festive Eucharist the Fete was announced open and people flock to it right up to 9.45 pm., in spite of bone-chilling temperature. The crowd that visited the fete was very satisfying. We enjoyed the togetherness during the fete.