Athlete, musician and dancer wants to be priest

Athlete, musician and dancer -Arpan Munda

AZIMGANJ, (Augustine Toppo) – Arpan Munda is good at sports, music and dancing. His favourite subject for study is English language. Arpan, 19 years old, plays volley ball and guitar. At school he stood first in 600 mt race and long jump and was an “A” grade dancer. Now he has joined the Salesians of Don Bosco pre-novitiate to become a priest.

“As a Salesian priest I want to work for youth because they are the powerful strength of society and to glorify God,” says Arpan Munda recalling Jesus Youth celebration at Bandel, as his most memorable event in life.

“Arpan is very much interested in his vocation and has determination to achieve his goal in his life. He is sociable with his superiors and with his companions, devoted to duties or tasks assigned to him. He is also a man of sports and cheerful.” says Fr. Rector of Savio Bhavan Fr Samuel Mondol.

“I get lots of inspiration from Salesian priests, and the hard work they do. They do not have any selfish motivations,” says Arpan who spent six years in the boarding.

“When I was studying in primary school, I used to observe the Salesian priests, boarding boys and girls. I found them very smart and cheerful. I started thinking what makes them so happy, and got inspiration to go to Don Bosco boarding and to find out even though my parents did not want me to go as I was the only one at home,” recalls Arpan narrating his vocation story.

Arpan’s first contact with Salesians was with Fr V.L. Paul then director of St Albert’s Boarding and parish priest of Monsadah, in North 24 Parganas, a parish on the Indo-Bangladesh border.

Belonging to Scheduled Tribe from Srimantopur village under Gopal Nagar Police Station in North 24 Parganas dist of West Bengal, Arpan did his schooling at Genrapota High school staying at Monsada boarding. He completed pre-college studies fromDonBoscoSchool, Bandel.

Toppo wants to be model

Toppo enhancing his computer skills.

AZIMGANJ, (Arpan Munda) – Pre-novice Augustine Toppo who hails from Pardeepa in Jharkhand state belongs to Dalmandi parish and wants to be a top model Salesian.

“When I grow up I want to be model for the young people and to be a leader,” says Augustine who plans to dedicate his life for them.

His aim in life is to preach the good news of Jesus to all the people.

‘’I find Augustine a jovial chap, and contented pre-novice. He is very optimistic, hard working, responsible and reliable,” says Rector Fr Samuel Mondol.

His memorable events with Salesian’s thus far are the vocation camp at Hatia and community day at Bandel.

Born sixth son of a devout Catholic family of Patras and Anjela Toppo, Augustine has five brothers and a sister. Belonging to the Oraons tribe, Augustine did his primary studies in a school located near home. However for his high school, he bicycled 5 Km to Turbunga.  His desire for offering himself to the Lord grew when he was just finishing his high school, while writing his board exam.

He lost his mother when he was preparing for his class-X exams.

Fr. Sunil Kerketta, the vocation promoter of Salesian Kolkata province advised him to attend the vocation camp held at Don Bosco Hatia near Ranchi, state capital of Jharkhand.

At the camp, Augustine was selected for the Kolkata province and joined the aspirantate at Savio Bhavan for a year-long coaching in English language. Then he went to Don Bosco Bandel in Hooghly district for his class XI-XII studies and returned to Savio Bhavan as a pre–novice for 2012-13.

Candidate from Baruipur diocese

Saurav Mondal, a Pre-Novice.

(Azimganj, Naresh Marandi)- –Sourav Mondal saw the light of the day on 18 December, 1991 in the Basanthi hospital of Baruipur diocese. There are 6 members in the family residing at the village called Mariapolly under the district of 24 Praganas North. He is the youngest son of the family.

He completed his Higher Secondary studies in the year 2011 from Vivekananda high secondary school, Jeliakhali.

His favourite subjects for study are Geography and Philosophy, favourite hobby is playing Keyboard and a favourite sport is football.

He came in contact with Salesians first time when he attended the first vocation camp in Kalyani at Don Bosco Vidyaneketan.

After attending the vocation camp in Kalyani at DBV he got inspired through the work of the society of St. Francis De Sales, especially work for the youth and caring for abounded children. He came to know more about Don Bosco and his mission. Before he had joined in the Society of Jesus but he did not succeed to achieve his goal and he decided to discontinue. As he was wandering to join another congregation, one day, one of his friend who was pre-novice at Savio Bhavan encouraged him to join in Salesian congregation. So he decided to join and attended the vocation camp where he received the love and affection which he held in his heart firmly.

As a Salesian apostolic ministry he wants to work among the young people.

“The day of Holy Thursday is the most memorable event with Salesians, when Fr. Rector washed our feet and kissed it. I felt very much loved and the affection shown by him. I will never forget this incident,” says Sourav Mondal from his experience.

“He is very active and firmly determined person,” said Firoz after one year of experience being with him.

           

Group Integration for P.N.C

Group blending of PNC’s by Fr.P.T.Matthew,SDB

AZIMGANJ, (Saurav Mondol)–We the pre-novices of Savio Bhavan had Group integration course last week. It started of 18^th June which was animated by Rev.Fr. P.T .Matthew Sdb. It was of six days course which we attended. The course was based on self awareness and building friendship.

On the first day we had sharing of our lives and difficulties which we came across. On the 4^th day we had a session on basic life positions. Through which we came to know that every child adopts a life stance for life position about himself and other people.  This stance may involve a position of self acceptance (I am OK), or a position of self-rejection (I am not OK) and towards others an attitude of acceptance (you are OK) or rejections (you are not OK).

Basic life positions involve feelings that peoples have about themselves and others that are feelings permanently recorded in the early life. These four basic positions describe the predominant attitudes of people towards themselves and others. They indicate a stance towards life as a whole and not necessarily a person’s particular feeling at one moment or the other. On 5^th day we had a session on the journey towards self-discovery which helped us to discover the followings: who am I? Who is the real ‘ME’? How can I know the ‘real me’? Let us start the journey to self discovery. There are five levels of crossing at which we must stop. On the 6ht day we had an evaluation of the course and we concluded it with by a thanksgiving adoration service.

“I felt extremely happy the way you all responded. It was my first attempt for the group integration course” said Fr. P.T. Mathew. “It was very enriching experience which made me aware of myself”, voiced Bernard Mardy. “It was really a wonderful experience through which I came to know more about others and how to live with others” said Peter Ansari. “It was life touching experience for me. It helped me to see my different qualities and I changed negative qualities in order to develop my future life,” said Agustine Toppo.

Day at the pre-novitiate

Community at morning worship

Azimganj, (Naresh Marandi)—Rising at 5.20 a.m. the candidates move on to do their morning physical exercise / yoga practice. Ten minutes adoration at 6.20 a.m. is followed by Holy Eucharist and Morning Prayer. Breakfast (chana / suji / pea /chowmein, tea and bread ) follows the hour long prayer.

After 45 minutes of morning chores the candidates have three and half hours of classes. The subjects taught include Salesiana, Liturgy, Religious Education, English Grammar, Literature and Elocution.

In the afternoon, at 12.30 p.m. lunch consists of rice, dal, fish/egg/meat curry and fruits. After lunch the candidates have hobby practice (keyboard, piano, harmonium, tabla, Congo, flute, typing and computer).

After singing practice at 2.00 p.m. manual work for one hour follows at 2.30p.m.

Bread and tea at 3.30 p.m. is followed by games (basketball/volleyball, or football), bath, personal study and evening prayer at 7.30 p.m.

Supper at 8.00 p.m. is followed by national television news, recreation, rosary, night prayers and personal prayer till 10.00 p.m. when the candidates retire to bed.

“As we know that health is wealth and physical exercise is very essential for our health and it prevents us from all kinds of sickness and keeps our body healthy and mind sharper,” said pre-novice Deepak Barla commenting on the advantages of regular exercise.

“During the morning Eucharistic adoration I thank the Lord for giving me new life and new day. I offer my day to God so that I may do all the activities well,” said another pre-novice Mohan Kisku.

“I am very happy with my time table as I get sufficient time to study. I didn’t feel how quickly time passes,” added candidate Johny Soren.

Candidates work towards bonding

Pre Novitiate Course 2012-13

AZIMGANJ, (Arpan Munda) — The Aspirantate of Savio Bhavan in Azimganj for Salesian Pre-Novices of Kolkata province, has many candidates coming from different parts of Eastern India namely from the states of Jharkhand, Odisha and Bengal. They speak Bengali, Santali, Oriya, Sadri and Hindi languages.

The immediate problem they face, as they begin their life together in the community is speaking English language.

Due to this, often they shy away from each other and stick to their ethnic language groups.

“It was very difficult for me to deal with the other candidates, as I have joined the group one month later. But gradually I learnt English language and now I am having better language skills,” said Deepak Barla, a Sadri speaking boy.

Another Pre-Novice a Santali speaking boy Mohan Kisku added, “by seeing the seniors of the previous course speaking English I took keen interest to learn the language and enjoy the fruit of it with the community members.”

“The aspirants come here with open mind and lots of eagerness is found in them. Apart from that two Brother Assistants and other Staff are there to help them out. Of course with the counselling from Fr. Rector,” said Fr Samuel Mondol explaining the problem which occurs each year at the start of the pre-novitiate programme.

“Eventually they are united in Salesian Mission, in one group,” assured the Rector Fr. Mondol.