Don Bosco: A Gift to the Church, the Society and the Youth By BELLAMKONDA Anthony SudhakarHyderabad, Feb. 2. On 30th & 31st January 2014, Don Bosco Navajeevan Homes in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad (of Andhra Pradesh) celebrated the feast of Don Bosco. On 30th January a cultural programme was organized for the community neighbourhood at Don Bosco Rehabilitation centre of Pragathinagar, Ramanthapur. The 31st of January 2014 witnessed the laying of the foundation stone of the 4th Don Bosco Navajeevan Home closer to the Railway Station at Kachiguda, the inauguration of the 'Don Bosco Shop' for the sale of the Bakery products and other things produced in our workshop and Printing Press and finally the commencement of the Crystal Anniversary of the Don Bosco Navajeevan Homes in the Twin Cities (1999-2014).
The foundation for the much awaited home for the street and working youth at Kachiguda was laid on January 31, 2014 by Rev. Fr Raminedi Balaraju, the Provincial of the Salesian Province of Hyderabad (INH). Ms Sucharitha Thakur and Mr Satish Vadlamani, representatives from GENPACT, graced the occasion with their supportive presence. Boys, ever zealous, were of course, very much involved.
Soon after the inauguration, there were some games organised for the children of the various centres of the city. A sumptuous meal followed. Before the Holy Eucharistic celebration in the evening, the 'Don Bosco Shop' was blessed and inaugurated. Situated at Ramanthapur, the shop would be a distribution point for the various products churned out by the several units of the twin cities, especially the bakery products. Fr Philip, the Vice-Rector and Administrator of the community cut the ribbon and it was blessed by Fr Belamkonda Sudhakar, the Director.
A well prepared Holy Eucharistic celebration, with Fr Y. M. Joseph, the Parish Priest of Bollarum as the main celebrant was participated by several Priests and Religious of the neighbourhood. Besides the boys, the staff and their families too made it a point to partake in this spiritual celebration. In his homily, Fr Gova Showry spoke of Don Bosco as a gift to the Church, the society and to Youth. Just as Mother Teresa saw in every sick person the face of Jesus, Don Bosco saw in every youngster, the face of Jesus. Special prayers were offered for Master Narasimha from the Nampally unit for his good health.
A colourful cultural programme prepared by the children under the creative direction of Br T. Pradeep concluded the festivities of the two days. A documentary of the various activities of Navajeevan services too was screened for the guests.