We, the members of the Andhra area had decided to celebrate our ever awaiting day of Founder’s day with colourful faces, joyful events and prayerful occasions. We chose the theme for founder’s day celebration was “BEING MERCIFUL DEHONIANS”, since our pope Francis is insisting us to show the merciful face of Jesus to whole world.
The day before the celebration, our theologians and fathers arrived to Dehon Prema Nilayam and some went to Nambur to stay that day at night. The official celebration started at 7.30 a.m. in our minor seminary, Dehon prema Nilayam, Gorantla. The day began with a prayer taken from “this day of God”, garlanding to the picture of Fr. Dehon at the entrance of the house, cake cutting as a sign of inauguration of the celebration and taking group photos wearing the new t-shirts’ which symbolized the unity of Dehonians.
We, all indeed felt the spirit of Fr. Dehon, through the Quiz competition, poems, articles, Drawings and sculptures. By this, everyone revealed how deep their eagerness to know and study the life and teachings of our founder. Before the lunch we had indoor games like, caroms and table tennis and after the lunch we started outdoor games like, cricket, volleyball and basketball.
The most important event of the day was the holy Eucharistic celebration, presided by Fr. Jojappa C.H. and the homily was delivered by Fr. Jesus. It was a complete prayerful atmosphere through which everyone could feel the chorus of the angels and saints along with us to praise the Almighty God for the gift of our Founder.
After the mass, we had the cultural programmes in which our brothers brought out their inner hidden talents to make others to laugh, to think, to reflect and to share. At the end of the cultural event all winners and runners were rewarded with prizes. And then we moved for supper by that the celebration was ended. We had three times, the delicious food for all the cooks of the different communities came together to cook on this day. They were also rewarded.
It is being fulfilled the words of Jesus “that they may be one”. For all the fathers and brothers have come together to share, to live and to work out the spirit of our Founder. This attitude showed the unity in diversity. We wish a very happy Founder’s day to all and thanks for your wishes and prayers.
