A walk with a dog..!

A walk with a dog..!

Walking is a healthy habit. It keeps one in good health and shape. Though I enjoy walking I don't get it to do everyday because of my uncertain schedules. Today I made it a point to go on a longer walk. As I came back to my friary from the Lady Hill convent school after the retreat to the students I rested for a while and started my walking journey. 

As I was out of our friary gate I found a dog with only three legs. A feeling of empathy surrounded me and thus I  started talking to him in my language and he in turn responded in his language. The surprising thing was that he accompanied me up to Kadri Park, which is approximately 2 kilometres. From there I got into the park and walked about 6 kilometres on the walking path which took me almost 1 hour 10 minutes. Being tired I walked out of the park and for my surprise I found my three legged new friend waiting for my company. All my tiredness vanished away and with the spirit of joy and pride I walked with my new friend towards my friary. 
Felt blessed to receive the love and kindness from a dumb, handicapped yet a generous hearted animal.

Blessed and beautiful is the creation of God..!

Retreat in the school

Retreating the young minds...

It was an awesome day with the young students of Lady Hill convent School, Mangalore. Along with Fr Joy D'Souza, Capuchin I had the privilege to conduct a semi-spiritual retreat to the students of this convent school today. Rev Sr Leticia, AC the headmistress welcomed us. Sr Livia,AC along with other staff​ of the school helped us to make this day a memorable one to the students. 

Rev Fr Joy, Capuchin and Sr Levia, Ac

Rev Sr Leticia, Ac

Action songs

Tomorrow we will be concluding the retreat with the Eucharistic celebration in the evening.

A day at Moodubelle...

Last Saturday, that's on 18th of February 2017 I had the opportunity to attend the meeting of Formation commission of Karnataka Franciscan Capuchin Friars at Assisi Nivas, in Moodubelle town of  Udupi.

Moodubelle is a small and picturesque town located 13 Km from Udupi. This town is located between Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats of Karnataka in Udupi taluk.

Assisi Nivas is a beautiful formation house of Capuchin Friars where the PUC students reside and do their studies in Moodubelle Church PU college. Here below are a few snaps I clicked during the day...

Let your Light Shine this Diwali...

"We are told to let our light shine, and if it does, we won't need to tell anybody it does. Lighthouses don't fire cannons to call attention to their shining- they just shine." 

- Dwight L. Moody

Deepawali or Diwali is certainly the biggest and the brightest of all Hindu festivals. It's the festival of lights (deep = light and avali= a row i.e., a row of lights), which literally illumines the whole country with its intensity and dazzles the faithful with its joy. Whatever be the traditions practiced by the people near and far one thing remains true and constant is the celebration of life and its goodness. The true spirit of Diwali not just lies in lighting up your house with candles, fairy lights and burning the toxin filled crackers but in spreading love, light and joy in everyone's life. 

This Diwali shall we go beyond and light up someone's life?

1.      Light up your Room

Perhaps this is the first thing one has to do this Diwali. The room one lives in needs  the light not just of the bulbs and tube lights rather of the cleanliness, fragrance and orderliness . Dust free, well arranged and organized living room would bring the rays  of light in the forms of  good health and happiness.

2.      Spend a few days at home this Diwali season

We forget how precious our parents are. Children grow up and get busy with their lives, the older folks are often left behind. Make their Diwali special by being with them rather than being  away on the picnic with the workplace colleagues.

3.      Teach something to homeless children

Teach them the English alphabet or how to string together a sentence or two. Teach them choreography on the latest Bollywood hit. Teach them how to play an instrument or how to make a paper carft. Sponsor a meal to a poor child’s family in your locality.

  There are a good many other ways where one could celebrate and make this Diwali a memorable one.   Let your light shine and may it illumine at least one individual’s life this Diwali 2016.
 

First Post

First Post and the journey continues...

After a gap of some years I am back to the business that gives me satisfaction. I enjoy reading and then writing. Past few months I ignored this beautiful hobby of reading not purposely but circumstantially. Due to the theological exams, pastoral exposure and other commitments  I couldn’t keep a track on the books that I had stopped reading. Though being busy in different commitments did not deter me from buying the new books. I did buy a set of wonderful books which I’m planning to have them read during the course of this year 2016.

Reading and writing goes hand in hand I believe. During the past year I had stopped reading the book Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. Yesterday I resumed reading it and I tell you it was the right and the best book to begin the New Year with. I must thank the author E. Gilbert for such a strong motivation to live a creative life during this year 2016.

I also resumed reading the novel by Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina. I have it in my Amazon Kindle. It shows me that I have some 29 hours more to finish. It an interesting read.

This afternoon I happen to visit and meet with a family of old couple. This couple is in such a miserable state where no one wishes to stay with them and serve them. Initially I was very sympathetic towards them for their sorry situation, but later as I conversed with them I was enlightened that its not the abandonment of their two children that has lead them to this pathetic state but their stubbornness. With all the patience I listened to their anguish and woes. I had no many words to console and strengthen them. I gracefully wished them the blessings during this New Year. (Perhaps in the future posts I shall share about this family)

Yes I did begin my New Year well. I’m sure I will continue doing so during this year. This year has a lot of things stored in for me. I pray the blessings of Almighty God on all the plans and events that are going to happen during this year. May God bless us.