‘To Media With Love’ from St Aloysius College during Christmas Season!
Mangaluru: We can find the true meaning of Christmas when we shift our focus from “What will I get?” to “What can I give?” When we change our thinking from receiving to giving, we find the real spirit of Christmas. Giving our time to others and focusing on the needs of those around us helps us serve like the Savior and remember His significance this time of year. Serving and sharing fills us with the joy that comes from following Christ—a joy that can be seen and felt by those around us. And for that matter, the Jesuit Priests, the management and staff of St Aloysius College (Autonomous)-Mangaluru keeping in my mind and remembering the great contribution done by the media persons towards the college, hosted a fellowship Meal on Friday, 22 December to mark the forthcoming Christmas Feast.
Christmas has a magical aura that seems to draw everyone into the spirit of celebration. Colourful Christmas trees, glimmering candles, sumptuous cakes, melodious carols and Santa Claus act as the face of Christmas festivity. But the real spirit of Christmas is “about loving, caring and sharing the goodness and graces of God’s love for His people, and and coming of Jesus. St Aloysius College had a unique idea by hosting for the First time a get-together and a fellowship meal with the journos, who have been associated with the college for decades. Along with the media persons, also joined the bevy of management and lecturers of St Aloysius, and even Santa Claus, impersonated by Vincy Menezes from Nelliyadi who also joined in the celebration, which brought more charm and joy to the occasion.
The get-together began with a prayer song rendered by the College Teachers Choir, followed by welcome address by Dr Alwyn D’sa, the Vice Principal of the college. The chief guest of the occasion Dr A Narahari-the Registrar of the College in his address to the audience said, ” We should all remember that Christmas is a feast for all, irrespective of caste or creed. Christmas is celebrated with joy and harmony buy all faith, and we are seeing right here in the audience, with people from all various communities. Christmas is a feast to promote peace, goodwill, love and harmony in the community. The contribution of the Christians in the field of maintaining peace, love and brotherhood will be appreciated and they are living with sharing love each other with discipline. Christians share their love and happiness would be inspiring us. We have all people here living with unity and love without any effects of communal harmony. We are happy to have our media friends who have played a vital role in covering the activities of the College, and also for their support during the renaming of the College road issues. Amongst us is also the crew of our College radio Sarang 107.8fm, who have also been sharing the joy and love of Christmas over the air to the people. Let us all look forward to live in harmony, peace, love and caring, so that we can make Mangaluru a better place to live.”
Fr Praveen Martis Sj-the Principal of St Aloysius College also sharing the message of Christmas said, ” Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. It is festival of remembering the event of God becoming human being. The birth of Jesus heralded the Good News to the humankind that God loves people and because of this love He forgives people. Let this Christmas be a meaningful Christmas. Consumerism and materialism in form of joyous celebration is not wrong, but if we celebrate without understanding the true essence of Christmas, the entire merrymaking of Christmas is futile. Let us live the life that Jesus Christ wanted us to live; loving and forgiving our enemies and building a society on the foundations of peace, joy and brotherhood. Then, all these debates of tolerance and intolerance will not find any space in society; and we will live our lives as expected by God, as human beings helping each other rather than tearing apart each other.t bless us all! Media persons have been our great friends all these years, and we look forward for the same in the years to come. May Christmas season bring a new freshness, a new hope and a new strength today and through this New Year! “
Vincy “Santa Claus” Menezes also shared the message of Christmas and briefed about his journey on his two-wheeler where he spreads the message of love, goodwill and harmony during Christmas- and for his good work, he was presented with a gift by Fr Praveen Martis Sj. Also speaking on the festive mood, Fr Melwyn Pinto- Vice Principal while proposing the vote of thanks said “We know that the real meaning of Christmas is that God came down to take care of and love and forgive the ‘undeserving. Undeserving’ expands it to the whole universe; salvation is about the universe. It means we take care of not only humans, but animals and the planet too. Christmas is about taking care of everything and celebrating what God has done for us. Our sincere thanks to the media personnel for being our friends and we look forward for your support in future also”.
Following few more Christmas carols from the College Teachers Choir, the Christmas get-together ended with a sumptuous fellowship meal. The function was compered by Nivedha N-a II BA student. Merry Christmas!