Vibrant-Zestful-Ebullient-Lively-High-Spirited 140th ‘SACAA Reunion’Bash held in Gusto & Full of Life
Vibrant, Zestful, Ebullient, Lively, High-Spirited 140th ‘St Aloysius College Alumni association (SACAA) Reunion’Bash held in Gusto & Full of Life
Mangaluru: 12 January Every Year is a date that no alumnus of St Aloysius Institution wants to miss, because it’s date of St Aloysius College Alumni Association (SACAA) Reunion Bash, which is held without fail, unless there is a earth quake/cyclone/floods- or unexpected Curfew that was unnecessary clamped few days ago. For years SACAA Reunion has been hosted without skipping any year, and this year was no exception. High school or college seems like just yesterday. That is, until you’re opening a mail that happens to be an invitation for SACAA Reunion. It’s shocking, the realization that much time has really passed since we were hopeful professionals, entrepreneurs, scientists, doctors, engineers etc. These were the people who were involved in an important school/college years of your life. Aside from all of the activities and fun at school/college, everyone has a place in the memories you made there.
For decades SACAA Reunion was hosted at the St Aloysius High School Grounds but since last year it is being held at Ladies Club, Mangaluru just a few meters from SAC Campus, and this year too the Reunion was held at the same venue on Sunday, 12 January 2020. And this year the Reunion falling on a weekend, and that too on a Sunday, the vent saw a huge crowd of Alumnus of SAC with their family members and friends, and made it a grand extravaganza of fun and frolic, and much more. The chief guest for the occasion was Fr Dionysius Vaz SJ, Rector of St Aloysius Institutions and guest of honour-Fr Praveen Martis SJ, the Principal of St Aloysious College, joined by a bevy of other Jesuit priests of SAC. Following a invocation by a group of Jesuit Scholastics, the President of SACAA Santhosh Kumar Kadri delivered the welcomed address.
On the occasion, Isaac Vas, the President of Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and also Alumni of SAC was honoured. Fr Denzil Lobo SJ former Rector of SAC, and Director of AIMIT-Beeri gave a short musical performance which mesmerized the crowd. A few other well-wishers and donors were felicitated on the occasion. In his address the packed crowd, Rector Fr Dionysius Vas SJ said, “Every big tree in the world started out small before it was nurtured to its full potential. While St Aloysius Institutions is also celebrating Foundation Day, it gives us a sense of mission and purpose. Nine Jesuits came to Mangalore in 1878 and started this institution in 1870, and today we reflect on the very early days of this institution and how far we have come as an institution, with a motto “Lucet et ardet” (Shine to Enkindle) And so we present to God our stories of Joy, of Gratitude, and of Fulfillment”
” One of collective humanity’s most important quest is the understanding of the past and its relation to the present. We have Four preferences of Jesuit Institutions for the next 10 years worldwide, they are- 1) To show the way to god through Spiritual Exercises and Discernment; 2) To walk with the poor, the outcast of the World, those whose dignity has been violated, in a mission of reconciliation and justice. 3) To accompany young people in the creation of a hope-filled future, and 4) To collaborate in the care of our common home. You Alumni, are the face of our institutions and our Vision of creating man and women for and with others in the larger society. You are our goodwill ambassadors in the World- and while St Aloysius College is Deemed to be University, we seek your support towards the development of the University” added Rector.
Following his address to the audience, Rector then launched the Website of SACAA, and the formal function ended with vote of thanks by Compere Capt Patrick Pais- the Secretary of SACAA. Now it was all set for Revelry time, where the vivacious, ebullient, lively, full of life, high-spirited, scintillating, vibrant, zestful, energetic, dynamic, and what not- the “one and only” star attraction of the evening Compere Ms Lavita Menezes kept the crowd alive and in a revelry mood through her witty punchlines and professional compering. According to the organizers, they had worked tirelessly for the last two months to reach out as many past SAC students to attend the function, and they were lucky to get hold of a large number of alumni who showed up for the event.
SACAA Reunion was a time to cherish the moments and fun that the Alumnus had when they were students of this prestigious institution. It was a nostalgic journey down the memory lane for these classmates/students of SAC who came together for the Reunion Bash. The memoirs of yester years were once again rejuvenated as they all shared their memories of those olden, youthful, cheerful days full of happiness and joy. To enliven the atmosphere there was not only live music but also few spot games, floor dance and lots of friendship cum fellowship, together with a sumptuous spread of food that added spice to the occasion.
Like it is always said that “Once an Aloysian, Always an Aloysian!”- and so it was, for all these Aloysians in pride meeting together and cherishing their good old days at the SAC, and rejoicing on their achievements that their Alma mater was responsible. And 12 January Every Year, the old “boys” of St Aloysius College- Mangaluru join in for the great fun, and the crowd was predominately mixed, with young and old, gents and females, boys and girls, who were joined by a bevy of Jesuit priests in their best attire in formal slacks and shirts, which was hard to distinguish between “Rev. Fathers” or “Mr. Fathers” in the crowd- but everyone had a jolly good time.
And for that matter, being an old student of St Aloysius High School/College during the 1980’s, I had the immense pleasure of meeting many of the staff and students during that time. Some of my classmates and seniors have already turned grey, some have gone bald, some have lost teeth, some have become rich and some are trying to become rich, some are still hanging around in Mangaluru involved in various profession, some entrepreneurs- while some minting money abroad, but come down during Christmas holidays. It was indeed fun to meet all of them, thereby interact and share our news and views over a glass of our favorite drink! Call me a lucky dude- ’cause I was treated to a few “cold ones” by a bunch of these SAC alumnus with love. A Drink in exchange for a photo clicked by me- a perfect bargain! Wow, what a gesture and a kind treat-what more could I ask for?
The Celebration incorporated various spot games, live music, baila dance and lots of other goodies and fun. Audience were swayed to the melodious songs from a few alumni, including Kishore D’silva. The live band “Rhythm Mates” comprising of three talented young boys, all alumni of SAC transformed the atmosphere into a world of music through their rendition of oldies rock and pop, Konkani, Bollywood and of course, Baila numbers. The Band comprised of Wilton Merwyn Fernandes ( Keyboards); Elton D’souza- Vocals, and Dixon Wayne Rodrigues (Vocals and Guitar)
As the sumptuous buffet spread was opened, the baila beat reverberated the venue and those who could not resist dancing, both young and the old, had a gala time.To sum it up the SACAA Reunion 2020 will go unparalleled in history, while the snapshots incorporated along with the report here speak for themselves. Many exclaimed “Oh what an awesome reunion it was!” I will keep January 12, 2021 marked on my calendar to be free that day and attend the next Reunion bash for sure ! Call it a “Sunday Night Fever!”- What a perfect weekend to have this “SACAA Reunion 2020” on a Lazy but Fun Sunday, but come SACAA Reunion 2021, it will be on a Tuesday-Oh No!
Happiness is being with an old college-mate after a long time and feeling like nothing has changed. It’s the oldest story in the world. One day you’re twenty one and planning for someday, and then quietly and without you ever really noticing, someday is today, and that someday is yesterday. And this is your life. Sometimes you have to accept the fact that certain things will never go back to how they used to be. Sometimes, even when you’re having a good time, you can’t help but stop and think about how much you miss the old times.We have had a good time while we were young, but it is in the nature of Time to fly. We did not change as we grew older; we just became more clearly ourselves. In the end, you always go back to the people that were there in the beginning.
Meeting up with people from St Aloysius Institutions gives us a little piece of the past back. And no matter how much things have changed and continue to do so, we’ll always remember the people we shared those golden years with.That’s the fun of going to a high school reunion: it’s seeing the people who you were close to all those years ago, and re-exploring the relationships of the past. Reunion reveals friendship potential that haven’t yet been emerged in the past. On the lighter side of vein-“Reunion after long separation is even better than one’s wedding night”- this SACAA Reunion 2020 with music, songs, dance and drinks in full swing the party raved till late night and the SAC alumni/ae finally reluctantly bid goodbye to each other, while specifically asking for more such reunions to be organized and draw plans to repay their Alma Mater in the best way possible.
We Alumni of SAC take different paths in life, but no matter where we go, we take a little of each other everywhere. And as they say “An Aloysian is Always an Aloysian”- and that’s what we are, and will be Proud to be an Aloysian!