CONTENTS Christmas…There’S Something Nostalgic About This Season That Brings ‘Home’ Into the Centre of Our Attention
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DON BOSCO'S MADONNA HOME AT CHRISTMAS Mumbai DECEMBER 2017 vol.19 No. 9 here was a time in the not-too-distant-past when we seniors or super- seniors remembered Perry Como or Sinatra singing: ‘I’ll be home for Christmas’T or something similar…as we headed down the last lap before CONTENTS Christmas…There’s something nostalgic about this season that brings ‘home’ into the centre of our attention. From The Editor's Desk: It becomes beastly cold in the Western hemisphere so our ‘dears-in- Home At Christmas..................3 the-diaspora’ strive to head back to our shores in shorts and sneak- Grandparents ers…to celebrate Christmas with us. And we all look forward to their - Jeanette Brimner...................4 homecoming. For those who can’t make it, we’ll get our tech-savvy kids to set up Skype or some other social media to make contact on Youth on the Move: “Very Christian” Christmas Day. Truly Christmas is a reminder of the mystery, joy and Christians heartache of ‘home’ in our lives. - Gianni Palizzi.......................8 Some don’t and won’t come home…and this brings a tear to some Salesian Saints: aged eyes. There’ll be bittersweet moments too during this season that Bl Maria Troncatti...................10 make us all uncomfortable…but we console ourselves in the hope that maybe they might turn up next Christmas. We hope they will realise Vocation Story: Cl. Christovan Cardozo..........12 that they’ll receive nothing less than a huge welcome. The Christmas homecoming is not just about a house or family. Witnesses In And For Our Times: Somehow this homecoming reminds us that ‘home’ is more a ‘state’ Bl.Urban V...............................13 than a ‘place’ where memories are cherished, bonds are strengthened, hearts are warmed and ties are reinforced once more. Why is this? Lectio Divina: Heralding the Good News A Blessed Christmas - Ian Pinto sdb.....................16 Why such an emphasis on home and family? to All The poet Gerard Manley Hopkins, begins his poem: Quiet Spaces: A Father’s Caress Thee, God, I come from, to thee go, - Pope Francis..........................18 We wish all our friends and All day long, like fountain flow. Johnny The Derby The mystery of the coming of Jesus is that the Son of God and Son of - Fr. Ian Doulton's Collection 20 benefactors and those who Mary, makes his home among us. We say that in different ways: ‘he help us in a myriad ways to came to his own home and his own did not receive him’; the word was Facets of His Life: Light And Heat In made flesh and lived/dwelt/made his home among us’. the Century of Great Inventions reach the poor and the We may, in a busy, more faith-distant world, lose the sense of God - Natale Cerrato........................24 marginalized both in our being our home. But just because we can’t get our minds around this Reflecting on Mary: Predestined idea does not negate our human homes for, in the words attributed to - Gianni Sangalli...................28 cities and the countryside, Teilhard de Chardin, ‘we are spiritual beings on a human journey’; and the graces of a holy, our deepest belonging, whether we know it or not, is for the Divine. Walking With the Church: A Candle in the Window at Christmas.......................30 peace-filled Christmas. How do we make this “home” part of our lives? What might this mean? In our ordinary homes, all of us pitch in to spruce the place up NewsBits...................................31 You and your families are for the season which demonstrates our care for it and gives it a sense In a Cheerful Mood.....................32 remembered in our of being a home and giving us a sense of belonging. The Devotion of devotions and the Masses Many appeals will come through our mailboxes urging us to help the Three Hail Marys............33 make someone else’s home a bit more Christmassy. Would we put up Loving Children to their celebrated throughout the the latches, switch off our phones and doorbells and put up huge DND Loving Mother........................34 Christmas Season at the signs so no one will disturb us at home? But who knows? By doing that They Are Grateful to who might we shut out? Maybe that knock was His…and He passed Our Lady & Don Bosco..........34 Shrine by because and He saw our DND… Could you still have a merry Thanks to Dear of Don Bosco’s Madonna. Christmas? I don’t think it’s possible because we realise that we truly St. Dominic Savio...................34 aren’t at home! Fr. Ian Doulton sdb December 2017 2 Don Bosco’s Madonna December 2017 3 Don Bosco’s Madonna has carefully put together. CEL SERIES When Willa’s daughter, Anne, the youngest of five, married, life GRANDPARENTS seemed be going well and Willa By Jeanette Brimner spoiled her three little grand- children. Then tragedy struck and obody can do for little child- Dutch words and has enrolled Anne’s husband was in a terrible N ren what grandparents do. them in an International school car crash which left him brain Grandparents sort of sprinkle where teachers relay to them damaged and unable to resume stardust over the lives of little chil- Dutch customs and traditions. his role as the loving husband and dren.” This quote was said by the The children love hearing about my sister and I were small and the dad he once was. Willa step- writer Alex Haley, but we know St. Nicholas Day on Dec. 6th when serenaded the islands while dad ped in and has been helping her that grandparents can also deeply ‘Sinterclaas’ gives presents to and Grandpa took him boating daughter and grandchildren cope, influence their older grand child- good children and Black Peter through the lagoons. besides directing the Church choir ren too. reprimands the naughty ones. An avid reader, Grandpa wo- and giving attention to her other Since grandparents from all Erica makes attractive, well or- uld tell us about the stories he had grandchildren. This happened over the world come from vari- ganized scrapbooks which show read and his photographic mem- about a year after Willa’s husband ous cultures, they have a unique family photos, and postcards sent ory allowed him to relay all the was killed in a helicopter crash. opportunity to teach their grand- to her from Holland where many details. He worked until he was “When I feel I can hardly go on I children about their backgrounds of her relatives still reside. She seventy-two in his book bind- ask Jesus to give me strength and and history by sharing their mem- also keeps souvenirs of shared spe- ing factory and still rode his bike he never fails me,” she told me a ories, traditions and culture. This cial events so the children can look until a few days before he died at few days ago. She is a great can be done using family scrap- them over when they come to age eighty three. We learned from example to both her daughter and books, photo albums and journals. visit. Because Erica has a strong him that people can be energetic her grandchildren who love her so Through family outings and cele- faith she encourages her grand- and enjoy life (If they are blessed much! brations God has also given children to rely on God and she with good health) well into old My great niece and nephew liv- grandparents many opportuni- prays for them often. Her late age. ing in Canada’s capitol, have lear- ties to share their wisdom and husband would be proud of her Willa came to Canada from ned from their Persian grand- their faith with their grand- ability to relate so well with the Belgium with her family when she parents the value of the extended children. newer generation and despite was very young. Her parents being so busy with other concerns, bought a tiny farm in Southwes- always reserving time for visits tern Ontario and were doing quite with her grandchildren. well until her dad was suddenly When my Grandpa Smith was killed in a tragic car accident eight, he came to Canada from when he was only forty two. His Scotland by ship with his large wife was left to run the farm with family and his dad cleaned the the help of Willa and her seven stables on board to pay for their sisters, and she taught all of her fare. When Grandpa was in his girls that with God’s help they Pierre Teilhard de Chardin S.J., sixties he travelled with his oldest could be strong and endure any a well-known Christian writer grandson to places in Canada and hardship. Willa passed on to her assures us that “The future is in the U.S.A. while regaling him family and grandchildren the the hands of those who can give with memories of Scotland which Belgium attitude of perseverance tomorrow’s generation valid my brother passed on to us. He and hard work as well as an reasons to live and hope.” also treated us to the rich short- unrelenting faith in God’s provi- Erica, from Holland, settled bread and tasty oat cakes that he dence. She has taught her grand- in Canada when she was nine- had enjoyed in Scotland. His children about the relatives she teen. She has taught her grand- friend, an avid bagpiper, once left behind in Belgium through children to count and speak a few visited his summer cottage when scrapbooks and photo albums she December 2017 4 Don Bosco’s Madonna December 2017 5 Don Bosco’s Madonna family doing things together God for his many gifts instills in such as “Why are we told to be including going for walks, having them a sense of wonder and honest when politicians lie to us frequent family dinners and gratitude.