Values for the Yatra DECEMBER 2012

7/30/2019 Values for the Yatra DECEMBER 2012

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Archdiocesan Value Education Centre (AVEC )E-Letter December 2012

ValuesValuesValuesfor thefor thefor the YatraYatraYatra

Called to be Value Gurus for Todays Young

Fr. Glenford Lowe sdb

The Value inCELEBRATIONS

Ioftenwonderedwhatwould lifebe like iftherewerenocelebrationsatall.Lifewouldbe

drab,monotonous,colourlessandstale.Therewouldbenomusictojivetoo,nowineglasses

tocheerandtoastwith,nobellstochimeandnogiftstoshare.Kitchenswouldn'tsmellso

spicyand

savory

and

dining

tables

would

lack

the

fun

and

laughter

of

friendship.

Thanks

to

celebrations thatcomes inallstyles:religious,cultural, traditional.There is Value inevery

celebration.We celebratebirthsanddeaths, anniversariesand the launchofnewbegin

nings. We celebrate with religious fervor our faith experiences, popular devotions and

pilgrimages.Attimes,thecommercializationofthesecelebrationsrobsusofitstruemeaning

andpurpose!

India,inallitsdiversity,isalandthatcelebratesmulticulturalism:linguistically,religiously,ethnically,culturally. While,

on theonehand, fundamentalismdividesand ruptures thecoreofunity,on theotherpracticallyallpeoplegather

togethertocelebratereligiousfestivals. ThemostpopularofthembeingChristmasandDiwali. Bothhavebecomeall

embracing,colourful

and

deeply

uniting.

ReligiousCelebrationsofferusmanyvalues.TheValueofaGodExperienceenablesus to

transcend mere temporal lifestyles and triggers us to embrace a Spirituality that adds

meaningandpurposetoourlives. Whenreligiouscelebrationsarehijackedbycommercial

exploits,thenallvalueislost:SantaClausreplacesthechildJesus,artificialbulbsreplacethe

Star, turbulencedistancesPeaceandvirtualcommunitiesdisplace the true family spiritof

Christmas.

Christmas isafestiveseasonnodoubtbutthetruemeaningofChristmas isthe lovingassurancethatGodcomesto

visit Hispeople.AnomnipotentGodbecomesfragile,becomesonelikeus.Divinityembraceshumanityandweare

onceagainmadewhole. Darkness isovercomebyLight,Sin isdefeatedwithGrace,hatredgiveswaytoPeaceand

forgiveness.GlorytoGodinthehighestheavensandpeacetopeopleofgoodwillisamessagethatgivesusnewhope

andourlivesarewarmerbecauseoftheloveofGod.

2012willsoonbeover.Timeistheonlyresourcegivenequallytoall.Onecouldinvestintimeorwasteitforever.The

qualityuseofonestimeisthedividinglinebetweenfailureandsuccess.Howhas2012withits356days,8,760hours,

525,600minutes,31,536,000secondsbeenforyou? Ifwellinvested,yourlifewillmovetheupwardspiraltomeaning,

contributionandsignificance.Ifnot,thoughchronologicallyanyearolder,youhavestagnatedintothepoolofdryness,

andmeaninglessness.TimeisaValueyoucantaffordtoignore.

AtChristmas,

Eternity

broke

into

time

to

give

us

anew

meaning,

hope

and

peace.

AVEC

wishes

all

its

readers

and

everyinstitutionaMerryChristmas.MaytheChristchildeducateusallintheschoolofGodsEconomyofGraceand

Love.ThereisnoValuedpathwithouttheGospelWay!


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CHRISTMAS STARS for UThe Person you can become!



LettheSTAROFHOPE

blazethroughyour discouragement,doubt,anddisgruntledness

NeveramIoutsideofmyGod,

Godisnotoutsideofme,

IamGodsradianceandGodsGrace

LettheSTAROFKINDNESS

radiatethroughwhatyouthink,feel,anddothisday!

LettheSTAROFREMEMBRANCE

glitterinthoughtsofgoodpeopleandgooddeeds.

LettheSTAROFSATISFACTION

shinethroughyourexpectations,wantsanddesires.

LettheSTAROFUNDERSTANDING

beam

acceptance

to

those

with

whom

you

have

difficulty.

LettheSTAROFOPENNESS

beawiderayofloveforthosewhoaredifferentthanyou.

LettheSTAROFACCEPTANCE

nudgeyoutoreceivethe

unwantedones

LettheSTAROFFORGIVENESS

drawyounearertothosewith

whomyouarealienated.

LettheSTAROFCOURAGE

growbrightinwhateverrequiresyourinnerstrength.

LettheSTAROFJOY

dancein

the

corners

of

your

heart

that

have

forgotten

to

sing!

LettheSTAROFGRATITUDE

encourageyoutobegenerouswithyourgifts.

LettheSTAROFPATIENCE

permeatethatwhichyoufinddifficultandirritable.

LettheSTAROFWONDER

drawyoutoappreciatethebeautyinandaroundyou.

LettheSTAROFJUSTICE

lead

you

to

speak

out

in

order

to

change

an

injustice

today.

LettheSTAROFFAITH

beamthroughyoubywhatyousay,doandthink.

LettheSTAROFAPPRECIATION

gleaminyouraffirmationofthosewho

reachoutandsupportyou.

LettheSTAROFCHARITYkeepyoubalanced

intendingtotheneedsofselfandothers

LettheSTAROFENTHUSIASMsparkleamid

yourtiredness

and

hurried

pace.

LettheSTAROFCOMPASSIONdrawyouinto

theworldswideexpanseofsuffering.

LettheSTAROFDELIGHTliftyourspiritand

helpyoutoseejoyinsimplethings.

LettheSTAROFDEVOTIONglisteninyour

workandinthecareyouoffertoothers

LettheSTAROFLOVEshinethroughyouto

the

persons

you

would

rather

avoid.

LettheSTAROFPEACE bearayofsteadfast

calmnessandtranquilitywithinyou.

JoyceRupp,OutoftheOrdinaryValue

LettheSTAROFLAUGHTER

sparkleinyoureyesandinyoursmileseachmoment.


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CHALLENGE OF CHRISTMAS?Two thousand years ago a child was born in a stable at Bethlehem of Judea. An

obscureplaceandincircumstancethatseemedtodefydescription. TheJewishracewaspre

paredfromtimesimmemorialbytheprophetsoftheOldTestamenttoexpecttheSaviourwho

wouldshowtomantheroadtopeaceandjoy,tohappinessandfreedom,toa lifebereftof

trialandtribulations,hatredanddistrust,toalifewhereamanwouldlookuponhisfellowmen

asbrothers

and

sisters

and

not

as

enemies

and

outcasts.

YetwhenHeactuallymadehisabodeamongmen infleshtheywerescarcelywillingtowelcomehim,accept

himastheirown,embracehimastheirbrother. Thisseemsstrangeatfirstsightbutitisthetruth.Therearemillions

whohaveheardtheChristmasmessageof loveandpeacethroughoutthe lengthandbreadthoftheworldthrough

theirparentsnearanddearones,themedia,andtheexemplarylifeoftheirneighbours,friendsandrelation.

InourownlandIndiathisChristmasmessageoflove,joyandpeacehasbeenpreachedtomillionsofpeoplebymany,

beginningwithStThomas,oneoftheprivilegedTwelve,handpickedandpersonallytrainedbyJesusChristHimself,to

whom inKeralaandtheMalabarcoastowetheirChristianity. TheyhavecarriedtheGoodNewstothecitiesand

towns,

districts

and

villages,

plains

and

mountains,

to

the

rich

and

poor,

the

privileged

and

the

unwanted,

the

Harijans

and the dispossessed, the Brahmins and the outcasts alike. But if the message was emulated and lived, then

dishonesty,corruption,jealousy, hatred, injusticethatarerampantinoursocietywouldbeconsiderablylessandthis

worldwouldbestillahappierplacetolive.

JesusChrist,thebeginningandtheendofallthingswasborninamanger,inthelowliestofthelow,inthehum

blestofthehumbleplacestoshowtotherichandthemighty,thepowerfulandthegifted,thatinHisKingdomthere

arenocastesorclasses,highorlow,nodistinctionsofanykind. ButinHisKingdomthereisrealequality;inequalityis

manmade. ItisforeigntoChristianity.HecametoshowtomanthathehastohumblehimselfasHedid,helplessand

shelterlessinordertobeHisrealfollower. Itwouldbeeasyforeveryonetodescendtothatlevelthantorisetothe

level

of

the

proud

and

the

powerful.

Those

that

are

low

need

fear

no

fall.

. Christianity isnomoreWesternthanit isEastern.Itisareligion,awayoflifethatChristhasbequeathedto

theentirehumanrace. Theonlydifferenceprobably isthat itspreadmore rapidly insomeofthecountriesof the

Westand isnowgraduallytakingdeeperroots intheEastand inIndia. It isadaptingmoreandmore localcustoms,

habits,culture,art, literatureandthewayof lifeof itspeopleto itsownneedsas ithasdone inmanyotherclimes

downthecenturiesandcanbeexpectedinthefullnessoftimetobethoroughlyandcompletelylocal,Indian.

TherejoicingthatisinawayassociatedwithChristmasisthenatural,spontaneousmanifestationofmanshap

pinessandjoywhich thehuman raceexperienced2000yearsagowhen thepromisedMessiahappeared inhuman

fleshinitsmidst.ThequalityoflifebasedonthepatternsetforthintheGospelswastobetheonlycriterionbywhich

theirwork

as

children

of

God

would

be

measured.

The

coming

of

the

Saviour

into

the

world,

His

birth

in

amanger

at

Bethlehem,isaneventsignalingjoy,love,hopeandpeaceformankind. VeronicaDLima




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Make A Difference

NOWHOWWHAT

WHO am I

DRAWa SYMBOLofMYLife

NOW..

DrawaSYMBOLofOTHERSinMY

LifeNOW...

SYMBOLof

GOD

in

MY

Life

WhatistheSEASONofMYLife

TheCOLOURofmyLifeNOW...

The Story of My LIFE ..Once Upon a Time?

PhysicalHealthandCareofBody

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

IntellectualCapacityandCareofMind

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

EmotionalMaturityandCareofHeart

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

SpiritualUprightnessandCareofSoul

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

RelationshipswithFamily

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

RelationshipwithMotherEarthandEnvironment

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

RelationshipwithGod

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

AbilitytohandleForgivenessandHurts

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

AbilitytoAcceptSelfandPersonalChoices

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

MyGreatestSUCCESS:

MyGreatestFAILURE:

MyGreatestFEAR:

MyGreatestANXIETY/STRESS:

MyGreatestHOPE:

MyGreatest

VALUE:

MyGreatestMIRACLE:

Where R U in life NOW?

Everyonehasastorytotell...sharethestoryofyour 2012journeysofarwithsomeoneyoutrust!




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Labyrinth garden: Valued LIFEAn opportunity to get in touch with God, Others, Nature and Self



Overthepastthreeyears,AVECincollaborationwithDonBoscoYouthServices

(DBYS)hasorganizednumerousCamps inMissionandLeadership,Retreats for

Students and Young Adults, Recollections for Catechism and Confirmation

Groups.Literallythousandshavetakenpartinourprogramsandfoundthemas

lifechanging

experiences.

When

asked,

What

was

the

best

part

of

the

program?,theimmediateanswerwouldbe,TheLabyrinthPrayerGarden!

TheLabyrinthPrayerGarden isasoulsearchingexperiencetoget intouchwith

yourself,others,natureandGod. Itsanopportunityprovided toenableyou to

make the deepest journey within and to discover the treasured Kingdom

therein.TheLabyrinthPrayerGardenexperienceisforallagegroupsandforpeo

pleofall faiths. TheLabyrinthGardenhasaverycolourfuland tranquil setting

thatblendsfromaninitialInwardJourneytoanOutwardJourneythatprepares

you to meet the world with a new perspective. Its the Journey metaphor!!!

TheInwardJourneybeginswithStageOneonSlowingDowntolistentothe

Spirit,andtowalkinawareness.TheSecondStageenablesyoutodwellonthe

Importanceof theNowMoment. Ina fastpacedworld, the Now is often

forgotten. WhydoIWorry? istheThird Stageofthejourney.Holdingonto

oneshurts,pains,disappointments,failuresisonlyaddedbaggage.LetGoand

walkfreeistheexperienceonehasaroundawaterbody.Bynowtheinnerjour

neybecomesalotmorechallenging!Silencebecomesyourbestfriendbynow.

StageFourofthejourney IntheGardenofReconciliation isagreat leveler.The

pain,hurt, abuse, shame andguiltof thepastbrings tears.Forgivenessdoesnt

comeeasy.Ittakesstrengthandgracetobeaforgiver.Onlyonewhotrulyexperi

encesforgiveness,canbeaforgivertootheJesusway.The ForgivenessExperi

ence is really turninga NewLeafexperience. InStageFive,youare invited to

focusonyour Distractions in life.Oneneeds to resetand refocuson the True

NorthprinciplesandValuesthatgivedirectionandpurposetooneslife.

Bynow,one isengulfed insilence,personalmeditationand inadeep SacredSpace.

StageSixofthegardenisthecentralHolyPlace.YouareGodsfavourite,thecrown

ofallcreation!Surely,thejourneywithinisalwaysthelongestjourney.Somehowalong

theway,thehaste,worry,stress, pain,unforgiveness,andthedistractionshavegiven

waytoaslower pace,aninnerpeace,alightenedmindandaforgivingheart.TheSoul

hasalsobegintoglowagain!Thewholejourneysofarhastakenclosetoanhour.


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Onceyour innerworld isset inplace, theouterworldwill recreate itself tomeet

you.The Outer Journeynowbegins. If youwant to change theworld,be the

changeyouwanttosee,saidGandhi.HereatStageSeven,one focusesonSelf.

Changemuststartwiththeperson inthemirror.DiscoveringtheWorthandValue

thatlieswithinistrulyafaceliftinitself.Youdon'thavetohidebehindanymasks.

Dare tobe the real you is the challengenow. Stage Eightof thePrayerGarden

invitesonetocontributetotheworldbypromotingaCultureofLife.Yourpurpose

inlifeistoenhancelife.Bybeingalive,youenableotherstobefullyalivetoo.

StageNine

of

the

Labyrinth

is

centered

of

the

Tree

of

Rosaries.

It

is

amoment

of

deepconnectionwithallthosewhohavebecomeapartofyour life. Offeringa

prayerofblessingwhileprayingoveryourrosarybeadsisapowerfulexperience.

Atthisstage,prayerisbroughttolifeandlifeisbroughttoprayer.NeverhaveI

prayed likethisbefore, isacommonexpressionbyall. Inprayer,youbecome

moreprayerful.Prayerfulpeoplediscoverablessinginevery encounter,experi

enceandexpression. TheGod inyou,meetstheGod intheother!Personsare

GiftsfromGodtoenrichyourlife.YoutooareaWonderfulgifttoselfandothers

Everyoneiscalledtomakeacontributiontotheworld.StageTenisapointerin

that

direction:

Leaving

a

Legacy!.

Life

is

more

that

just

walking

on

the

sands

of

time.Youwillberememberedbythefootprintyouleavebehind. Howlastingis

yourfootprint,yourhandprint,yourheartprint,andyoursoulprint?Istheworld

abetterplacebecauseyouwalkedthroughit? Attheendofyour lifeyouwill

be remember for thecontributionsyoumade tomake thisworldabetterand

loving place. Two beautiful poems Footprints and Desiderata wrap up thewholeexperience.OnecomesoutofthisLabyrinthGardenExperiencephysically

refreshed,mentallycalm,emotionallyhealedandspirituallyrenewed.Wow!!!

LABYRINTH GARDEN EXPERIENCE

AVECincollaborationwithDBYSMatunga

OffersyourInstitution/Church/YouthGroupthepossibilityof

ThisuniqueSpiritualExperience(max40people).

Tobookortomakeenquiries,pleasecontact:

DBYS:02224154106/65291129

AVEC: 02224154477

Fr.Glenford

Lowe:

9619699940


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RELIGIOUS VALUES

Christmas Card & Carol Singing

MakeanOriginalChristmasCardwishingPeace,Joy

andLovetoallhumanity.

Invitestudentstocomposean

ORIGINALCHRISTMASCAROLwithlyricsthatpromote

ReligiousPeace,JoyandHarmony overalltheearth.

Forclarifications,pleasecalltheAVECofficeResults toreachAVECOfficebefore27/12/2012

AVEC COMPETITION

DIAMOND VALUES:

Teachers Lesson PlansLastdate:December27,2012

Prepareafull40minuteLessonPlan(bothstudentsandTeachersmanual)onanyofthe12DIAMOND

VALUESofyourchoiceforanyclassfromStdIStdX.PleasegothroughtheStructureandtheSummaryof

the12DiamondValuesasproposedbyAVEC.

AVEC COMPETITIONS




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Values for the Yatra is an initiative to provide Animation Resources for Teachers

involved in Value Education in the ABE schools/ Jr. Colleges .Values for the Yatra will be published

every month and is for . Your valuable suggestions are most welcome to assist us

in making Values for the Yatra a useful tool of animation and bonding among the teachers and stu-

dents of the ABE schools in Mumbai.

Fr. Glenford Lowe, SDB / Rochwyn Fernandes / Sr. Vera / Veronica Dlima

AVECDon Bosco Youth Services, Matunga 400019 , MUMBAI

Ph: 24154477

[email protected]

avecmumabidbys.blogspot.com avec mumbai

Congratulations to the Winners

SCHOOL NAME STD POSITIONSeniors

CanossaHighSchool,Mahim JessyR.saldanha XC First

CanossaHighSchool,Mahim JenniferR.Saldanha IXE Second

St.AnnesHighSchool,Fort KairaviSoni IXB Second

CanossaHighSchool,Mahim MahimaJain XC Third

IntersSt.CharlesHighSchool,Vakola MruanayeeKhanvilkar VIIC First

DonBoscoSeniorSecondary,Nerul LizaSimonGard VIII Second

HolyCrossConvent,Kalyan SrushtiPatil VIIB Third

HolyFamilyHighSchool,Chembur NidhiR.Shah VIIIA Third

HolyFamilyHighSchool,Chembur PrantiT.Shah VB First

St.AnnesHighSchool,Fort SaraMayekar VIB Second

CampionSchool,Fort DhruvBhagchandani IVA Third

St.AnnesHighSchool,Orlem TejashreeM.Valvekar VI Third

Juniors

AVEC DIAMOND VALUES COMPETITION

AESTHETIC VALUES

I am Wonderful and Valued



Becoming a Diamond Student Day by Day ...

Values for the Yatra DECEMBER 2012

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