Bicentenary of Don Bosco’s Birth and Community Day were celebrated in a grand scale in our Auxilium School premises, Anmarudai on 30.01.2015. The presence of our beloved Bishop, Rt.Rev.Dr.Soundara Raju Perianayagam sdb, the Bishop of Vellore, South India heighted our joy. At the very start Don Bosco’s Bicentenary memorial was solemnly blessed by the Bishop and a dove was let free as a sign of our abounding joy and our desire for peace in our country and in the world.

The Bishop then accompanied by the community sisters was escorted by the school children of Cubs and Bulbuls and was given a warm welcome in all solemnity. A well prepared cultural programme by every sector of our community and especially of Auxilium kids - their meaningful skit, fluent English and their colourful dances - were delight to the eyes and the ears of all the spectators present. The Bishop was pleasantly surprised about the formation the children receive in our school and he appreciated the hard work of the teachers and the sisters.
After the cultural programme there followed the Eucharistic celebration with a liturgical animation, thanking the Lord for the gift of Don Bosco and for the gift of one another in the community and the entire educating community who keep alive the Charism of Don Bosco. The simplicity, humility and the holiness of our beloved Bishop touched the heart of all who listened to his sermon where he elicited his humble beginnings and charity that raised him to greater heights to the extent of being shepherd of the flock of Vellore Diocese. He urged us to nurture great love for the Church of Christ and for the poor and those in periphery. After the Mass we had together a fellowship meal.
Joy filled our hearts as we bid good bye to our Pastor Rt.Rev.Dr.Soundara Raju who came to us in God’s name and brought us abundance of God’s blessings. To God be glory! Long live Don Bosco!

Sr.Josephine Rani Susai INM - FMA

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The year 2014, August 16th marks the beginning of the bicentennial birth celebration of Don Bosco our Father and Founder. This whole year is given to the Salesian Family to prepare ourselves for this great festivity which will commence on 16th August 2015. The various initiatives taken by the Province and the communities are great help for the members of the Salesian Family to celebrate this feast with due preparation.

ANIMATION FOR THE CATHOLIC PARENTS: The Salesian world is jubilant at the commencement of the bicentenary of Don Bosco’s birth.  On the 13th of August 2014, we invited the Catholic parents of our educating community to experience the wealth we have inherited from our saintly Father. Around 150 parents and teachers responded to this initiative and came sharp at 03.30 p.m. to the convent chapel where Sr. Adaikalam Pauline Juile conducted a prayer service. Rev. Fr. David Yesumanikam SDB from DBCAD, Citadel exposed the Blessed Sacrament and shared the early life of St. John Bosco and his spirituality. He gave the Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament and concluded the service.  The parents and teachers were very happy and thanked the Management for the opportunity given to share in the spiritual wealth of the Salesian Congregation. Some of them expressed their desire to become cooperators.

INANUGURATION OF THE BIRTH CENTENARY OF DON BOSCO: 15th August 2014 was celebrated with great joy as it was the beginning of the bicentenary year. Mother Provincial Rev. Sr. Soosai Magnificat, Sisters of the Community, teachers, students and the members of the Educating Community were gathered outside the auditorium with gas balloons, ribbons, placards with the face of Don Bosco on it. The flag of Don Bosco was hoisted by Rev. Sr. Soosai Magnificat, our Provincial. 200 Balloons were let fly and Don Bosco Anthem pierced to the skies. Rev. Fr. Leo Joseph SDB, the Director of Don Bosco Vazihatti, Chennai Province, was invited to be the chief guest of the day. To mark this historical event a well prepared programme was given by our students on the stage depicting the life of Don Bosco. The chief guest also added colour and beauty to this celebration with his special speech on the intervention of Mother Mary in the life of Don Bosco.

COMPETITIONS: The Oratorians had the joy of participating in the Drawing, quiz competitions and enactment of incidents from the life of Don Bosco.

ORATORY SPORTS DAY: On the 16th of August 2014, on the birthday of St. John Bosco, and as we begin the birth bicentenary celebration, the boys and girls of the Nirmala Oratory, Fatima Convent marked this event with sports events. Seven Salesian cooperators were present to solemnize this day. The celebration began with honouring of the Saint with songs, skits and dance by the Oratorians. Then the students had the march past. Rev. Sr. Lazar Maria Nirmala, the animator of our community was the chair person and received the salute. She declared open the sports meet. Boys and girls had separate events. Rev. Sr. Lazar Maria Nirmala gave the concluding talk quoting incidents from the life of young Johnny Bosco and invited them to utilize their God given talents and opportunities to grow as good and honest citizens of our country and congratulating them for their wonderful performance. One of the cooperators Mrs. Susan also shared her thoughts on Don Bosco and said that they must be happy but not at the cost of ruining others happiness. The cooperators generously shared their joy with the Oratorians and offered them cakes and eatables at their own expense.  The Children praised Don Bosco for the gift the Salesian family and went home very happy carrying the prizes they won for their success in the sports events.

BECCHI WEEK 18.08.2014 - 24.08.2014

A special initiative named “Becchi Week” was taken by the Province to celebrate the Bicentennial birth celebration of Don Bosco. The following programme was put up on the notice board the programmes were carried on according to it.
18.08.14        - Vision of Don Bosco at the age of nine
19.08.14        - Dream of Don Bosco on the three pillars -love for the Eucharist, Mary and
                         Pope
20.08.14        - Don Bosco’s dealing with the boys to make them Saints.
21.08.14        - Marian Devotion -Special intervention of Mary Help of Christians in the life of  
                        Don Bosco
22.08.14        - Don Bosco and the mysterious dog “Grigio” - God’s protection
23.08.14        - Closing ceremony & Film on Don Bosco
24.08.14        - Camp fire
During this week good morning and good night thoughts were on Don Bosco on the above themes proposed by the Province. The vision of Don Bosco at the age of 9 was enacted. The important devotions he inculcated were made known to everyone. Don Bosco and the mysterious dog Griggio was another item the students enjoyed. On 23rd for the closing ceremony the children presented the songs on Don Bosco composed by them, speech, dance and maxims of Don Bosco. During this week, a film on Don Bosco was screened to all the students in the auditorium. 

QUIZ ON DON BOSCO: A quiz on Don Bosco was conducted in written form for all the students in their own classes and the semi final was conducted in oral form. During closing ceremony the finals was conducted at the local level. These children were taken to Chetpet on 01.11.2014 for the zonal level quiz competition.  Three of them were selected for Province level quiz and it was held in Madurai on 14th January 2015. Felcia of Std. IX took part in it and secured third place in the province level and she was awarded on 24th January during Provincial Community Day in Broadway.
Don Bosco quiz in Tamil was conducted for the house staff of our house in two rounds. They prepared themselves well and took part actively and won in the prizes. They were awarded during  the camp fire on 24th August 2014.

CAMP FIRE: The mega event of this Becchi week was concluded with a Camp fire conducted in our campus on the 24th of August 2014 for the Sisters and the young girls of our house. The fire was lit by Rev. Sr. Lazar Maria Nirmala, the Animator of the Community after which all joined together and sang around the fire, “Hail to you O Don Bosco”. Poems, songs, playlets, dances were performed by both sisters and the girls. Maxims of Don Bosco were delivered by them. Different games were organized to make this campfire more active and vibrant. Prizes were given to the winners of the Don Bosco quiz by our Animator. Each item enthused and filled everyone with happiness. The joyous atmosphere filled us with the spirit of Valdoco and each one felt the family spirit abundantly.

YOUTH FEST: The youth fest celebrated on 22nd January 2014, the feast of Bl. Laura Vicuna the model for young people and the product of Salesain loving kindness had a different tone this year. Rev. Fr. Joseph Franklin SDB, the Assistant Parish Priest of Don Bosco Shrine, Aynavaram was invited to be the chief guest of the day. He spoke on the good qualities of the young people and the ways and means in which Don Bosco used to bring out the best in each youth of his time. They also performed songs, mime, and the playlets on the young saint of the day and on Don Bosco. 

READING OF DON BOSCO:  Added to all these, the community spends an hour once a week to read about Don Bosco and to deepen the spirituality of our Father and Founder St. John Bosco.