Mangaluru: Christmas was celebrated at St Aloysius P U College at Loyala Hall on December 23. The formal programme began on an auspicious note with a prayer. Student Council Joint Secretary Simona Fernandes welcomed the gathering.
Speaking on the occasion, Fr Clifford Sequeira S. J. said that Christmas is a solemn celebration of connectivity. He said, “God sent his Holy Son into the world to save us and Jesus reconciled us to the Father and made us the children of God. Society is polarized and hatred is increasing. We need to rise above all that and come together as one. Christmas should be an occasion to get in touch with not just people but nature as well.”
Fr Sequeira further said, “Ecological spirituality, he said, recognizes god in nature and invites us to preserve and conserve our Mother Earth. Christmas also allows us to connect with the poor. For it is among the poor that God is found.”
In closing, he said that Christmas is not celebrated once but every time we love, forgive or bring happiness to someone else. He wished the gathering that may this Christmas strengthen the bonds and be an occasion of joy, happiness, and fulfillment.
Speaking on the occasion Coreen Rasquinha, Chief Guest of the occasion, commenced her address with a Christmas song and said that as everything gets ready for Christmas, the essential part of the celebration is left out. “While Santa Claus is a part of the celebration, it is Jesus Christ who needs to be remembered and celebrated. We must open our hearts to Jesus,” she said. Concluding her message, she urged the gathering to follow the light of Jesus and live the life he lived. She wished all a blessed Christmas with a melodious Christmas song.
A felicitation ceremony was organised to honor the achievement of Jeetesh, a recently passed-out student of SAPUC, who cleared the naval SSR examination in the very first attempt.
The formal programme was followed by a cultural programme. Finance Officer Fr Vinod Paul S. J, Vice-Principals Charlotte D’sSouza and Muralikrishna G. M., and programme convener Neetha Dsouza were also present.
