FR.ELISEO BIANCHI

                                                              Cl.Mavron F  SDB

Born: 22/8/1914

Professed: 8/12/1931

Ordained: 30/1/1944

Died: 1/12/1991

     Fr.Bianchi was born at Lumezzane, Italy. He came to India in 1940. He worked in Matunga, Lonavla and Yercaud. He went back to Italy for some time. On his return he served as catechist at Kurla, Borivili, Baroda and Matunga. In1988, he came back to Lonavla till his death. He was a multi-faceted person. He was known as ‘Jack of all trades as well as Master of all.’ He was an excellent carpenter, musician, dramatist story-teller, gymnast and a teacher.he was very interested in music and scouting. Towards the end of his life, he spent much of his time at the crucifix weeping in moments of intense pain and suffering.

Don Bosco: a visionary and the missionary.

                                                                 Cl. Sachin Kadam SDB

Vision and the mission are the two sides of the same coin. We can not hold on to one and leave the other. These two aspects are clearly seen in the life of Don Bosco. He was fully human and fully divine. The dream he had at the age of nine, of being the shepherd to the poor and abandoned youth, helped him to discern the divine plan in his life.  With God’s grace and Mary’s guidance he brought it to reality.

Don Bosco was a passionate visionary as well as missionary.  As a visionary he was very much focused in his life. He allowed God to work in his life. He used to seek timely advice and guidance from the people who were close to his heart like his mother mamma Margaret and Fr. Cafasso who was his spiritual director. As a visionary he saw himself to be a priest and his first goal was to save the souls of the young.  His vision was: Da mihi animas, coetera tolle!

As missionary he was not self-centered but altruistic. Whatever he did was for the greater glory of God. As missionary he focused on Evangelization & Civilization. Firstly he made his boys good christians and secondly good citizens. He found real joy in sacrifice and the radical life of being poor. His trust in the Lord and our Lady was admirable all through his life, sustaining his vision and supporting his mission. 

The Need to Be……

                                                                  

                         

                     Among the glories in glistering white

One can wave out to polar bears

All white!

In the brown painted mud

One can fall on the brown earthworms

With a thud!

And still in the discolored sea of life,

You will find little grey fishes

Gently touch your feet in strife!

Life can be ever changing

With little hope of getting better,

Unless you decide…...

To stand back and make it better.

If the polar bears are less,

And fishes more in number

You are called to be in polluted waters

Nearer to the shore!

Being what you’re meant to be

Will give meaning to life and thee!

In the hour of a mission that has a need,

You are the need just needed!

                                                                                          

                                                                   Cl.Chris

SEARCH FOR GOD

     A young man one day left his home and went in search of God. He traveled from village to village. In every village he went he did not find Him. Then he proceeded to the forest. He thought that he would find Him in a quiet and deserted place. Even in this place he did not find God and with disappointment he started back for his home. As he was passing by a village he found out that this village was struck by a dreadful epidemic. When he heard this news he volunteered to help the village to cope up with this epidemic. Day and night he helped the doctors and the social workers to treat the villagers. He was very effective in his work and was very happy with himself.

     One day as he was sitting beside an old man and feeding, he started talking to him. As they were talking, the old man had tears in his eyes. The young man did not understand this and the old man hence held out his hand and told him, ”In this time of difficulty you have helped us without hesitating. You are like God to us.” When the young man heard this he also had tears in his eyes. This is the time when he realized that God abides in us and not outside us. We are in the image and likeness of God.

     Many a time we search for God at different places and at every corner of the world and not inside of our hearts. He is always in our hearts but it depends on us whether we acknowledge the presence or not.

                                                                                                                            Cl. Ronald Vaz