On the first days of December, Brothers who came from Tamil Nadu for the holidays were helping us especially in vocation promotion as well as taking some lessons in the Schools. The first day of this month was Sunday, Brothers went for the “fishing of men” to the Schools hostels which are nearer: Samtoli and Rengarih.
After long struggles, it came a time for the marking of the land which will be later given to us. It was a sunny day so the three Brothers who were working there, were half burnt in the sun while they were marking the land, even the servants of the Parish could not bear the scorching sun.
Another day, some Brothers traveled to the Diocese of Gumla because they have to finish the sponsorships from the NGO Carumanda; on this day, the Brothers who came from Tamil Nadu were teaching in Primary School.
The Brothers’ holidays are coming to an end on 4th, and, as Bro. Subash’s house is near to Rourkela, they went early to visit his house and then to the railway station. His house was in the middle of a jungle where there is no electricity or phone tower. It was a rough and tough road with lots of ups and downs. Bro. Suresh, his companion, could not imagine a life it is possible there, then he suggested him not go there next holidays but to go with him to his house, where there is better road and is more safe. We could only receive a message form the Superior in that evening saying that they were in the middle of a jungle, though they did not see any elephant or bear, etc. Brothers arrived in the Community at 9.15pm, and then they took supper.
For Christmas there are lots of programs organized in the Parish. Parish Priests were celebrating Mass in different villages every day as preparation of Christmas (for Advent). They were busy in this matter. Brothers found time to meet the Bishop of Simdega for the land matter, because it was very necessary. On 7th Brothers went for purchase some Christmas decoration, but unfortunately Bro. Selvan and Bro. Efra slipped from the two-wheeler, fell down, but they were luckily not wounded; the problem was that it took place in the middle of Kurdeg (bus stand) so that everyone took notice of it. Almost all the carpentry works are finished. The next day –Sunday- we had Recollection Day in the Pastoral Center of Simdega, where we spent most of the day.
On 10th we had special supper: we were trying to grill some pieces of beef…, the result was not bad. Exams were started in all the Schools. The next day, Parish Priest instructed us not to go out in the evening and to go to sleep early for MCC men shot a man in Kurdeg at 3.30pm. Our prayers were hurried on that evening. On 14th Bro. Efra and Bro. Raja went to give some scholarships in the Diocese of Khunti; then they visited the Calazancian Sisters and Patka, a remote place where Fr. Alfaro (Piarist) was staying and building a school –now unfinished; there Brothers found the majestic statue of the Holy Family sponsored by Eluru Community. Bro. Abhay came with us till Simdega so he could bring solar panel and inverter that we bought in Simdega.
Christmas Gathering of Religious and Diocesan Priests was held at Tainser parish. We celebrated as a family; everyone –religious and priests- were asked to express our view of Christmas at the end in a tone of prayer. On 19th we had community meeting about the Christmas Programs and Holidays; by this time all the exams were over. The following day at our Parish there was All Christian Churches Gathering where GEL, WMC, RC and some other small community churches gathered together. All expressed their Christmas wishes, later some competitions were held with the donation of some prizes.
21st was the last working day of the year, some Brothers went to prepare greeting cards in Simdega and then gave a greeting of Christmas to the Bishop. The next day a Christmas Gathering was organized by the Youth in Sarapmunda, village nearby Kurdeg. We, together with a Priest and some Sisters including the driver, were 12 persons in a Mahindra Bolero. There we sung Christmas Carols. The next day Brothers distributed Christmas greetings with a cake and calendar. On 24th we could not feel as Christmas; it was a different Christmas for us (at least for some members of the Community). In the evening we went to Parish and Convent to sing some carols in front of the cribs. At night, in the Vigil Mass, some were helping in distributing Holy Communion and some were playing instruments in the choir. We went to sleep very early morning (or late in the night). For the morning Mass also some Brothers attended and were helping. We played cricket in the evening; this Christmas was totally different from other years in the community of Madurai. We greeted Christmas Festivals both the Communities of Eluru and Madurai. On 26th Bro. Efra started his trip to Eluru. What boring days we are spending: no school, no place to go, no cinema… Some could not feel as if it were in Christmas time. On 29th no vehicles were moving so Bro. Abhay left for home by bicycle. At present we were three in community; in the evening we had a community walk. On 30th December, the Holy Mass was at 6.30am. On the last day of the year we connected our solar panel and inverter which gave light to all the rooms. On 31st December, we were little upset because there was no Vigil Mass at night, only in the new Year Morning Mass.
