RELIGIOSITY AND SOCIAL LIFE

What a wonderful month: Especially the beginning of this month was Sunday and then the following day was the Presentation of Our Lord. This very occasion is celebrated as a day dedicated to all the Consecrated men and women. This is year our Mother Church commemorates the Year of Consecrated Life. Many at times this day is also known as the candle day. In our early Eucharist in Kurdeg not so many had attended Holy Mass; we had short procession inside the Church with the candles.  During the day, we wished all our greetings to other Community Brothers through Viber, WhatsApp and Facebook, for these were the easy means to wish them though we get less coverage in our mobiles.

At the beginning of February, the whole Community ate out in Simdega were some works had to be done. There was Mela, which means funfair, and some of it will be moved to Kudeg after few days. These days the Schools have arranged sports day. It was held on 4^th of this month. All the schools participated well enough in all the competitions. As Chief guest was the Bank Manager and the Special guest was the S.I. of Kurdeg. All the staff members had been divided into groups, so the teachers has to be in their own group accordingly they were provided a badge of the colour to which they belonged. This made a competitive sense among the students as well as the teachers.

On 5^th there was a final Hockey Tournament which was held in Tainser. The final match was won by our school, many of the school staff have gone to encourage them. It is custom here that whenever the people get a prize (usually a goat), they used to bring it to all around and show the villagers and schools. It is a kind of encouragement and happiness they feel many times; the people who see also give something to encourage them.

These days we were moving to Mela (in Khalijore) where the whole village is gathered. At least to have a look at the things and shops which are there.

Around 9^th of this month all those who were going to write exams (Board Exams) had a Holy Mass before they leave from the Schools both Nirmala and St Anne; soon after the Mass there was farewell in the school. In the same day, there was also picnic with some of the staff members along with players of the school. 

On 11^th was the day dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes; as a Community we went in pilgrimage to Bagai, a village where there is a grotto of Our Lady at the top of the hill. It is not so far so we went by walk as some Brothers knew the way to reach that place. Soon after reaching the village there was a procession from the foot of the hill to the peak. We were praying Rosary. To reach top there is no proper way, many fell down while climbing the hill: there were young people who were very fast in climbing up and old people who were very slow to move. Downhill also many fell down; these was a kind of sign that everyone needed one another’s hand while walking. We were safe that none of us did touch the floor. Mother Mary showered rain with heavy wind on that day evening; unfortunately we had not any means to cover ourselves to return to home. One of the relatives of Br. Anand, who live there, aided in giving us umbrellas, which were not successful in sheltering us from the water because wind was so strong. Even a Brother, who came by bike, took Sisters in the scooty and fell down on the way because roads were so muddy and slippery to ride.

On 16^th of this month the Final exams of the 10^th students in Jharkhand started: teachers and parents were more worried about exams than students. Every day one or two teachers had to go to Simdega to greet them. It is also a custom that students have to go the centre of the District to write the exams.

In the meantime, Brother Superior was arranging papers for the purchase of the Land. Even headed to Ranchi, mostly he comes with news of unsuccessful work. It worries us especially our Community. In this place of Kurdeg we, Holy Family Brothers are more known as English Medium Brothers than whom we are. Sometime things are not done according to the expectation.

18^th was the Ash Wednesday, we celebrated Holy Mass with all the School students because on this day all students are allowed to receive the imposition of the ashes, included Hindus. We kept day of fasting and penance. Every year we do so, we remember Lenten season in spending time in fasting, penance and prayer. May the Lord bless all so that may our prayer and penance help us personally and the Community.

On 28^th we received the visit of the Jesuit Father and Advocate who is dealing with our Land; they came to Simdega and to Kurdeg. They had a look of the land, collected papers and other documents, had the lunch with us and went back to Ranchi. We hope that the Lord will help our Community so that we may flourish in this place of Kurdeg sharing our Charism by the means we could.