by Cleric Bless Rumao for BISMumbai

Keeping abreast of trends and meeting young people online with the balanced creativity of Don Bosco, wa the though behind taking the novena to St. Dominic Savio and the celebration of his feast day online, at Don Bosco Lonavla. The current crisis provided an excellent opportunity to soloemnly animate the Dominic Savio novena through social media.

During these days, the novena prayer to St Dominic Savio was prayed daily before the morning Mass. Stories based on the life of Dominic Savio were sent every evening for 09 days via WhatsApp in the video format. An online quiz in the honour of St Dominic Savio was conducted on Sunday 05 July in the morning. A question bank was sent at the start of the novena. The questions asked for the quiz were based on the question bank and the daily stories sent to them. A total of 46 participants submitted their answers. The Dominic Savio Novena reached its crescendo with the solemn live-Eucharist on Monday 06 July at 6:30 pm. The winners of the quiz were announced after the mass.

Jess Lopes from Vasai, the winner from class 8 says, “I spent the whole afternoon studying and understanding the question bank and also the videos. I was very excited that my hard work bore fruit and I came to know that I came first.” Prince Swamy from Baroda, the winner in class 9 says, “I was also nervous because I did not know much about Dominic Savio. Regardless of this, I studied well and had a smiling face when I heard that I had come first.” Harry Sabastian from Aurangabad, winner in Post 10 shares, “I would study the quiz for 04 hours a day. I heard all the stories carefully and noted down the important sentences. I understood that God’s grace and hard work are keys to success.” Jignesh Christian from Gujarat, the winner in class 12 and Post 12 says, “If you do good preparation and practice for something then you always get good fruit for it. I thank God for blessing me for the hard work I had done.”

Daily phone calls are made to ensure the boys and their families are keeping safe and healthy. Also, the boys are expected to participate in responding via WhatsApp groups to the questions asked during the daily morning mass . The parents are very happy with this online-spiritual animation of their children and take great interest in activities. The Salesians at Don Bosco Lonavla believe that this is the best form of Salesian presence in the present challenging times.