By Cl. Shaun Sequeira SDB for BIS Mumbai

The Divyadaan Institute of Philosophy in Nashik celebrated the Marian Month with great zeal and enthusiasm. The whole month was organized and animated by the Marian Group of the community. The theme of the celebrations lingered on “Walk with Mary, Mother of Hope”. Interestingly, the brothers had also composed a Marian Anthem on the same theme and was sung almost everyday to honour Mother Mary.

 On July 16, Fr Ivo Coelho, the former general councillor for formation, solemnly inaugurated the celebrations, encouraging the brothers to participate wholeheartedly in all the activities of the Marian month. He also explained the significance of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, which was the feast of the day, deepening the community’s understanding and devotion and invited the community to deepen their devotion to her.

 For the month-long celebrations, the brothers were divided into four teams: Guadalupe, Velankanni, Lourdes, and Fatima, each named after a famous Marian apparition. The festivities began with a heartfelt letter-writing activity, where the brothers expressed their love, gratitude, and petitions to Our Lady. Special Rosary services were organized, fostering a deeper devotion to Mary through prayer and reflection. Almost every evening was coloured with an activity in remembrance of Mary.

 The first-year brothers presented inspiring sermonettes, delving into various virtues and aspects of Mother Mary’s life. The sermonettes were memorized and delivered with utmost care and devotion. A Marian Bhajan Service brought the community together, singing bhajans in Hindi and Marathi, expressing affection for their heavenly mother. In the Marian Serenade, confreres praised Our Lady in their own mother tongue, adding a cultural richness to the celebrations. The serenade evening was marked with heavenly voices singing the glories of Mother Mary.

 A Marian meditation reflected on the role of Mary in the life of Don Bosco, inspiring the brothers to follow her example of faith and service. The movie Mary was screened, providing a cinematic reflection on her life. Throughout the month, night games and daily recreational activities fostered team spirit and healthy competition. Creative contests such as Poster Making and Grotto Making further encouraged the artistic expression in honour of Mary.

 The celebrations concluded on August 10 with the much-awaited Marian Nite, an evening filled with fun, entertainment, joy, and a learning about Mary. The Marian Quiz was well participated by the brothers and almost all of them showed their love for Mary through their knowledge about her. Brothers participated with great enthusiasm and gusto, making the event a fitting finale to a month dedicated to deepening love and devotion to the Blessed Mother.