By Br Bryce Fernandes for BIS Mumbai

Mumbai, August 2026: As part of the celebrations of the Marian month, the boys of St. Dominic Savio Boys’ Home, Andheri, gathered in the study hall on Monday, August 3, 2026, at 9:15 p.m. for a drawing competition titled “Drawing Mandalas with Mary.” What is ordinarily an hour of books and notebooks became, for one evening, a quiet space of colour, prayer and contemplation.

The activity was introduced and explained by Bro. Bryce Fernandes, Prefect of Studies, who walked the boys through the meaning of the mandala, the circle as an ancient symbol of wholeness and harmony and unfolded the four Marian moments that the designs carried: the Fiat, Mary’s trusting “yes” at the Annunciation; the Magnificat, her song of praise and joy; Cana, where she notices a need and quietly intervenes; and the Stabat Mater, Mary standing faithfully at the foot of the Cross. Each mandala reflected one of these events, so that colouring became a way of entering the scene. Cl. Tritwar Katara accompanied the boys throughout the evening, moving among the benches and encouraging each participant in this spiritual experience.

Educational and spiritual value

The activity combined creativity, reflection and faith formation in a meaningful way. Educationally, it develops concentration, patience, fine motor skills, creativity and symbolic thinking as the boys work at balanced and meaningful patterns. The slow, repetitive, rhythmic movement of colouring within a bounded circle also helps to settle and regulate the nervous system, easing restlessness and bringing the body to a state of calm alertness in which prayer and attention become possible.

Spiritually, the mandala served as a quiet space of contemplation, inviting the boys to reflect on Mary’s faith, humility, courage and loving obedience to God, and to see her as a model of inner peace and discipleship. The evening was therefore not merely an art exercise but a prayerful journey of self-reflection and mindfulness, leading the boys towards a deeper relationship with God through the example of Our Blessed Mother.

In a season dedicated to Mary, the boys of Savio Home discovered that prayer can also be made with crayons, in silence, one circle at a time.