By Cl. Ralston Joseph Rozario for BIS Mumbai

On August 9, 2026, the spirit of devotion met the joy of community on Marian Eve 2026, as Don Bosco Nerul came alive with prayer, games, and youthful energy. The evening was declared open by Fr Allwyn Misquitta, Vice Rector, who cut the ribbon and garlanded the picture of Mother Mary. As a mark of love and reverence, members of the Marian teams then placed flower petals at the foot of the image, setting a prayerful tone for the night.

The audience gathered was a vibrant mix: 86 enthusiastic students from Don Bosco Nerul, volunteers from the Transharbour line and Airoli, a teacher, and the Salesians present for the event. Together, they filled the hall with laughter, cheers, and song.

The program began with spot prizes and a series of engaging paper games designed to draw everyone into the Marian theme. Teams tested their minds with Scrabble, jigsaw puzzles, and mazes, and their faith with a question-and-answer round on Mother Mary. A special highlight was giving the children a taste of finding and reading the Bible verse, reminding them that Scripture and devotion go hand in hand. True to tradition, each team also performed their yell and clap, filling the gaps between activities with energy and team spirit.

The lineup kept the momentum going. Marian Scramble and Space Jam Para challenged teams to think fast on paper, while Marian Dumb Charade in one round had everyone guessing and laughing. These brought moments of reflection with Marian Graces and one-word answers about Mary’s role in our lives. An action song was woven throughout, with My Life Is In You, Lord. Teams performed their clap and yell.

Other favourites included “Scripture with Mary” and “Run to Mary", where participants literally and spiritually moved towards the image with paper and Bible in hand. “Maze Runner Papers", “Spot the Differences", and “Guess the Number” added friendly competition. A fun spot prize round drew applause for the shortest hair for boys, longest hair for girls, and grey hair for any youngster, judged by Fr Allywn Misquitta.

The later sessions deepened both creativity and knowledge. “Encode and Decode" was tested, followed by the KBMC round, where each group got 3 minutes to shine. Teams then worked together on a “Paper Puzzle” and “Chart Decoration” with glue and A4 sheets, decorating the chart as an offering to Mary.

The evening closed with a gambling round, prize distribution, and snacks distributed with a takeaway, a memory to carry home. 

Marian Eve 2026 was more than a series of games. It was an evening where faith was celebrated through play, where 86 children and youth learned to find Mary in Scripture, in teamwork, and in joy.