Chaitanya, Shimoga, December 23, 2021: The Shimoga Multipurpose Social Service Society, Shimoga celebrated Christmas with the staff of the organization, the neighbours and the well-wishers on 23 December 2021. The celebration began with the Holy Eucharistic Celebration presided over by Most Rev. Dr Francis Serrao SJ, the Bishop of Shimoga and the president of the Shimoga Multipurpose Social Service Society. In his homily the Bishop explained the significance of every person’s name and why one’s life should replicate one’s name. Immanuel, "God with Us" truly lived accordingly. This Christmas calls us to become perfect human beings. God by becoming man has shown us how we can become perfect human beings. The priests from the negihbouring parishes and communities joined the celebration and prayed for the donors, the staff and all the partner families. The Religious Sisters too joined the celebration and shared the joy of Christmas with everyone present for the celebration.
After the Eucharistic Celebration Rev. Fr Stany D’Souza, the dean of Carmel Deanery and the member of the Governing Board blessed the beautiful Crib. The crib helps us to recall the First Christmas in the history of humanity. The cutting and sharing of the Christmas cake by the Bishop added flavor to the celebration.
In his Christmas message, the Bishop exhorted everyone to make this Christmas meaningful by caring those who are discarded, loving those who are unloved, sharing whatever we have with those who are starving and above all forgiving those who are not forgiven. This should be the spirit with which we should celebrate this year's Christmas.
Christmas is not receiving but giving. When we give, we receive is the experience of Christmas season for the Organization. The Director, Fr Clifford Roshan Pinto noted that this year the organization made the Christmas joyful and more significant by distributing 1950 blankets and towels to all Integrated Child Development Programme children and also to blind children in Shri Sharada Devi Andhara Vikasa Kendra, Shimoga, homeless people in Ananda Ashram, N. R. Pura, to destitute children in two boardings in N. R. Pura and to all children in all the boarding houses in the Diocese of Shimoga. This was possible solely because of the generous financial support from the Children’s Donation Project of Slovak Catholic Charity, Slovakia. The Bishop distributed special gifts to all the Priests and Sisters present for the celebration and also to the neighbours who shared the joy of Christmas with us. The staff of SMSSS received special gifts from the Bishop and Christmas bonus for their committed, dedicated service to the Organization.
After the Christmas dinner, the entire staff shared the joy of Christmas through Christmas tableau, Christmas dances and skits. The exchange of Christmas gifts with their respective Christmas friends was a moment to share joy and express gratitude. At the end the director expressed that in spite of the hardships due to the pandemic, SMSSS has been successfully implementing all the programmes and activities without much difficulty. Though economic crisis is a major concern, the benevolent God has generously blessed us with timely support from various donors. The celebration ended with the baila dance. On behalf of the entire staff Mr Vincent D’Mello and Mr Jagadeesha K. H. thanked the director for his love and concern towards the staff of SMSSS and noted that it is solely because of the hard work and efforts of the director the organization is doing excellent work and today’s celebration is an indication of the same.
WISH YOU ALL A HAPPY CHRISTMAS & A JOY-FILLED NEW YEAR 2022
