Lent begins with Ash Wednesday

It's a day of penitence to clean the soul before the Lent fast. Ash Wednesday is six and a half weeks before Easter Day.

Why is it called Ash Wednesday?

Ashes were used in the past as a symbol of being sorry. Christians rubbed ashes on their foreheads. They wanted to show God that they were sorry for the wrong things they had done in the past year.

What happens on Ash Wednesday today?

Some Christians have a tiny smudge of ashes put on their foreheads as a sign of sorrow at not having been good over the last year.

What are the ashes made from?

In churches the priest first burns the palm crosses that have been kept from last year's Palm Sunday and then mixes the ashes of these crosses with holy water (which has been blessed) to make a grayish paste. When people go to church on Ash Wednesday, the priest dips his thumb in the paste and uses it to make the sign of the cross on each person's forehead.

Why are last years Palm Crosses recycled?

Palm Sunday celebrates Jesus's triumphant entry into Jerusalem, so when the crosses used in the last years Palm Sunday service are converted to ashes, worshippers are reminded that defeat and crucifixion swiftly followed triumph.

What do the ashes symbolise?

Using ashes to mark the cross on the believer's forehead symbolises that through Christ 's death and resurrection, all Christians can be free from sin.

Lenten fasts have a tendency to be oriented toward things like
giving up food or television.
But there are many other creative ways we can welcome Jesus' healing touch
this Lent. Below are some suggestions you may want to consider.

Fast from: Anger and Hatred:
Give your family and everyone you come across ,an extra dose of love
Each day.

Judging Others:
Before making any judgments, recall how Jesus overlooks our faults.

The Battle at Panipat

I’m shocked. Only tears in my eyes can speak of the emotions, I am going through right now.

Were they Indians? Pakistanis? Bangladeshis?
Whoever these terrorists were, what right did they have to take away the lives of the innocent?

What is becoming of our India?

One side we are promoting tourism in India and on the other, the Govt is not able to provide security to its own people.

Politicians promising to do lots, but doing absolutely nothing.

Fights between political parties to prove they are the best. If these are the people winning the elections, then rest assured India will never progress

The battle of the people right now in the hospitals at Panipat, will very soon become the battle of most Indians in India.

Happy Valentine’s Day

To all my Readers
Wish each and every one of you a very very Romantic and Special Day ahead.
May Cupid’s arrow shoot loads of fun and romantic surprises your way.

Happy Valentine’s Day

Quote for the Day

14th February is Valentine’s Day
Enjoy a lot with your lover
(But do not cross your Limit)
As 9 months later is Children’s Day

17 Signs of Falling in love

SEVENTEEN:
You look at their Profile/Picture constantly

SIXTEEN:
When your on the phone with them late at night and they hang up, You still miss them even when it was just two minutes ago.

FIFTEEN:
You read their texts or sms over and over again.

FOURTEEN:
You walk really slow when you're with them

THIRTEEN:
You feel shy whenever you're/they're around.

ELEVEN:
When you think about them, your heart beats faster and slower at the same time

TEN:
You smile when you hear their voice.

NINE:
When you look at them, you can't see the other people around you. All you see is him//her.

EIGHT:
You start listening to slow songs, while thinking of them

SEVEN:
They're all you think about.

SIX:
You get high just from their scent.

FIVE:
You realize that you're always smiling to yourself when you think about them.

FOUR:
You would do anything for them, or anything to see them.

THREE:
While reading this, there was one person on your mind the whole time...

TWO:
You were so busy thinking about that person, you didn't notice number twelve.

ONE:
You just scrolled up to check & are now silently laughing at yourself.

For the Holy Lover

For God so loVed the world

That He gAve
his onLy
BegottEn
SoN
That whosoever
Believeth In Him
Should Not perish ,
But have Everlasting life."

John 3:16

Streets of Mumbai

Today, we see children being ill treated by their families, beaten by parents, not being given food to eat, etc. These very children are the ones who run away from home and start living on the streets of Mumbai, on railway tracks. They beg for a living, polish shoes, scan through dust bins to get their daily meals.

Some of these situations have been caught on tape by the children of Sunday Joy club, Orlem Malad. If you would like to check out the video, do get in touch with me. However, I am sure you will not ask for the tape though, as these are sights you see all over Mumbai.

40 students from Std VII – IX were divided into groups. Some set out to video shoot, the others to interview poverty stricken families and there are the rest who will write the articles / make the posters to educate the children who are truly lucky to have wonderful parents, a good home, food to eat and are the privileged few to receive education. This tape will be shared with all the children based in Malad Catholic schools.

Children remember visuals better than what is told to them. This tends to have a deeper impact on them.

Something, I would like to share with you as I was not aware of it, is that Don Bosco’s has a shelter home for such children who live on the streets. The kids can beg for a living throughout the day and come eat food and spend the night at the shelter. They have a get together on the 20th of every month where a huge meal is prepared for all and they have fun, dance and games too.