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2003 DECEMBER CHRISTMAS LETTER
from Sr. Margaret Fernandes at
Regina Pacis, changing lives since 1952,
for their Change A Life Program, changing lives since 1998.
CAL updates may not be printed for public distribution nor emailed commercially without written permission.
November 23, 2003
My dear Deanna
I am writing to tell you of the latest activities of our children here at
Regina Pacis so that you can share it with all our well-wishers.
The children have been very busy and happily employed.
Besides their normal school work there are a host of extra curricular
activities. First of all let me tell you about the Charity Mela, organised
by the American Women's Club of Bombay together with the Elizabethans.
This was on the 12th of November at the J.W Marriott hotel at Juhu. We were
invited to participate and for the children it was a truly learning
experience besides helping them to discover hidden talents. They learned to
make apple jam with Sr. Nirmala. Then they made painted glass candles,
costers with plastic paper women into little mats, tear and stick designs
by the little ones which were laminated and made into table mats, little
sling bags with bits of waste cloth , tie and dye scarves and Christmas
cards which Belinda Broomfield taught them to make , again out of scraps of
waste material. All the children were involved in one thing or another.
Four of the most diligent were chosen to represent the Boarding at the sale
itself. They enjoyed watching the elite moving around and they also enjoyed
the snacks and soft drinks provided the hotel all through the afternoon.
Now they have the preparation for the great feast of the Immaculate
Conception of our Blessed Mother Mary, the titular feast of the House. We
are going to have a three day prayer service and on the feast day a Solemn
Eucharistic service followed by a get together. For this we have formed a
choir of children and residents of the working girls hostel along with the
sisters. For the first time the children are learning to sing in voices.
They are also learning new Christmas carols and on the 23rd they will have
their Christmas party. Every year we invite the aged from the Shelter, a
home for the aged close to us. We bring the old people here in an auto
bus. It is wonderful to see the children helping them in and out of the bus
and entertaining them with their Christmas play, games geared for young and
old and then a grand lunch which is usually donated by a gentleman who has a
catering business. He provides the lunch and snacks and spends the day
with us together with his family. It is his birthday on that day and that is
the way he chooses to celebrate it.
On the 19th of December we plan to have what we call the Agape. The whole
house, children, residents of the hostel, domestic workers and sisters we
celebrate the Eucharist together, exchange small gifts and then dine
together.
So you see we are going to have a busy but delightfully happy month.
The dilapitated Boarding building used prior by our Butterflies is almost the end of the demolition. We are steeped in dust and many inconveniences but hopefully we begin the construction of the new building soon. I keep dreaming of the new quarters for the children and for all of us. Planning the furniture and the decoration, like Gauri the
milkmaid I keep counting my chickens before they are hatched . We have got
most of the money together. We need about five lakhs more to complete the
cost of the construction but then we also have to think of the new
furniture, beds for the children with the mattresses , bed sheets etc. We
will put the children on bunker beds in dormitories of about 20 apiece. We will
need furnishing for the recreation room, dining room etc. but I am sure
Divine providence will look after everything.
Please know that we here at Regina Pacis are all sending love and prayers to all of our Sponsors and well wishers. We look forward to hearing from all of them, news from all over the world!
May your holidays be meaningful and joyous,
sending this with love from India.
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ABOUT THIS UPDATE
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This Change A Life Update was distributed by
Deanna McDowall Zack, volunteer international sponsor coordinator.
If you have input, questions, suggestions, critiques or want to contribute to future updates or to the CAL program in general, please don't hesitate to email
cal@theworldnow.com
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