Calcutta (India). On 19 December 2020, the Educating Community of Auxilium Convent School of Calcutta Dum Dum, Mary Help of Christians Province (INC), celebrated the 60th anniversary of the school’s birth (1960-2020).
The celebrations took place in the auditorium of the School in the presence of a small number of guests, including Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, teachers, students, and parent representatives, according to the health provisions due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Among the guests, Fr. John Felix Raj, SJ, Vice-Chancellor of St. Xavier University in Calcutta, and Sr. Rose Ezarath, Provincial of INC Province.
The day opened with a ‘welcome dance’ by the students and a moment of opening prayer, which ended with the performance of the ‘Diamond Jubilee Song’, composed and sung on the occasion of the 60th anniversary by the high school students.
In the welcome address, Sister Stella Devis, School Secretary, outlined the journey of the work, which began on 15 January 1960, telling how it was conducted in the spirit of the patrons St. John Bosco and St. Mary Mazzarello.
The Principal, Sister Esther Rani Abraham, then presented the report in which she traced the progress of the School’s activities over the 60 years since its opening, describing how the moments of difficulty were faced and how the legacy of the origins is carried out. The report of the Principal was followed by the the presentation of the School Report (2020-2021) by the School Captain.
The interventions were interspersed with traditional and modern dances, expressions of the joy of the children and young people of the School. Fr. John Felix Raj congratulated the school community for the liveliness of the work and for the goal achieved and, addressing the students, underlined how loving your school means embracing its spirit, imitating its solidity in values, and being visible manifestations of its motto ‘Virtue and Knowledge’.
Being at the door of the Holy Christmas, the program concluded with a representation of the Nativity Scene and some Christmas carols. The Coordinator of the High School, Mrs. Sharmila Biswas, expressed her thanks on behalf of the Administration, the FMA, the staff, and the students.
The day was transmitted in live streaming on the You Tube Channel of the School for teachers, students, parents, alumni, and other members of the Educating Community who, in this way, were able to attend the celebrations virtually. The pandemic did not block the creativity of the students who were protagonists in making the event memorable. All contributions – songs, dances, recitations, and multimedia presentations – were uploaded to the school’s You Tube channel and on social media, following the teaching of Mother Mazzarello: “To be happy you have to go ahead with simplicity”. (L24)
