150th Anniversary celebration with Youth.

The Youth programme was one of the Jubilee events to mark the 150th year of the arrival of the Holy Family Sisters in Jaffna, Sri Lanka. We invited High School students from 42 schools where our sisters are teaching and there were 305 students who participated in it along with the sister. It was held on the 29th September. The day’s Programme was: Parade with Band (Ilavalai and Jaffna Convent) Papal flag, Holy Family Flag, and their school flags.

150th Anniversary celebration with Youth.

 

The Youth programme was one of the Jubilee events to mark the 150th year of the arrival of the Holy Family Sisters in Jaffna, Sri Lanka. We invited High School students from 42 schools where our sisters are teaching and there were 305 students who participated in it along with the sister. It was held on the 29th September. The day’s Programme was: Parade with Band (Ilavalai and Jaffna Convent) Papal flag, Holy Family Flag, and their school flags.

Participants were given a cap and a small Holy Family Flag with the emblem on it as a souvenir.

 

 

Impression of footprints: - this was done when all gathered at School ground of Jaffna Convent. There was a path made leading to the model made of ( Founder, Bishop.Sameria,6 Pioneers) and the footprints on coloured path was very  meaningful and visible when the invitees walked along the path. This reminded the first foot prints of our early mothers and their journey and the continuous journey of ours.

 

Then there was a video presentation on the brief History of our P.B. Noailles Family, Founder and his conversion experience, Foundation, Miraculous Benediction and the arrival in Sri Lanka. This was produced by our sisters and directed by Sr.Doreen Philippiah.

 

Then there was a place with the photos of students arranged and they had to find their names and sign on it. This produced much laughter.

 

 

Then there was a talk on Youth and Holy Family Sisters by Fr. Jerome Lambert OMI where he stressed on the Services of the Holy Family and the responsibility of the youth to value their life and give witness to all that they receive.

 

They also enjoyed a good meal sponsored by different schools and by the Province too.

Then Sr. Christobel gave a power point presentation on youth and their challenges today and there was time for group discussion and a brief feedback from groups. They had games to get to know and to work in groups.

 

After lunch they had a "Value walk " there were posters on different values and they were invited to walk around and jot down what touched them.  This was later shared in groups.

 

Then they had a power point presentation on "Cosmic communion" and time for discussion. This was prepared by Sr. Shanthi Simon.

 

Then they had a group discussion with their group animators to summarise the days programme. Then they were given a page to write their experience in symbols and writing and they were collected and it is in the process of printing and it will reach all the schools, communities and others in the near future.

 

 

All had a very fruitful day and everyone really enjoyed the programme and benefited by it. Then came in the evaluation.

At the end, there was a quality entertainment programme presented by different schools and the day came to an end with bringing down the Holy Family Flag and singing the anthem.

Shanthi Simon

Jaffna Province