Seasons Greetings from Sr. Audrey

Season's greetings from Sr. Audrey, Canossa Girlie and present Principal, Canossa Mahim.


A NEW ROAD

Many ways led to Bethlehem. Mary and Joseph’s long trip from Nazareth, the Shepherd’s path over their fields, the wise men’s arduous trek across the desert. Jesus’ birth causes each of us to set out on a personal journey- a journey to meet this God who so humbly and surprisingly came into this world as a child lying in a manger!


The waiting of the Holy Family was interrupted by Rome’s decree - what inconvenient timing!-s o they set off! The way from Nazareth to Bethlehem was long, 90 miles by donkey and on foot.. Mary had borne the anguish of wondering what Joseph thought of her pregnancy. We can imagine the two pondering the ancient prophecies, searching for understanding to ease the questions in their hearts. Did they share their fears with one another, or were they calmly silent because it was enough for them to rest in obedience to God’s will?


Did Mary fret a bit as she packed, wondering whether to take the swaddling bands she had made- or would they be back home in their own village before her time came? Did Joseph cast a last look longingly back over his shoulder as Nazareth’s security passed out of sight and the way stretched ahead with a pregnant wife at his side? Yet the same road that led away from familiarity and comfort led straight to the city where God’s promise was to be fulfilled: “And you Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.” (Mt. 2:6)

Have I ever experienced something fresh coming to birth in my circumstances once I have been willing to set out on a new road, leaving behind my old, familiar routines? Jesus, may I be just as willing to follow the road to you as Mary and Joseph were.


Dearest Canossians and Friends,
At Christmas and all through the New Year 2011, I wish each of you and your loved ones, the exciting freshness of a NEW LIFE akin to the Christ Child as also new discoveries along new roads!


A Holy, exciting and challenging Spirit of Christmas and the New Year is my fond wish to you. God Bless you all.


Sr Audrey D'Souza

ESAC wishes you a Happy, Holy & Blessed Feast

December 8th is celebrated as a holy day commemorating the Immaculate Conception of Mary.

So, what of this festival of the Immaculate Conception of Mary? This dogma of the Roman Catholic Church states that Mary was conceived without sin, and that she never sinned throughout her entire life.

Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. Through the centuries the Church has become ever more aware that Mary, "full of grace" through God, was redeemed from the moment of her conception. That is what the dogma of the Immaculate Conception confesses, as Blessed Pope Pius IX proclaimed on December 8, 1854: "The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Saviour of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin." — Catechism of the Catholic Church.

For more information, you can click this link

ESAC, on behalf of Sr. Audrey, Mother Superior and all our dear Sisters, wishes you a very Happy and Holy Feast. May our Virgin Mother's purity, innocence, grace, selflessness and love be with you and yours for now and forever.

Minutes of ESAC meeting held on 4th December, 2010

Minutes of ESAC meeting held on 4th December, 2010

1. Andrea to put up a notice on the ESAC notice board about the upcoming Alumni Day. Punit to prepare the notice and mail it to Saloni.

2. Gregorina to call up ESAC members who don't have Email Id's.

3. Give away sample brought by Seema approved. 100Nos. to be made. To be given to each member & teachers present at Alumni day.

4. Photographer finalized.

5. Alumni day announcements to be made in St. Micheal's Parish and Victoria School's Parish. Ninette and Annamarie to talk to the respective Parish Priests.

6. Teachers list updated. Punit to bring prints at the next meeting.

7. Teachers who are not Ex-Canossians and presently working at Canossa's Mahim welcome to the Alumni Day but will have to put in individual contributions of Rs 250/-

8. Punit to finish off Alumni support forms.

9. Punit to prepare a presentation of ESAC and reunions to be shown at school annual day.

Requesting you to send in Alumni day contributions ASAP so as to help us get a fix on numbers

Next ESAC meeting on Dec 11, 2010 at 2.00pm, School Hall. All Ex-Canossians most welcome to this meeting.

Thanks and best wishes,

Punit D'Souza
Joint Secretary - ESAC
Batch of 1983

Happy Advent

Message from the present Principal and Ex-Canossian, Rev. Sr. Audrey. Nov 29, 2010

Dear Canossians,

Have you ever met a person who just lives for the present moment? He or she does not worry about anything. He/she does not worry about the future. This person says “who cares about tomorrow, just live for today. Nothing else really matters.” You might say this person isn’t a very responsible person. Yes, a person who doesn’t anticipate anything about their future is an irresponsible person.

Today, on the first Sunday of Advent, Jesus is calling us to a great of responsibility- responsibility for Advent. The word Advent means arrival or approach. During these four weeks of Advent we are happily awaiting the approach of Jesus into our lives. The arrival that we celebrate is the happy expectation of the child Jesus from the womb of His Mother. For us it is the four weeks before Christmas. For most people, Advent means Christmas shopping and Christmas parties. For us, Advent is a quiet, silent waiting, a time of special prayer.

Advent is a time for confession, a time of reconciliation with God and family. As a mother joyfully waits for the arrival of her child, so you and I wait quietly in prayer. Advent is a time to prepare for Christ’s arrival.

What is the basic step that you and I need to take a meet Christ at Christmas ? To meet the King of peace, we must first take away all the obstacles in our lives that hinder us from experiencing peace over these four weeks. What is the obstacle to peace in our life ? Is it a nagging sin that hurts us and challenges our peace? Is it an unpaid bill, or strained relationship? Advent is the time when we work at ridding ourselves of all obstacles to peace. Christ gives us Himself as the prince of peace only after we have experienced him as the ONLY source of peace.

Wishing each of you and your loved ones a HAPPY and FRUITFUL ADVENT!

Yours in the Lord,
Sr. Audrey
Present Principal and Ex-Canossian Girlie!

Minutes of ESAC meeting held on Nov 27, 2010

I) Minutes of last meeting considered read

II) Appointment of Olive Saldanha (batch of 1983) as ESAC Office Bearer designated Officer Communication

III) Alumni day program chalked out

1) Dec 31, 2010, last date for confirming your presence at Alumni day

2) Each attendee's contribution - Rs. 250/-. The same to reach ESAC by Dec 31, 2010

3) You may send in your alumni day contributions by any of the following means :

a) Go to school and give cash any of the ESAC members who presently teachers at Canossa Mahim viz Ms Ninette, Ms. Andrea, Ms. Pramila, Ms. Cynthia or Ms Annamarie

b) Do an electronic transfer to Azra Akhtar Jaipuri's account (If you want the Account Number, please send an email to bondwithesac@gmail.com)

c) Give cash to any ESAC Office bearer (Ninette D'souza, Seema Patole, Punit Neb D'souza, Amelia Noronha, Prajakta Naik or Salomi Jain) staying close to you.

d) Send your contribution to school in a sealed envelope with any student staying close to you. On the envelope, please mention any of the above teacher's name as well as your name and batch

4) Menu decided.

5) Seema to get alternative quotes for give aways.

6) Salomi & Ninette to work on compering, games & music.

7) At the school annual day, announcements about Alumni day & ESAC to be done.

Ninette to make a presentation about ESAC, ESAC activities hitherto, reunions of Batch of 1975 and batch of 1983.

Punit to copy pictures of reunion of batch of 1983 on to a CD and give them to Ninette at the next ESAC meeting

8) ESAC members Gregorina, Seema and Salomi to be there on Annual day to collect ESAC forms as well as Alumni day contributions

9) List of retired secondary teachers prepared

10) Olive to work on ESAC support forms

IV) Next ESAC meeting on Dec 4, 2010, 2.00pm, school hall. All ex-students cordially invited

All Canossians earnestly requested to spread word about ESAC and the Alumni Day scheduled for Jan 9, 2011, 11.00 a.m., School Hall.

Warm regards
Punit D'souza
Joint Secretary
ESACBatch of 1983