FATIMA HIGH SCHOOL - AMBARNATH: STD X - D/E/F RETREAT

FATIMA HIGH SCHOOL - AMBARNATH: STD X D-E-F RETREAT

December 19, 2014

One Hundred and Thirty students of STD X, of Fatima High School, today had the opportunity to be guided by Fr. Glenford Lowe in a Class X retreat. The theme for the retreat was ' Clean Up My River Campaign'. It was a novel way in which the young students could spend time focusing on their journey in life so far and to make the 'cleaning changes' to start flowing through life meaningfully with God's grace.

The session began with a prayer song that had video clips on interfaith prayer moments. We are all called to be 'lovers of God' and be 'lovers of humanity too'. The students  were then invited to review their own God experience and to live out this experience by reaching out to people in need too. Through the help of a number of life examples and personal testimonies, the young students were able to see the importance of making a significant contribution to society and at the same time to be based on deep religious beliefs and practices.

The final session on the 'Clean My Personal River of Life Campaign' was very practical, deep and soul searching too. "This is the first time I connect with my life so deeply," said a young student at the end of the session. Every student was invited to reflect on their personal 'defining moment' where they changed forever - for good or for bad! The final moment of writing down their legacy was another deep moment of the reflective process. The final song 'Be the Best' summed it all up.

At the end of the session, a number of young students came forward to write their comments in the AVEC log book:
"Motivating and inspiring the world with love and peace" -  Mohit Maske X D
"It was a really good and enjoyable experience" -  Philip David X D

"This session was very nice and useful for life. I loved the session" -  Immaculate X C
"An awesome session. A defining Moment for me!" -  Jevina Verghese X

"Truly an incredible session. A useful and very helpful in the future too" - Chaitanyaa Pillay X
"Really changed my life...wonderful session. Thank you Fr. " -  Sudeshna Dinda X F
"Wonderful experience of my life" - Stella Jaywant

"Thank you Fr for this session and it has affected our life and may your wishes come true" -  Ankita Nair X
"After this session, just praying for your health so that you can change the minds of so many young people" - Subi Jacob

"This session not only changed our minds but has lead us somewhere higher too. Thank you so much Fr. Glenn" -  Lynn Monteiro X F
"You showed me who I am" -  Divesh A. H

"Once Fr. Maxi told me that the world 'Impossible' itself tells 'I am Possible'. Today, you proved it" - Alex Barretto X E
"You showed me the way that i should move in life. I have created my 'defining 'point'. Thank you" -  Sahil Durija X E

"Thank you Fr for this wonderful session" - Pratik S Dingerja X D

"I like this session very much and it is provoking for my life" -  Siddharth Chalwadi X E

"Wonderful session which motivated us to bring about a change in our life and to become better persons as compared as before" -  Vignesh Kumar Nainar X F

"Thank you Fr for such a wonderful and motivating session. Really changed our thinking about life" - Tejas C Sonaje X E

"After attending this session I thought that I need to help someone. Be helpful always" -  Vikas Jaiswar X E

"Thank you Fr for such a wonderful and inspiring session. It motivated us to help somebody in our life" -  Vishal Gangolia X E

Fr. Russell, Principal of the school, gave a vote of thanks and took the opportunity to thank Fr. Glenn for spending valuable time and journeying with the young students of STD X - 350 in all, to live life significantly and meaningfully.

God Bless you all and thank you for your warm welcome, hospitality and cooperation all through these two days.

FATIMA HIGH SCHOOL - AMBERNATH: STUDENTS' RETREAT

FATIMA HIGH SCHOOL - AMBERNATH: STD X RETREAT

18th December 2014

Braving the terrible cold, Fr. Glenn Lowe ventured for the first time to animate over 120 students of STD X A/B/C from Fatima high School - Ambernath. Thanks to Fr. Russell, Principal of the school from his warm words of welcome and to Mrs. Liz for her kind hospitality. Inspite of being a school holiday, the students gathered for a day's retreat in the senior citizens' hall.

 The theme foe the recollection was "Discovery of My Valued Self: A gift from God for Others". The session challenged the students to take the time to doing some soul searching and to discover the sacredness of life and one's contribution to society. In the wake of the brutal killings of over 130 children in Peshawar, Pakistan, Fr. Glenn invited the students to choose the better options in life. The powerful video clips and the true life stories, coupled with personal testimonies enabled the students to look at real life models and to start discovering a 'Defining moment' in their own personal lives and to start believing that every thins is possible.

 The second part of the session focused on their own personal journey of life. "Clean Your River Campaign" was a powerful opportunity for every student to review the stages of their life and to make decisions for change. "You have one life to live, live it 100%, 99 is not good enough," he said. The students took time to share the various stories of their life, for good and for bad. "This is the first time I really spent time on myself," whispered a student.

 At the end of the session a number of students came forward to write their comments in the AVEC log book:
"A truly inspiring way to tell us about the way to live life to the fullest" -  Sanjana Eluvangal X A
"It was a great experience for me. I started believing in myself" -  Durva Gawande X A
"I really felt motivated after this session. It was a really wonderful and interesting orientation" -  Sounak Das X A

 "It is a great experience that no one is small of big..every one is equal" -  Yash Mohite X A
"It actually inspired us and made us believe that we can do anything..better than what we are" - Pranalika Deb X B
"It really brought a 'light' in my life and helped me to believe in myself and think that 'i can change the world" -  albina Pinheiro X B

 "really it was an inspiring session. It motivated me about how I need to live my life" -  Chirag Sabu X B
"Good, Better, Best" - Jithin X C
"Very good, kind and humble" - Prem X B
"Loved the thoughts very much, excited and decided to change in life" -  Tanmay G X C
"Nice session, got motivated and a real blessing for students" -  Chaitanya R X C

 "Very nice session, got the values to be the best and leave the rest aside" -  Nikhil P X C
"Liked the art of thin slicing and the time management techniques " -  Hardeep X C
"Very motivating" -  Shifa and Muskan X C

 "Got very motivated from this session" - Sana Choudhary X C
"Showed me the vision of life" -  Aishwarya Kajan X C
"Changed me to be a change" -  Siddhi Ambekar X C

 "It was fantastic. It taught us a lot" - Jatin, Avinash, Suash X A
"Best session I ever attended to imbibe good values in our lives" -  Jatin Chhabria X A
"Thank you for making us aware of what we can do" -   Allen M X B

 "Very good session, thank you making us aware of good things. It was very useful and will try to become good personalities in life" -  Mujahid K X B

 "Wonderful, fantastic session. thank you for giving us your precious time" - Kushal Dayani X B

 "A wonderful session  I have ever got and made to work on 4 Ds - determination, dedication, Devotion and discipline and motivated to become successful in life" -  Suyash Bahrani X B

Thanks to the management, the staff and the students. I pray God's blessings on you all and may your lives be spent for the glory of God and others too.

Fr. Agnel's High School - Vashi: Leadership Orientation

Fr. Agnel's High School - Vashi: leadership Orientation Program

13 December 2014

Twenty four young leaders of St. Agnel's High School, Vashi had the privilege of having an entire day for a 'Leadershift' program conducted by AVEC. The guest speakers Mr. Rochwyn Fernandes and Fr. Glenford Lowe were very warmly welcomed by the Principal Fr. Saturnino Almeida and Mr. Tejas, the coordinator for Value Education. The session began with a prayer song that invited the students to seek Divine Grace for good health, peace and abundance.

The theme for the program was LEADERSHIFT rather than Leadership. Fr. Glenn began the program with two powerful video clips on 2+2 = 5 and Believe. The participants drew very insightful conclusions from both. The first focused on four types of people: The Dictator, the Yes Men, the Silent Observers and the Brave One. "Brave ones always give birth to other brave ones," Fr. Glenn added. The video clip on 'Believe' stressed on three important attitudes required for Leadershift: Identifying One's Defining Moment, Stop Questioning and Start Believing and finally Making Two Worlds Meeting Together. 

The Young Leaders were then given an opportunity to write their own Best seller book and to look at their past life and to title six chapters of it. He then invited the young leaders to look into their future and to title the next four chapters of their lives. Fr. Glenn challenged the students to revisit the video Believe and to identify their defining moment for good or for bad. It was a very creative exercise and drew out the best of reflections when they began to share the story of their lives with each another. 

After lunch, the young leaders took part in a number of reflective games that helped them to look at Leadership through a new perspective. The importance of having clear Vision, a definitive Plan of Action, a Synergistic Team, a Creative and Thinking Higher approach, a Responsible Delegation of Authority coupled with Common sense, overcoming Obstacles and Human Resource, the power of Time Management and the Art of Thin Slicing and the need for Holistic Living and leaving a Legacy behind.  All the above points were touched upon in detail and the students really took part in the entire program very attentively and cooperated well too.

At the end of the session, all the students took time to share their Legacy Dream. On behalf of the young leaders, Mr. Sahil Krishnadas, Head Boy, proposed the Vote of Thanks.

 A number of students came forward to write their comments in the AVEC log Book:
"It was a very inspiring, fun, and enlightening session" - Advait Shinde, Discipline Captain XI D

 "This session inspired me a lot. I've found why I go wrong in some places at times and would surely improve them. Thank you so much" - Ketaki Mulye , Sports Captain

 "This session has helped me to chase my dreams. thank you" -  Prajakta H XI B, School Red House Captain

 "This session has helped us to make a shift for the better and I we are sure to inspire others and try to be better leaders" -  Sahil Krishnadas, Head Boy

 "An amazing experience.... got so much to learn" -  Mahvish Sayed XI B

 "I don't know how good I was before, but I'm definitely better now" - Dhananjay M IX A

Congratulations to all these budding leaders and we pray God's blessing on you all.