Re-launching the College Magazine

 Under the Title: Heart Strings

Theme: Youth, the Fluorescence for Fusion

 ‘A drop of ink can make million think’

- Lord Bryce

                                                                                              

Kondadaba: Seminarians of St John’s Regional Seminary are very glad to bring to your notice that Church initiated the process of Conducted the Synod on “Youth, Faith & Vocational Discernment”. Under this view seminary brought the magazine under the theme: Youth, the Fluorescence for Fusion. In brief fluorescence means radiance emitted from UV light. In our context, fluorescence is connoted as talents, potentialities of the youth and fusion means joining them together to form a single entity. This magazine is compiled by us envisaging the areas where the youth veering their talents potentialities and responsibilities in building the nation. This is the inner meaning of the theme of our magazine.

Church always considers her indispensible duty to concern about youth and ably guide them socially, academically and psychologically with proper and relevant values. It’s a privilege that Church recently planned a Synod on ‘Youth’ reminding us to ponder over the role and significance of youngsters in the society. Pope Francis during his visit to Brazil, delivered his Triple Mantra to youngsters saying, “Go, do not be afraid, and serve”. Basing on these boosting words our students have come up with various ideas on youth articulating their potentialities, areas of vulnerabilities, modern challenges in response to the new socio-cultural situations in the Church. I strongly believe that if youngsters embrace religion out of their personal conviction, perhaps based on an experience of social reality, they become committed members and build a civilization of love heeding to the signs of our times. Today the need of the hour of both Church and State is that the knowledge and talents possessed by youth (Fluorescence) should be harnessed (fused) for common good and for the greater glory of God. This paves the way to build confidence in youth by making them ‘wise’ not otherwise in contributing to the total formation of human becoming.

The reflections in the magazine shed light and delved into the world of youth and their concerns. Some of the articles projects seeing themselves, as youth, in an autobiographical vein.  The other, taking a distance. All the articles though, give expression to their care for the world, as shepherds of the fellow-humans and the creation, addressing the issues of apathy and indifference, the challenges of leadership, in today’ s world. In the process, they exercise their roles a Dasein, the space where the reality be-comes lit up, fluorescent, for the fusion of horizons

of their concerns and disquiet, over the situation of the world, in common cause, with the contemporary youth, yearning for a transformation- change. We owe our sincere gratitude and note of thanks to Fr Rector, Fr Principal, for their editorials. Fr. Jose K. Fr Anthaiah and Br Regent. For their support and imitative to bring this magazine. And, a very more specially for all the brothers who fused their essence for fluorescence with articles, poems, and other theme oriented literature.

St John’s Regional Seminary, Kondadaba, Kothavalasa

Annual Debate – 2017-18

Monday, 29 January, 2018, from 9.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.

‘Majoritarinism Strengthens the Constitutional Fabric of India’

 Kondadaba: It was a great day at St. John’s Regional Seminary, because it was the day which is long awaited one, has come to fulfill the dream of our own to know something about Majoritarinism from political perspective. The debate started with a moments of prayer. And then Fr. Rector welcomed the gathering, and felicitated the resource person of the day namely, Chair Person Prof. Krishna Prasad and esteemed judges of the day. The moderator welcomed the speakers of the day for the motion and against the motion. The moderator invited K. Naveen from the motion to speak out his arrangements on secularism and its meanings. For against the mostion  Madhu proposed his arguments against the secularism and it’s misinterpretations by the ruling government. Followed by B.  Vidya Sagar on Hindutva revisiting the Constitution. Counter to him, Nani Balaswamy, who raised his voice against the motion by stating the statastics and evidences from the collected materials. Anthony. P who spoke on how the concept of majoritarianism came into existence politically to decide the truth.

Alexander Chatla who spoke on the theme: The ambiguities of Modi and duality in governance. After which we had rebuttle speech by G. Manohar and Velangani Jutuga. They have summed up the whole anuual in full support of their sides by raising their points to its culminations. There were many questions raised in the forum of the students to show their debating skills and to argue the points that they are aware of. The chair person of the day, appreciated the effort of the brothers who struggle to put the points together in a way of reading the materials available with the help of Principal and their member of the group. He said that, he was blessed to have the day spent in SJRS. After which he explained the etymology and their understanding of the term majoritarism and how it constitutes the fabric of India. Majoritarinism should not lead one to decide the turht in itself. Because, there may be truth in it or may not be. Therefore, majority need not to decide the truth always, so that we need to be aware of ourselves in deciding the truth in everything. We called it a day by 12:30 pm to this annual debate.

 ‘Da mihi animas Cetera tolle’

We have been called to heal wounds, to unite what has fallen away, and to bring home those who have lost their way. Many who seem to us to be children of the Devil will still become Christ's disciples. 15
St. Francis of Assisi

Kondadaba-2018: We the brothers of St. John’s Regional Seminary had grand celebration of St John Bosco’s Feast. It is really a memorable event that each of us could unleash our potentialities and harness our talents on this feast by praising and thanking God for the gift of Salesian fathers who mould the brothers of SJRS. It is really enriching experience because; through celebration of this grate saint, we realize the indebtedness towards the salesians, for their tireless service and tenderness of love of God that they show towards youth formies of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh states. On this precious day, the whole community had come to know little more about Don Bosco. It also helped us to know the role of Don Bosco in the lives of Salesians and our formation to become future priests. So much so that each of us distinguished ourselves from routine rhythm of participating in all the programmes of the day. It is the time where everyone elicits their hidden potentialities and love for Don Bosco.  There were games conducted on this day. They were cricket and volleyball. All the staff participated in these games. It was well organized and conducted by Youth Alive Group.

 

The staff had thought of feeding the poor and aged men and women of the locality. So, they were invited for lunch. It reminds the Gospel passage from the Bible, feed the poor who cannot pay, than your reward will await you in heaven on the last day. This is what exactly the kind gesture aims at, and communicates to the others. All the elderly people around 15 were very happy in coming to have delicious meal. They said that, they felt as if their own house and children who feed them. Their faces brightened with smiles. The fragrance of joy filled the whole compass, by lightening our hearts on this day. May this Spirit of this kind gesture be blessed was the last blessings of these elderly people to this community.

Almost everything that is Great has been done by Youth

Kondadaba: St John’s Regional Seminary conducted youth fest on 21.01.2018 at 09:00 am to 5:00 pm for the young people. This event is been pre-planned by the youth Alive Group and thier leader Br. Vijayraj. Madasu. Fr Jose K. (the Rector) is group in charge of the Group was the man who is behind the curtain to pre-plan and implement this event.  Father Jose K. called the resource person as Fr Lingampally Ashok for the day. Number of the participants are 280 from different villages and Parishes. They are namely, Chodavaram, L.Kota, Mangalapalem and S.Kota. The theme for this youth fest is; O Yuvatha Nave Samaja Nirmatha. At the start of the fest Fr Mallavarapu Rayanna, the Rector of the institute introduced the resource person to the youth. And he greeted them to have a blessed and enjoyable day.

This day is been dedicated for the youth, to know their responsibilities for the betterment of the society. The Resource person of the day mostly emphasized on the significant things like, Social Media and its pros and cons by its usage, by taking as an examples from the real incidents that occurred in different areas of life. Secondly, he talked about the suicides that occurred due to high expectations that are set before the youth by oneself or by the parents. Once the target is not been reached that youth of the day think that, the life has come to an end. Due to this kind of thinking, the youth full of energy and dreams and desires put a full stop to the God given life. In what way, they do justice to the life which is a free gift from God. How a person does builds the future society, if one is worried about petty issues of the day and give up one’s life. These were the thought provoking questions that are raised by Fr. Ashok.

Father Ashok Lingapally shed the light on the bad habits that youth are addicted in the present world.  They are like, drugs, smoking, alcohol etc. He invited them to turn away from vulnerable addictions which are unwanted like smoking, tobacco, drugs, consumption of alcohol, mistrust, unfaithfulness, going away from the Church’s Teachings, etc. These are the main causes which destroy oneself completely.  They shall be mindful of chasing their goals using their talents, if only they say no to all other bad habits that one come across in life.  Fr Ashok invited the youth to share their societal journey with their family members as living Saints who belong to God as St Paul wished of every human to be. And many participants spontaneously shared their problems in the society, their challenged life in the society. As we all know that this society is a competitive world, nothing comes with shear work, and rather one has to shed his sweat and blood to survive and to compete to get and to gain something to survive. 

Some of the other issues that are been touched upon are respecting parents and disciplining themselves and developing personality are been the social issues.

Fourthly, the brothers of youth alive conducted dance competitions as usual for the participants. All the youth are all agog and on the top of the world in cheering the dancers from their respective village youth. The joy echoed in the auditorium of SJRS.  The judges for this programme were Sisters of Saint Ann’s of Bangalore. They were Sr. Lissa, Sr. Susmitha and Sr. Mary. There was also drawing competition been conducted in the village/parish itself for the youth who participated on that day. They all were rewarded for all that they had done on the stage. They all aspiring themselves in inspiring the other before they would expire. We called it a day with head over heels with all the participants.