Apart from the various activities to reach out the poor and
the marginalized in the society, the AICUFers always take initiative to lead
the liturgical services for every First Friday Mass and special Masses in the
college. Of course, the AICUF choir is the forefront to lead the church choir. The
unique of our college AICUF unit is that we have AICUF choir and AICUF musical
band. The choir and band are always in demand by the Jesuits in Bangalore for
various spiritual ministries where music helps to pray people better, and in return
it also helps the AICUFers to come closer to God.
8th February 2014: In collaboration with NSS, the AICUF Unit organized a panel discussion on “Threats of Genetically Modified Crops and Regulatory Challenges in India” in Xavier hall. There were more 100 participants. The panelists were Mr. Rajesh Krishnan, Convener of GM Free India, and Ms. Neha Saighal, in charge GM, Green Peace.
Participants of the Panel Discussion
P V Joseph Buan Sing, giving "Vote of Thanks" to the Panelists & Participants
1st & 2nd February
2014: 21 AICUFers had the experience of the Ignatian Retreat in Mount St.
Joseph, Bangalore. The AICUFers were guided by Fr. Jossie D’Mello SJ, Director of Prerana Ignatian Spirituality
Centre, Mount St. Joseph. The programme provided time for personal prayer and
reflection. It was a very fruitful event to know journeying into one’s own
life. Special thanks to Prof. Clement
D’Souza, Campus Minister, for arranging such an event.
Every year on the final day of the AICUF Karnataka State
Meet, the AICUF Karnataka Secretariat selects and awards the best AICUF unit
for the year. The selection is based upon the number of out-reach programmes
conducted and participation of AICUFers to make a new and just society. Just
after one year of the AICUF resurrection in our college, the AICUFers of St.
Joseph’s College was chosen and awarded the trophy of the BEST AICUF Unit of the state.
AICUF unit of St. Joseph's College received the BEST AICUF UNIT 2014 during the AICUF Karnataka State Meet 2014
First day: The AICUF Karnataka State Meet 2014 began with
registration in St. Joseph’s College of Commerce, Brigade Road, Bangalore. The
registration got more than 250 participants from different units of Karnataka.
The first activity of the State Meet commenced with the inaugural Holy Mass
presided over by Fr. Brian Pereira SJ,
AICUF Karnataka State Advisor. The AICUF choir of our college led the singing for the
Mass. The theme of the State Meet 2014 was “Active Citizenship for an Inclusive Society.” To enlighten about
theme, we had a great orators like Mr.
G. John, AICUF National Animator, Akkai
Padmasharee, representing the LGBT society of Bangalore. In the evening,
there was a competition of cultural programme based on social issues.
Second day: The AICUFers
were sent into groups to different parts of the city. Under the title of NAMMA
NEERU, the AICUFers had a signature campaign against the privatization of water
and spread pamphlets about it. After this, the AICUFers stood at the traffic
signals with placards to create ecology awareness; the AICUFers also shouted
slogans and urged passersby to follow traffic rules and use eco-friendly
things. This activity was followed by cleanliness drive from the respective
place of the groups to Cubbon Park. In the park, the AICUFers had some planning
for the next day programme. Later, the AICUFers went to the campus of AICUF
Karnataka Secretariat and planted a mango tree sampling. In the evening, there
was basketball tournament among the various groups.
Third day: The 16 various groups of the State Meet presented
the burning issues of the society in the form of acting, miming, face-painting,
power-point presentations. The AICUFers also had group sharing and discussion
in smaller group of 20 members.
AICUFers enacting a skit on Domestic Violence
Cleanliness Drive in the Streets of Bangalore
Participants of AICUF Karnataka State Meet 2014 Bangalore
17th
December 2013: Spreading
the joy and festive mood emancipating from the Christmas Season, the AICUFers
went to Arrupe Nivas, Snehanilaya- orphanage home and the Little Sisters Of the
Poor, Old Age Home, singing carol songs and bringing a smile to their faces. On
the same evening coincidently, a few AICUFers inspired by Anamika Horo, II Yr BA (EPS), were successful in forcing the bikers
to ride on the road rather than the footpath.
AICUFers in DNA Newspaper, dated 18/12/2013,pg 4
AICUFers in St. Joseph's Old Age Home, Hosur Road, Bangalore
20th December
2013: TheChristmas Mass Celebrations organized by the
AICUF which was held in the college chapel at 3 pm followed by carol singing.
The main celebrant of the Mass was Fr.
Lawrence Britto, parish priest of Holy Ghost Church, Bangalore.
21st December
2013: The AICUFers
joined the Christmas celebration of the college at the banyan tree. They
performed a skit on the "Birth of Jesus" and sang Christmas carols.
14th
December 2013:
The AICUF choir performed in HUMANITAS 2013 which was jointly organized by CSA
and College Choir. It was held to raise funds for the Cancer Patients.
7th December 2013:
TheAICUF conducted a seminar on
“What is good and evil and who decides?” where the speaker Mr. Raymond D' Souza, a scholar from USA spoke in length about
issues related to pornography, sexism, gay marriage, abortion, etc.
Mr. Raymond D' Souza accompanied by Fr. Praveen Martis SJ, Principal of SJC
Mr. Melwin Y, AICUF Staff Animator of SJC, felicitating Mr. Raymond D'Souza
1st to
4th November 2013: The much awaited MAGIS 2013 was held in Bangalore at St.
Joseph’s Boys’ High School around 40 participants from our college rendered
service as volunteers even for the week before the event for the preparation.
On
the first day, the AICUF choir of our college led the choir during the
inaugural Mass. It was the formal inauguration of Magis followed by a Bamboo
dance by our AICUFers. A spot quiz was held and the participants were briefed
by Fr. Brian Pereira SJ on world
Youth day and Magis at the international level. Later the participants were
divided into 16 groups.
On
the second day, each group was sent out for experience trip in Bangalore. These
include visits to orphanages, old age homes, and mental asylums and many other.
On
the third day the students were sent for eco-drive. Each group was given a
specific traffic signal to show placards in order to spread awareness on the
protection and conservation of the environment, mainly dealing with noise
pollution as it was Diwali time.
On the last day, the flash-mob of the
participants dancing to the tune of Magis theme song “WONDER” was recorded. It
was followed by each group sharing their experience along with a cultural show.
Magis was an enriching experience that gave the participants moments to reflect
on certain truths of life and trained them to be active citizens of India.
“Go to
the people. Live with them. Learn from them….” (Lao Tzu)
23rd to 29th October 2013: On 23rd October, the 75
AICUFers from St. Joseph’s College, St. Joseph's College of Commerce, St.
Joseph’s Evening College, St. Anne's College and St. Pius’ Church left for
Mundgod, North Karnataka, for a 5 day rural camp. In Mundgod at the Loyola
Vikasa Kendra (LVK), we were briefed about the two villages by Fr. Arun Luis SJ where we would go for
the camp. The AICUFers were divided into two groups randomly. One group led by Prof. Melwin went to Ugginkere where
there is a prominent population of Siddhis - Africans who were brought by
Portuguese to India as slaves and the other group was coordinated by Sch. P V Joseph Mang Pu SJ (II Yr BSW)
to Shirigere-consisting mainly of Gowlis who have come from Maharashtra. Both
these communities have greatly suffered by the hands of the higher classes and
neglected by the government. The AICUFers who went to these villages had the
opportunity of staying in the houses of the villagers and ate whatever the
villagers prepared. The generosity and hospitality of the families was
unimaginable. This helped us to immerse into the culture of the villagers and
formed a bond with them. Unfortunately, 95% of the villagers were illiterate.
During the survey, the AICUFers noticed that the villagers were negligent in
having family toilets. While the AICUFers in Ugginkere dug the foundation for
the Catechism class-room behind the chapel and in Shirigere we cleared the
pathway from the village to the road via the grassy fields for the children to
walk to their school and made a decent drainage system. The AICUFers had their
share of fun along with the work and through various interactive sessions. It
was with heavy hearts that we bid them goodbye when we left for Mundgod on 28th
November. At noon, we visited the Tibetan colony in Mundgod. Indeed, the rural
camp had prepared the AICUFers in bringing about a positive change in them and
in the society.
21 September
2013: Every
year 21 September is observed as World Peace day. This year 2013, AICUF had a
creative way of celebrating the day with music. Under the 131 year old banyan
tree, 33 AICUFers came together to play guitars and sing songs of peace
simultaneously. In fact, it was the first of its kind in the 132 years history
of the college.
The
music show was especially dedicated for peace in Syria.
Fr. Sunith Prabhuh SJ, the Registrar, gave a short
message on peace and inaugurated the event.
AICUFers in Deccan Herald Newspaper, dated 10/10/2013
Indeed,
it was a musical afternoon in St. Joseph’s College. Fr. Brian Pereira SJ, AICUF state advisor for Karnataka,
appreciated and thanked all the participants and organizers.
7th September 2013:In response to the
invitation of Pope Francis to all the religious leaders and all people of the
world to “Fast and Pray for Peace in Syria”, the AICUFers assembled in the
college chapel had prayer for peace in Syria and in the world. Prof. Cherian Alexendar, HOD of English
Department gave a message on peace.
AICUFers joining Pope Francis for Prayer for Peace in Syria on 7/09/2013
26th August to 2nd
September 2013: Navya
Lawrence,
III Yr BA (IES) attended the 25th
AICUF National Council Meet in Chennai representing the AICUF Karnataka
along with the other office bearers. The state issues were discussed and
solutions for problems looked into. Navya was elevated to the position of a
National Team member and vice-president of the National Women’s Commission.
The
year 2013's Ramzaan day fell on 9th August. 53 AICUFers from the
college went to Home of Hope, located in Doddagulli village, in the outskirts
of Bangalore.
AICUF
always aims to empower people to take up leadership roles in bringing about
positive social change and in providing solidarity to the marginalized. Sharing
a day with the people in Home of Hope by listening to what they had to say,
dancing and singing for and with them gave us an opportunity to realize the
pathetic conditions of the life they live. An eye-opening experience where we
learnt to count each moment as it comes. This visit inculcated in us a larger
sense of understanding the problems of the poorest of the poor and the rejected
people in our society. This experience challenged us to more responsible as
members of the society. After interacting with them, an old woman of 70’s said
to an AICUFer, “My child, give me a hug...” She shed tears, after receiving an
embrace. AICUFers donated the clothes, packets of salt, sugar, and toilet
articles collected from the donation kept in different buildings of the
college.
AICUFers at Home of Hope, Hennur Road, Bangalore
AICUFers carrying gifts collected from the College for the inmates of Home of Hope
