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On The Eve Of Christmas Words from missionaries...

Published : Thursday, 22 December, 2016 at 12:00 AM  Count : 498
Nazmun Naher Shishir
Father Benjamin Costa, CSC,
Vice Chancellor (Acting),
Notre Dame University Bangladesh
"Celebration of the birth of Jesus is called Christmas. It is one of the most joyful feasts of the Christian community. This joy is to be shared with each and everyone. According to the holy Gospel, on the night Jesus, the Saviour of the world, was born in a manger, an angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds and said, "I am here with good news for you, which will bring great joy to all the people." And a great army of heaven's angels appeared singing praises to God: "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom He is pleased.
In Bangladesh the celebration of feasts like Christmas, Easter, Puja, Buddha Purnima have become part of our culture of communal harmony. This is an appreciable development. Sharing increases and intensifies our joy, it magnifies the experiences of harmony. Let this joy be contagious. I wish each and every Merry Christmas and Happy New year."
Father Benjamin's wish sets the sail of the introduction. On this eve of Christmas, the journey of the missionaries, of priesthood, of sacrifice for the peace and love amongst humankind is an inspiration to present generation. Education, according to Father Ben, is "formation of the mind and heart", and he added, "God created man and woman in His own image." Thus the missionaries in Bangladesh, without any biasness, believe in and work for enlightenment and peace.


Father Adam S Pereira, CSC, Registrar,
Notre Dame University Bangladesh
"Citing Frost, "I took the one less travelled by, and that has made all the difference." All our life, we learnt sacrifice, meditate, forgiveness, and peace. Again citing Frost, I would add, "I have promises to keep", promises to my God to serve the people, not to feed the evil inside us, and to nurture the light we possess."
Father Adam shares his sacrificial journey of prayer, meditation and forgiveness. Moreover, he believes, travelling around the world, from centres to corners, broadens one's mind. "Meeting with people, different culture is a great learning. Without learning, one cannot have peace," he adds, "reading books can help a lot." Priesthood taught him control, and thereby the path of self-development continued. To the present generation, Father Adam wishes on the eve of Christmas, to spread joy and light among humankind, and thereby to gain "strong willpower", and "motivation" to have self-control, in order to be in the path of self-development.


Father Frank Quinlivan, CSC, Member, Board of Trustees,
Notre Dame University Bangladesh
"We celebrate Christmas with great joy, his birth on this earth is the light we are blessed with. "Merry" means to be joyful, to overcome darkness by light."
Father Frank, a missionary in Bangladesh, has been serving since 1979. Though he was born and grew up in Chicago, the USA, he spent 10 years of his life in Srimangal, and worked for humankind, promoting common human values, critical thinking, and enlightenment. His wish on the eve of Christmas to the youth: "Increase concentration through meditation and study, avoid drugs and violence, and promote peace on earth."


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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
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