CENTRE FOR NON FORMAL & CONTINUING EDUCATION ®

Head Office : Ashirwad
30, St Marks Cross Road
BENGALURU – 560001.

India Ph: 080-2210154

Field Office & Correspondence Address:Loyola Nagar, Raichur Road, P.B.No.8,MANVI – 584123 Dt: Raichur Karnataka. India Ph: 09449625563
email:

Dear Sponsor Parents, 17-12-2012

Greetings from Fr. Eric Mathias, Pannur Jesuit Mission.

We, along with our children wish you a very happy Christmas and peaceful and prosperous New Year -2013. May the Lord of Peace and Love fill you and your families with plenty of blessings and fulfillment for all that you havedone to our children.

We are happy to share with you that this mission (Pannur Jesuit Mission) has completed ten years of loving service to the Dalits and Devadasis of Raichur District. We have seen during these last ten years palpable all round growth of these children. When we began our mission ten years ago we could see only children going after the cows or working in the fields of the landlords. Most of these were from bonded families. As we came in touch with them and found the root cause of their plight and librated them from the clutches of the money lenders and the landlords. We sent these children to schools for education in various parts of the state. Now we feel happy to see them growing in smiles and the joy of liberation. All these children are doing well in studies and growing in knowledge and wisdom. They are physically healthy and strong. This is the great transformation that we see in these children.

This year we had various competitions for the children like singing, dancing, dramatics, knowledge of the bible, games and sports. Several have shown their talents in one of the other of these various items and events.

I am happy to share with you how your child is interested and involved in meeting less privileged children and she feels the urgency of a change in such children too. She comes with me to the villages which I visit and comes to know how poverty and its results have kept them away from what she enjoys under our care.

We took our children for 3 days’ educational excursion to Bijapur, Badami, Pattadakal, Aiholi and Kudalasgaman. All these areas have historical importance and therefore very educative. The natural beauty of this place with flowing streams and green all round is itself a soothing experience. All kinds of birds are seen around and some semi wild animals like deer, elephant, wild bore, move in these areas. Children enjoyed coming to these picnic spots and they come out with their natural expression of joy and exuberance. In areas where water is shallow they have their swim or bath and they look happiest as they splash water and enjoy company. This time we took 50 children who saw this place for the first time.

Our Children are growing in the love of God and have a taste in taking part in the liturgical celebrations. They make nice a little personal prayer and pray for you and your family. It is a joy to see them looking smart in their dress and looking healthy and clean.

This year we are celebrating Christmas on the 22nd of December in our school. We have organized various competitions to enliven them with the spirit of challenge. They have already started preparing for these competitions.

We thank you for your support. If you have not taken the initiative to extend your generous hand through Dinah, in helping out your child, she would have remained totally lost and forgotten. In her name I would like to extend my hearty gratitude to you. May the Lord bless you for your generosity and may the joy and smile of this your child be a blessing on you and your family.

Christmas is the time of sharing and feeling the joy of unity. So I take this opportunity to wish you a very happy and grace-filled Christmas and blessings of New Year.

Thanking you,

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Eric Mathias SJ

Director- CNF&CE