Dear

COMPASSION : is what Christmas is all about, as we contemplate the Christ-child lying in a manger. It is this overwhelming compassion that also motivates us ôto reach outö. As in the past years, WE reach out to more than 33,000 children in Gujarat. In this journey, we are joined by many others who support us in our endeavors. One of them is YOU ! Thank you for your Compassion.

HARMONY : is what we have been yearning for these past years. The social fabric of Gujarat continues to be torn apart by divisive and hate-filled groups. Yet, there is HOPE. We see more and more individuals and groups working to promote a more harmonious society. Many of them silent, yet, effectiveù..but we have a long way to go.

RIGHTS : We continue to make it the mainstay of our efforts to build a more humane, just and peaceful world. We see human-rights trampled upon every single day. Gujarat has the dubious distinction of the highest rate of female foeticide in the country. We have an alarming sex-ratio of just 943 females to a 1000 males. We spare no efforts in highlighting and fighting for the rights of every individual - be it the unborn girl-child or the Muslim victim of the Gujarat carnage.

INSPIRATION : is what we need to get from and to give others. All of us have our role models who inspire, motivate and even challenge us. One great inspiration to me has been Brother Roger, the Prior of Taize in France. His meaningless assassination last August made many of us ask ôWhy ?ö. However, his rich heritage will never die. Our world needs more and more of such figures. We need to enrich ourselves on values which would be an inspiration to others.

SERVICE : is a word, a concept, which is becoming more and more obsolete. It is a value which we have been trying to promote in our Chattralayas, encouraging the boys and girls to cooperate with each other, to serve each otherù..to be selfless.

TRANSFORMATION : is the courage we need to have to change for the better. Christmas is a time to be ôrenewedö with the spirit of the season. The New Year, 2006 is also Special, designated as the International Year of Desert and Desertification. We have launched a Watershed Progamme in several areas of Gujarat, with the hope that we can change these arid zones into fertile oases where people can hope for a better tomorrow.

MAGIS : is that concept of excellence which St. Ignatius of Loyola always emphasized. It fundamentally means going much beyond what is mediocre and ordinary, all for the ôGreater Glory of Godö. For us Jesuits, itås a special Triple Jubilee Year. The 500th Birth Anniversary of St. Francis Xavier and Peter Faber and the 450th Death Anniversary of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the very first men who started the Society of Jesus in the year 1540. Join us in this year of thanksgiving.

ADVOCACY : is our multi pronged approach to speak Truth to power and to ensure justice for all. Mahatma Gandhi died for thisù.he called it SATYAGRAHA (the force of truth). It has meant a year filled with travels and visits, meeting and speaking to all kinds of groups, welcoming and supporting like-minded individuals, joining and promoting networks. Our goal is clear, the approaches are diverse. Hopefully, one day, the message of Christmas will reach one and all.

SHARING : is what the shepherds and the Magi bring home to us this season, reminding us very forcefully that we need to share not from our leftovers but from the best of what we have. It demands a certain amount of radicalness. During the past year, we have had a Tsunami, massive earthquakes, floods, drought and several conflicts everywhere. Sharing involves sacrifice, it also means a response in prayer and in gratitude.

Thank you for accompanying us, for being part of our journey this past year !
Join us now in putting Christ back into Christmas by ensuring that the message of Christmas, of LOVE, JOY, HOPE, JUSTICE and PEACE may reign in our hearts and in the hearts of all, now and every day of 2006 !

We look forward to hearing from you.
Your Brother,
Christmas 2005 Cedric Prakash

Kindly note :
For those of you who are sponsoring a child / children through our Education Sponsorship Programme, kindly find enclosed the Progress Report / s. Thanks once again for your generosity.

Donations for EDUCATION SPONSORSHIP PROGRAMME may be made by cheque payable to GUJARAT EDUCATION SOCIETY. The GUJARAT EDUCATION SOCIETY is a registered charitable organization : No. Guj,-366/Ahmedabad

Newman Hall, Post Box No. 4002, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad 380 009, Gujarat, India
Tel: 0091 79 55522333 / 27455913 Fax: 0091 79 27489018 Email: [email protected]

Geographical place: Gujarat (India)

Groups, movements whom it is about: ESP India

Date of creation or issue: 2005.

Author: Prakash, Cedric SJ

Group, movement, tendency (wherefrom it comes from): ESP India

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