Yatra the Values for Embrace Values: Enrich Lives

Archdiocesan Value Education Centre (AVEC ) E-Letter August 2013

Becoming a more free person each day

The Value of Freedom

Violent means will give violent freedom that would be a menace to the World and to India herself
Mahatma Gandhi

BhaagMilkhaBhaagwerewordsfirstheard byayoungsterinPakistan,ashisgrandfather wasbeingbrutallymurderedbeforehisveryeyes. Helistenedtohisinstinctsandranforsurvival. Hekeptrunningawayfromdeath,pain,horrortoclingonto hope,freedomandlife.KnowntodayastheFlyingSikh,hislifeisa testimonytotheValueofFreedom.

Like Milkha Singh, many children continue to hear the same echo of Bhaag Bachon Bhaag...they have to keep running in order to survive. Sadly, many dont make it! They are victims of abuse, corruption, bonded labour, sex trafficking and more. In Bihar, the recent deaths of 23 innocent children caused because of food laced with lethal pesticides, shocked many. We are poor learners! A few days ago, in Maharashtra, 73 students of a government run residentialschoolforgirls inBuldana districthad been hospitalizedforsuspectedfoodpoisoning.Shouldkidsrunfrom the very hands that feed them? Are they to run from the very teachers who are supposed to care and protect them. Theywould,iftheycould.But,wherewouldtheyrunto?Therearenotmanychoicesoravenuestofreedomeither. TryinggettingasimplejobdonemanyIndiansstillheartheechoBhaagBhaiBhaagyouhavetorunfrompillarto post to get the job done: be it acquiring a driving license or a telephone connection, a certificate or even to defend your own basic rights. Pay a bribe, and you stop running. Lifestyles of corruption enslaves many an Indian. Freedom is stillamyth.Whencanwesimplywalkfreelyagain?isaquestiononeveryonesmind.

IndependenceDayismorethanjustafurlingoftheflag,asaluteandapiouspatrioticspeech.Independenceisacallto live life in freedom and to promote the freedom of those enslaved by any forms of domination, exploitation and discrimination.WhilewepayhomagetothefreedomfightersofourIndependence,weneedtosalutetodaythedaring Real Heroes who take the courage to stop those who continue running away from fear, death, exploitation, violenceandterror,andprovideforthemaheavenofpeace.Independenceisaboutwalkingfree;notrunninginfear.

Whenwillourchildrenstoprunningfromthethoughtofbeingpoisonedbymiddaymeals? Whenwillourgirlsstoprunningfromthefearofbeingrapedorscaredbyacidattacks? Whenwillouryouthstoprunningfromthedangersofasocietythatexploitstheiryouthfulness? Whenwillourseniorcitizensstoprunningfromthedangersofbeingabandonedandleftalone?

Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is a choice he had to make to survive. Life is more that just running around in circles we need to stop, take stock of our Freedom Quotient and have the courage to walk together in peace, hope and love. This is the value of true freedom and no one can take it away from us. Into that Heaven of Freedom my Father, Let my countryarise!HappyIndependenceDay!

Embrace Values: Enrich Lives

Fr. Glenford Lowe sdb

the Yatra Values for Embrace Values: Enrich Lives

Archdiocesan Value Education Centre (AVEC ) E-Letter August 2013

What is your FREEDOM QUOTIENT (FQ)? Your Freedom is what makes You ! Value Freedom always...
MYFREEDOMQUOTIENT 1.IamreallyfreetodowhateverIwantandwhen everIwant,withnofearofconsequences. 2.Irespectthefreedomofthosearoundmeat home,intheclassroom,playground. 3.Iallowmyparentsthefreedomtocorrectme andtoknowwhatIamaboutwithmyfriends. 4.IbelieveintheRighttoFreedomofWorship anddonotdiscriminateothersonbasisofreligion. 5.Whenthefreedomofsomeoneiscurtailed becauseofexploitation,Ivoicemyconcern. 6.IbelieveintheValueofFreedomanduseit responsiblyandforthegoodofall. 7.IamawarethatDisciplineisnevertheenemyof freedom.Disciplineenhancesonetobemorefree. 8.IamsensitiveinmyFreedomofExpressionand carefulnottohurtthesentimentsofothers. 9.InthedailychoicesImake,IknowIusemyheart andmindtomakeresponsiblechoices. 10.Godhasblessedmewithfreewill.DoIuseit responsiblyinlivingmylifetothefull. 11.Whenitcomestoforgiveness,amIreallyfree toletgoandforgetthepast. 12.AmIawareofeverythingthatenslavesmeand doIseekthepathofliberatingmyselffromthem. NEVER RARELY SOMETIMES OFTEN ALWAYS

What is the Value I give to FREEDOM ?

Embrace Values: Enrich Lives

the Yatra Values for Embrace Values: Enrich Lives

Archdiocesan Value Education Centre (AVEC ) E-Letter August 2013

FREE TO BECOME SAINTS !

(ThefollowingpoemissaidtobeinspiredbyBlessedPopeJohnPaulII)

Weneedsaintswithoutcassocks,withoutveilsweneedsaintswithjeansandtennisshoes. Weneedsaintsthatgotothemoviesthatlistentomusic,thathangoutwiththeirfriends. WeneedsaintsthatplaceGodinfirstplaceaheadofsucceedinginanycareer.

Weneedsaintsthatlookfortimetoprayeverydayand whoknowhowtobeinlovewithpurity,chastityandallgoodthings. Weneedsaintssaintsforthe21stcenturywithaspiritualityappropriatetoournewtime. Weneedsaintsthathaveacommitmenttohelpingthepoorandtomaketheneededsocialchange.

Weneedsaintstoliveintheworld,tosanctifytheworld andtonotbeafraidoflivingintheworldbytheirpresenceinit. WeneedsaintsthatdrinkCocaCola,thateathotdogs, thatsurftheinternetandthatlistentotheiriPods.

WeneedsaintsthatlovetheEucharist, thatarenotafraidorembarrassedtoeatapizzaordrinkabeerwiththeirfriends. Weneedsaintswholovethemovies,dance,sports,theater. Weneedsaintsthatareopensociablenormalhappycompanions. Weneedsaintswhoareinthisworldandwhoknowhowtoenjoy thebestinthisworldwithoutbeingcallousormundane. Weneedsaints. WorldYouthDayRIO2013QuotedbyPopeFrancis

A Spiritual Value Guru for Youth today

Embrace Values: Enrich Lives

the Yatra Values for Embrace Values: Enrich Lives

Archdiocesan Value Education Centre (AVEC ) E-Letter December 2009 Archdiocesan Value Education Centre (AVEC ) E-Letter August 2013

Independence Day 66 Years

Are we Proud of our Independence? Where is India today? What would the Father of the nation do if he were around?Wouldhebeproudofallthetime,trouble,andefforthetookbyinitiatingNonViolencebywhichIndiawon her freedom from the British Rule. What do you think? Are we proud of ourselves or do we need to hang our heads inshameatthestateourcountryisintoday? We are no doubt free from British rule but are we free from Corruption, Violence, and Injustice which plagues our society today.When human beings forget their true identity as Spiritual beings, and begin to identify with their bod ies,theirmaterialassets,theycomeundertheinfluenceofvices,whichisthemaincauseofViolence. AnarticletakenfromTheSpeakingTreementionsfourformsofViolence:Lust,Anger,Greed,andEgo. Lust destroys all purity in the soul of a human being. Lust does not only mean physical pleasures, but also lusting for money and power. Once the soul is engulfed by lust it creates endless cycles of desire and indulgence. It makes one extremelyselfish.TakeagoodlookatourPoliticianstoday,aresomeofthemreallyfittobePoliticiansoraretheyin itforreapingbenefitsforthemselves,ratherthancaringfortheinterestsoftheCommonman.Youbethejudge. Whenexpectationsarenotmet,itkindlesangerwhichburnstheselfaswellasothers.Whenpeopledontdowhatis expectedofthemanddontdoasweexpect themtodoweget angry.When weareangry ourdiscernmentgoesfor asix,whichcancausegreatdamageonalargescalesuchaswar,terrorismandmurders. A greedy person is always poor even though he may have a lot of material assets. When one is filled with greed one isneversatisfied.Peoplewhoarefilled withgreed cannever be happyand canneverenjoylifeastheyarealwaysin want.Duetogreedmanandnatureareexploitedwhichcausevastdestruction. Egoisolatesapersonandcreates,discord,andhatred.Whenunderitsinfluenceweloseourselfrespect.Anegoistic personisalwaysinsecureandseeksattention. In order to sustain Peace and harmony in our souls we have to stay away from things which violate ourselves. We need to seek Divine intervention which is the answer to lasting peace and harmony in our world. Let us make that shiftwhichisnoteasywhenoneisrootedinthingswhichburdenonessoul,thenandonlythencanwetrulybefree andfreeournationandliveuptotheexpectationswhichtheFatherofournationexpectsofus.WhereareourVal uestoday?Lookatthenewspapers,everydaywefindeitherarapebeingcommitted,orachildbeingmolested,look atyoungchildrentodayfindingsolaceineitherhangingthemselvesortakingaleapoutofthewindoworconsuming poisonastheycannotcopewithwhatlifeoffersthem,theyalwayswanttheeasywayout.Parentsareforcedtoad here to their childrens demands or else fear the consequence of losing them. Why is all this happening, it is because our children are not being taught VALUES whichplayanimportantroleinchildupbringingthatweasacountryarefacing. Let us make a pledge with the onset of our 66th Independence day that we will make every effort to seek first the Blessings of the Almighty and let us place ourselvesinhiscare. Mr. Rochwyn Fernandes

Embrace Values: Enrich Lives

the Yatra Values for Embrace Values: Enrich Lives

Archdiocesan Value Education Centre (AVEC ) E-Letter August 2013

Known by who and how you connect with ...

InJunewespokeaboutPhysicalValues:ValuesofGoodHealth,aBalancedDiet, SportsandExercise,AppropriateSleep,HygienicEnvironments,SlowingDownand RhythmicBreathing. Thismonth,SocialValuesfocusesontheValueofBuildingHealthyRelationships.

Value of HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP

Relationship with Parents

Alwaysbehonest.Lyingto anyoneisabadthing. Tellyourparentshow muchtheymeantoyou.They havedonesomuchforyou, whetheryourealizeitornot. Alwaysberespectful.They willrespectyoumore,ifyou respectthem.

Relationship with Teachers

Bepunctualtoclassaswell asfinishtheassignedtaskson time. Dontgooverboard.Benice butdontoverdoit Bepolite Nevergossipaboutyour teacherstoyourfriends. Smilewhenyourteacher walksintotheclassroomand participateinclass.

Relationship with Peers

Understandyourfriends,listening tothem,learntoexpressyour thoughtsandemotionsinacceptable ways. Trytoacceptpeopleastheyare andmakeeffortstoadjusttothem Whenyouarewithyourpeers, avoidsayingoractinginamanner thatcanirritatethem. Disagreementsareapartof conversations,butwhatyoucandois, contemplatebothsidesoftheissue anddevisewaystoresolvethecon flict.Minordisagreementscanspoil relationshipssoitsbesttoresolve themquickly.

Where do YOU stand in

Embrace Values: Enrich Lives

the Yatra Values for Embrace Values: Enrich Lives

Archdiocesan Value Education Centre (AVEC ) E-Letter August 2013

St.AnthonysVersova:TeachersOrientationProg.11/07 St.AnthonysVersova:StudentsOrientationProg.12/07

St.JosephsConventBandra:StdXRetreat13/07

St.AnnesHighSchoolOrlem:StudentsOrient.15/07

St.AnnesHighSchoolOrlem:LeadersOrient.16/07

St.AnnesConventBorivili:TeachersOrientation17/07

St.MarysConventAlibaug:TeachersOrientation19/07

St.JohntheEvangelistMarol:TeachersOrientation22/07

St.AnnesConventBorivili:StudentsOrientation23/07

St.AnthonysMalwani:LeadersOrientation24/07

Embrace Values: Enrich Lives

the Yatra Values for Embrace Values: Enrich Lives

Archdiocesan Value Education Centre (AVEC ) E-Letter August 2013

SacredHeartSchoolAhmednagar:StudentsOrient26/07 SacredHeartSchoolAhmednagar:StudentsOrient27/07

Value Education Coordinators Seminar 2013 on September 26, 2013

DonBoscoHighSchoolBorivili:TeachersOrient.29/07

AVEC Competitions: Physical

Value Focus:

Values

at Don Bosco Primary School Hall, Matunga 8.304.00 pm

Good Health, Balanced Diets, Sports and Exercise, Appropriate Sleep,

The Two Value Education Hygienic Environments, Slowing Down, Coordinators from all ABE Rhythmic Breathing Schools are expected to Presentationsthrough: participate. SKITS,POEMS,SONGS, POSTERSorPROJECTS Details follow. LASTDATE:AUGUST25,2013
AVEC E-Letter Values for the Yatra is an initiative to provide Animation Resources for Teachers involved in Value Education in the ABE schools/ Jr. Colleges .Values for the Yatra will be published every month and is for Private Circulation only. Your valuable suggestions are most welcome to assist us in making Values for the Yatra a useful tool of animation and bonding among the teachers and students of the ABE schools in Mumbai. CONTACT: AVEC Team Fr. Glenford Lowe, SDB / Rochwyn Fernandes / Sr. Vera / Ms. Carissa / Ms. Angel Abraham AVECDon Bosco Youth Services, Matunga 400019 , MUMBAI Ph: 24154477 e-mail: avecmatunga@gmail.com Blog: avecmumabidbys.blogspot.com / facebook: avecmumbai

Embrace Values: Enrich Lives