Mangalore: SAPUC celebrated the joyous occasion of Christmas with great enthusiasm, bringing together students and staff to partake in the season's spirit of love, togetherness, and giving. The event, marked by vibrant performances, heartfelt messages, and spirited activities, encapsulated the essence of the festive season. The celebration was an opportunity for the college community to reflect on the deeper meaning of Christmas, fostering unity and sharing the message of hope and goodwill.
The formal celebration for students was held with Rev. Fr Leston Lobo SJ, Director, Pre-novitiate, Loyola, gracing the occasion as chief guest and Rosemary as the guest of honour. The solemn prayer service set a mellow tone to the programme that followed.
Rev. Fr Leston Lobo wished the gathering a Christmas filled with joy and love. Through delightful analogies, he expressed how Christmas is not just the birthday of Jesus Christ, celebrated with carols, cakes, gifts, and hearty meals, but a feast of giving, receiving, and sharing. Fr Leston urged everyone to use the power bestowed in their hands to make the world a better place by loving and caring for their fellow people.
Rosemary, in her Christmas message, expressed that Christmas is the time when we become aware of the Lord’s love that envelopes us, keeping us safe in the darkest times of our lives. She recollected the experience of a family caught in a storm during their voyage from France to England, who felt this all-encompassing love, just like Mary, Joseph, and the Holy Child felt on the cold, winter night of His birth.
Students added to the joy of the occasion through their melodious carol singing, spirited dances, and a thought-provoking play. Santa Claus and his merry dancers filled the air with true Christmas cheer. Adithi, Denisha, Sweedal, and Sanika, students of the second year, brought the spirit of Christmas alive with their delightful compering. Cakes were distributed at the end of the event, adding to the festive cheer.
The staff captured the true essence of Christmas through vibrant activities, including melodious carol singing, joyful dancing, engaging games, and heartfelt reflections.
Rev. Fr Pradeep Sequeira, the Finance Officer, narrated a story of selfless giving in his message to the staff, highlighting how the real spirit of Christmas is not in material things but in non-material, invisible ones. Quoting from St John’s version of the Bible, he said that God loves the world, so he gave us his Son, and in the person of Christ, God gave himself to us. Fr Pradeep emphasised that Jesus Christ gave his people not material things but friendship to the lonely, love to the unloved, sympathy to the troubled, encouragement to the struggling, and ultimately his life out of forgiveness. While gifts are mere symbols, true giving lies in offering love, friendship, sympathy, and encouragement.
The staff enjoyed the festive meal and carried home sweet memories of this Christmas celebration.
Joining in the celebration were the Principal Rev. Fr Clifford Sequeira SJ, Campus Minister Rev. Fr Anthony Derrick SJ, Vice Principals Muralikrishna GM and Vilma Fernandes, and Dean Kiran Shetty. The event was coordinated by Lidwin Pereira, Jennifer Pinto, Fiola Lobo, Ancilla D’Souza, Nimmy Alex, and Amanda Rodrigues.
