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- Event date: 21/10/2023
- Updated on: 23/07/2024
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Total Photos:
53
Description: On 21st December, 2023, we the members of LTS under the guidance of our animator Dr. Punam Gupta along with Fr. Jaykumar, S.J., the youth director of Patna diocese, went to Padri -Ki- Haveli in Patna city to celebrate Christmas with differently abled people.
Padri -ki- Haveli is a place where Missionaries of Charity, (MC Sisters) provide a selfless service of mentally challenged children and women. They have devoted themselves to the service of humanity with love and care.
Driving through the roads and narrow lanes we reached the venue at 10 a.m. There we saw children playing in the ground. When these children saw us they ran and hugged us as if they wanted someone to provide love to them. Many of these children could not eat by their own, walk properly or speak but still they wore a simile on their face. It made us realise that if these children with so many difficulties can do a lot of things on their own so we should also try to do something to make their life easy.
Sister Superior, Sister Ann Catherine gave us the tour of the whole orphanage. First, she told us that some children over there were brought through helpline numbers by the police, some were left at the entrance, railway station, roads and some came with the help of other institutions. There were almost 150 inmates in the orphanage.
After that we visited the first wing, we met some elderly women who were mentally challenged but no one could say so as they all were neat and clean and well kept. There were three teachers to train the children with patience and love.
We then visited Mother Teresa’s room. Mother Teresa started her mission of service by taking her medical training over here. She stayed in the room (1948). In 1963 MC sisters came here for their work of mercy. Mother Teresa lived the word ‘love’, not just say it. The room spoke about the simplicity and selfless work of Mother Teresa. There was a bed, a note written by her and a relic of Mother Teresa with a drop of blood in it.
We moved to another wing where there were 28 patients, mostly aged ones, some had even crossed ninety years, were taken care by two sisters.
We came back to the ground where all had assembled. We put up a show for these people, by singing Christmas carol and dancing on the tunes of Christmas songs. The whole atmosphere echoed with joy as we all joined together with them to celebrate the birth of Lord. We even cut the homemade cake brought by one of us.
After that we gave them the items of daily use such as soaps, towel, toothpaste, chocolate, handmade cards etc. which we had brought. We also donated some money which was used to prepare the lunch that day for them.
We divided into 3 groups, 8 members each and went to serve food to the people there. The beaming faces of the people made us feel really blessed.
Before leaving the place we went to the church to thank God for the blessings He has showered on us. We bid good bye to all the sisters, people and children there and proceeded to our school.
On the way back we ruminated on the thought that how lucky we are to have our parents to love and care for us! We even thought that we should help others as God has made us capable enough to serve our fellow beings.
Really I was reminded of the words of Ruth Carter Stapleton-
“Christmas is most truly Christmas when we celebrate it by giving the light of love to those who need it most”.
Such excursions exposes us to the realities of life. Education is not just acquiring bookish knowledge but lesson for life. This is one of the aims of our school and LTS.