Sunday, August 3, 2014

Uth @ lUv



Uth @ lUv – is an expression we franchised or rather titled our Musical Play which we staged at DIVYADAAN on the 31st of July 2014 and on the 2nd & 3rd of August 2014. The script and a couple of songs were taken from the Musical Play titled Salesian Youth Movement Rocks!!! staged at Dominic Savio, Andheri for the Annual Day 2013-2014 which was written and directed by Mr. Haydn Dias (A Salesian at Heart and very much part of the Salesian Family – very patient and generous). The inception of Uth @ lUv took place in Bangalore when I was there for my Pre-Perpetual Course; wherein my roommate Cl. Michael Gaikwad SDB (simple, humble, kind, and hard working) was sharing his experience (practically daily) of staging the above mentioned SYM Rocks!!! At Andheri. And I began to think about staging this play at Divyadaan since we are into the Bi-Centenary Year of Don Bosco’s Birth Celebration. As soon as I reached Nashik, I spoke to Fr Robert Pen SDB (friendly and understanding), the Rector of Divyadaan, he along with the house council willingly gave me go for this play.

If at all SYM Rocks has taken its shape and form to Uth @ lUv is all because of Cl. Bosco Carvalho SDB (understanding and friendly, creative and loving nature, a brother and a friend), the brain and the mother behind this musical play. He wrote the lyrics and composed the songs; he gave his touch to the script by modifying it. All thanks to him for his hard work and efforts. I feel obliged to thank Fr Thomas Chalissery SDB (in getting things that we needed for the play as well as for his precision and generosity), the Administrator. And of course, how can I forget the director of the show – Bravo (excellent, great)!!! Bene (good)!!! Yeah, it’s none other than Fr Wyman Gonsalves SDB (dynamic, enthusiastic, creative, cool & calm, friend of Uth), the Prefect of Studies.

I must add here that Uth @ lUv wouldn’t have seen itself on stage, if not for the Brothers at Divyadaan. I could see and say that from the 24th of June till the shows that we put up they gave of their best. Be it on stage, below stage and behind stage. In the process of practices and getting ready for the play I would often marvel and exclaim to myself: amazing! Wow! Ahh! Superb! Cool! Words to define and explain their touch, their talents, their team spirit will be too little to acknowledge their hard work (cum’nya bro we will do it), their efforts (seeing them put their heads together and pushing their ideas to action), their sacrifices (skipping breakfast and meals; and tea; their openness, their mark of responsibility), choir giving their touch and flavour to the solo singers and musicians (the master and the different voices), dancers (setting each second, each beat a step), stage committee (setting and changing of each scene with their briskness and the stage set up making each scene look real with their art work and creativity), the lights men (giving proper effects with the play of lights), the sound in charge (seeing to the vocal, the musicians and cast voice controlling it on the mixer), the publicity and ushers (seeing to the preparatory works as well as  welcoming each and every person to our home), make up committee (giving a brighter look to our actors),  preparing the credits and notice boards, cleaning and arranging the hall, the cleanliness of the house (inside-outside). As well as thanks to the actresses (Viviana, Nonii, Sister Novices FMA, and Sisters Supriya & Jyothi) who willingly accepted to be part of Uth @ lUv with their loving nature and grace filled presence made a difference on stage. And last but not the least my being gratuitous extends to all the communities (Salesian Training Institute, Don Bosco Bhavan & School–college, Kilbil School, Sacred Heart Training Institute, and Maria Vihar) that generously gave us whatever we asked for. 

For me I can say that it was a learning experience – developing a planning mentality, knowing that practice makes one to excel in whatever one decides, to have a listening attitude coupled with humility, to be able to dialogue with loving relationship, to be hard working and possess the gift of effort. I realised that it is not important to be perfect but definitely to be of excellence.

As a Salesian I can say that it was a spiritual experience for me. Uth @ lUv was centered on some key characteristics of Salesian Spirituality such as the Preventive System, the Salesian Assistance, the Pedagogy of Love, the Animating and Accompanying Presence, to Love the poor, the abandoned, the lonely, the lost. I would often think about the example of Dominic Savio gave to his fellow companions at the Oratory and reflect on my presence here. Thinking about holiness – that – Sanctity consists in being CHEERFUL.

Ultimately, it reminded me of my SALESIAN VOCATION which I always cherish but haven’t nourished enough by way of Prayer and Witness. As I set off shores for my studies, I hope to focus on what I truly am as a consecrated person, as a perpetually professed religious, as a Salesian. To rekindle that search for God, for Peace in my life, and to share responsibly and to give generously to all.

WHY am I saying all this…well if it is was only “i” then we wouldn’t have been affective and effective enough to stage Uth @ lUv (we were busy practicing and working) and more so shared it with all those who came to see the shows.

We did do this show keeping in mind the coming Year of the Bi-Centenary of Don Bosco’s Birth but only in and with the GRACE of GOD for HIS GREATER GLORY. I must say that ‘Uth @ lUv’ was possible because of U for your active involvement, your passion and zeal, your love and responsibility, your hard work and effort, your time and availability, your discipline and courage, your risk and courage…SORRY for the times i got irritated and angry; THANK YOU is all I can say, PRAYERS is all I assure you of…

Let’s be the LOVE to every Uth we encounter....



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