The Quotation of the Week (April 29-May 5, 2012)

A Hindu gentleman in the centenary celebration of Bandura Holy Cross High School, Dhaka District

Photo (Bandura: January 12, 2012) © Jerome D'Costa

A Doodle: Fish

A doodle on hilsa fish

Doodle (Dhaka: March 5, 1993) © Jerome D'Costa

The Quotation of the Week (April 22-28, 2012)

A quotation on 'Life' by Thomas Merton, compiled by Jerome D'Costa

An Accident in the Parkway Mall, Toronto

An early evening accident happened today in front of the Macdonald's Restaurant in the Parkway Mall, Toronto. According to a spectator, the driver of the van is said to have a heart attack while in the vehicle, resulting in his van ploughing through other vehicles parked there. 

When we arrived in the mall, we found the accident scene as portrayed in the following photos that speak for themselves. 

Photos (Parkway Mall, Toronto: April 21, 2012) ©Jerome D'Costa

Two Bengali Books on Archbishop Theotonius Amal Ganguly, CSC, Published So Far

The Catholic Church declared Archbishop Theotonius Amal Ganguly, CSC (1920-1977), of the Archdiocese of Dhaka, Bangladesh, the Servant of God – the first step in his canonization process. He was the first Bangali (Bengalee) principal of Notre Dame College, Dhaka and the first Bangali bishop and archbishop in Bangladesh. Catholics and non-Catholics alike appreciated his virtuousness and exemplary life. 

Until now, two books in Bengali on the life of Archbishop Ganguly have been published in Bangladesh. We present below some information on these two books.

      1. Bangladesh Mondolir Gourab Archbishop Ganguly (Archbishop Ganguly: The Pride of the Bangladesh Church) by Bernard Swapon Gomes (Dhaka: Archbishop T. A. Ganguly Memorial Trust, Archbishop’s House, 1988). 

This 36-page booklet gives a portrait of the archbishop’s childhood; his studies at Bandura Holy Cross primary and high schools; his time at the Little Flower preparatory seminary at Bandura of Dhaka District; his philosophy and theology studies at St. Albert’s Major Seminary in Ranchi of Bihar State in India; his higher studies (M.A. and Ph.D.) at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, USA; his teaching and principalship at Notre Dame College of Dhaka; his elevation to the position of the auxiliary bishop and later to the archbishop of the Archdiocese of Dhaka; his death and crowded burial; and, finally, his contributions and  qualities that endeared him to people of all creeds.  

     2. Dibaloker Ujjal Nokkhotra Theotonius Amal Ganguly, CSC (Theotonius Amal Ganguly, CSC: The Bright Day Star) by Father Adam S. Pereira, CSC (Dhaka:  The Congregation of Holy Cross – Bangladesh, Moreau House, Bonosree, Rampura, 2011). 

 

This latest 165-page biography portrays the complete life of Archbishop Theotonius Amal Ganguly, CSC: his birth and childhood, studies and seminary life, priesthood, and entrance to the Congregation of Holy Cross, his ministry as a priest, his life as a bishop and archbishop, his untimely death, and the Church announcement of him being the Servant of God. 

This book has some additional information and photos on his life that is not available in the first booklet mentioned above.

These two books are a must for those interested in the life of the Servant of God Theotonius Amal Ganguly, CSC.

In Photos: Inauguration of Bandura Holy Cross HIgh School Centenary Celebration

The three-day centenary celebration of Bandura Holy Cross High School in Nawabganj Upazilla of Dhaka District was inaugurated on January 12, 2012. About four thousand school alumni, current students and some members of their families including a number of dignitaries were present there. 

Among the dignitaries were: Information and Cultural Affairs Minister Abul Kalam Azad, State Minister for Cultural Affairs Advocate Promode Mankin (school alumnus), State Minister for Housing and Public Works Advocate Abdul Mannan Khan (alumnus), Archbishop Patrick D'Rozario CSC, Bishop Linus Gomes SJ (alumnus), Bishop Theotonius A. Gomes CSC (alumnus), and Bishop Bejoy D'Cruze OMI (alumnus).

The following photos give a glimpse of the inauguration day of the centenary celebration:

Dignitaries taking their seats on the stage

Dignitaries acknowledging greetings from the audience

Letting loose of balloons (above) and pigeons (not in picture) as part of the inauguration

Dignitaries from another angle

(L-R) Brother Binoy Gomes CSC (Provincial of Holy Cross Brothers in Bangladesh), Advocate Promode Mankin (State Minister for Cultural Affairs), Archbishop Patrick D'Rozario CSC (Archbishop of Dhaka), Abul Kalam Azad (Minister for Information and Cultural Affairs) and Advocate Abdul Mannan Khan (State Minister for Housing and Public Works)

State Minister for Cultural Affairs Advocate Pormode Mankin speaking of his experience as a former student of Bandura Holy Cross High School

Brother Chandan Benedict Gomes, CSC, the Headmaster of Bandura High School, speaking to the audience

Dignitaries seated among the audience

More of the dignitaries

A section of the audience

Another section of the audience

A section of the alumni

Another section of the alumni

Alumni with members of their families

More alumni with members of their families

Some priest and Broher alumni

More of the ex-students in front rows with current students on the back

Alumni with current students

Alumni with members of their families

Some of the volunteers for the celebration

Children dancing for the inauguration

Another scene of the children's dance

State Minister for Cultural Affairs Promode Mankin presenting a wall clock to Headmaster Brother Chandan Benedict Gomes, CSC, for the school

State Minister for Housing and Public Works Advocate Abdul Mannan Khan presenting a copy of  US-resident school alumni Dr. Nuran Nabi's book, Bullets of '71: A Freedom Fighter's Story, to Brother Chandan Benedict Gomes, CSC, for use in the school library

A renowned singer entertaining at the cultural show

These dancers also demonstrated their talent at the cultural show

All photos (Bandura: January 12, 2012) © Jerome D'Costa (alumnus of the school)

The Quotation of the Week (April 15-21, 2012)

Flowers in College Park, Toronto

 Photo (Toronto: November 4, 2011) © Jerome D'Costa

Canadian Coins: Some Observations

Pennies to Go Out of Circulation

Canadian pennies (one-cent coins)

The Canadian penny – a one-cent copper coin – is to get out of circulation in near future after being in service for 154 years. According to the Government, inflation is the main reason for taking such a decision. A one-cent coin actually costs more than the price of the amount of metal used in producing it. 

Some Canadians like these pennies for collection, for saving and for some other purpose. Others get annoyed and feel burdened when pennies get accumulated in their wallets and pockets.

Now, without the pennies, prices of items will be rounded up or down. In reality, will the stores round down the prices? Many think that customers, in the long run, will be paying more than the actual prices. 

Canadian Coins: Irregularity in Their Sizes

(L-R:) The tooney, looney, quarter, dime, nickel and penny

  

Canada has following coins: tooney (two-dollar coin), looney (one-dollar coin), quarter (25-cent coin), dime (10-cent coin), nickel (5-cent coin) and penny (1-cent coin). 

The sizes ofthese coins are not sequential according to their face values, for example – tooney (28mm), looney (26.5mm), quarter (23.88mm), dime (18.03mm), nickel (21.2mm) and penny (19.05mm). The dime is smaller in size than nickel and penny. 

For this irregularity in sizes, many Canadians sometimes mix up coins in taking and giving changes, especially with the quarters and nickels. Some people inadvertently identify nickels with quarters or vice versa. What about blind people?

The Canadian government should pay some attention to this dilemma and rectify the matter by reducing the sizes of coins sequentially according to their face values.

Dirty, Rusty and Discoloured Coins

Rusty and discoloured nickels and pennies that were 
inside  bank-supplied nickel and penny rolls

 

Can you recognize these two coins? These are two pennies -- examples 
of dirty coins found in a bank-supplied penny roll

All photos (Toronto: April, 2012) © Jerome D'Costa 

In Canada, there are few people who did not come across dirty, rusty and discoloured coins. These coins are the result of oxidization of metals in them. Although many of these coins become worthless and useless, yet they keep on circulating. Stores get them from customers and pass them on to banks and customers. The customers, in turn, use them when paying in stores. 

When banks get these damaged coins, they should stop passing them on to their customers and stores. It would be best if they would become gatekeepers for these coins and get them out of circulation.  

Healthy as well as sick hands handle coins daily. As a result, coins, all over the world, are known for acting as one of the vehicles for spreading diseases. 

Germs are more likely to cling on to dirty, rusty and discoloured coins and spread fast among their handlers. 

Bangladeshis in Toronto to Hold 'Boishakhi Mela' on April 14 and 15

A poster on a fence on Danforth Avenue of Toronto announces the two-day programme of the Boishakhi Mela

Another poster on the window of the Ghoroa Restaurant on the Danforth Avenue displaying the Bengali New Year programme

A chalk-board inside the Ghoroa Restaurant announces the 1st of Boishakh (the first month of the Bengali year) rally to be held on April 15

All photos (Toronto: April 7, 2012) © Jerome D'Costa

Bangladeshis are to hold their sixth Boishakhi Mela (Bangla New Year Fair) on April 14 and 15 at Ted Reeve Hockey Stadium on Main and Gerrard Streets in Toronto. Each day, the fair will start at 11:00 a.m. and continue until 1:00 a.m. in early morning next day. 

The two-day fair will mark cultural shows (singing, dancing, play acting, poetry recitation, stand-up comedy), food and other stalls, and raffle draws on one LCD TV, a laptop computer and a DVD player. Food stalls, among other items, will sell typical Bengali food items like pitha, payesh, panta-ilish, shutki, jhaal-muri, and cotton candy). The second day will also see a rally.

Children will enjoy shows by clowns, face painting and mehendi painting on their hands.

The best stall and the best boishakhi dress will win prizes.

Several thousand Bangalis (Bengalees) and Canadians are expected  to attend this fair. Bangalis all over the world observe the Pohela Boishakh with much fanfare.

The Photo of the Week

Automatic drawing of tap water in Old Dhaka!

Photo (Dhaka: January 19, 2012) © Jerome D'Costa

Today Is the Easter Sunday

A statue of the resurrected Christ in St. Lawrence the Martyr Church at Scarborough, Toronto

Photo (Toronto: April 7, 2012) © Jerome D'Costa

The Easter Sunday, also known as the Pascha or Passover, commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is the greatest feast day of Christianity, even more important than the Christmas – the birth of Christ. Christians strongly believe that salvation from sins came to mankind through his passion, death and resurrection.

Christianity would be meaningless without such events in the life of Jesus. Christians believe that by doing so, Jesus Christ, through his blood and death, expiated for the sins of mankind and brought eternal life for those believe in him. 

The Easter Sunday marks the end of 40 days of Lent, when Christians make personal sacrifices, repent for their sins and pledge to lead a good life in future.

Happy Easter to you all!

The Quotation of the Week (April 8-14, 2012)

Dogs at play on a side road at Tejkunipara, Dhaka

Photo (Dhaka: January 16, 2012) © Jerome D'Costa

Today Is the Holy Saturday

The Holy Saturday is the third or last day of the Easter Triduum. On this day, Easter vigil is kept as a preparation for welcoming the day of Easter on Sunday  when Jesus Christ resurrected from his death.  

On the Holy Saturday, some Catholic churches organize baptism and confirmation for adults, bless water for use in baptism for the rest of the year, bless the long paschal or Easter candle and share the light from this candle among the faithful present.

The paschal (Easter) candle used in the St. Lawrence the Martyr Catholic Church, Toronto, during the Lent

The faithful light their own candles from the flame of the paschal (Easter) candle when making their baptism pledge

The priest dips the lower part of the paschal (Easter) candle into water to bless it for use in baptisms

The priest is baptizing a person with the newly-blessed baptism water

Photos (Toronto: April 7, 2012) © Jerome D'Costa

Today Is the Good Friday

The Good Friday is the second day of the Easter Triduum. On this day, Christians commemorate the trial and death of Jesus Christ by crucifixion. In his honour, many Christians make sacrifice by fasting and abstaining from eating meat.

Christians, especially Roman Catholics, in their church services listen to the reading of the passion and death of Jesus. They also participate in and meditate on the Way of the Cross. They venerate the cross, as the symbol of Christ’s passion and death and reflect on its effect on their lives.

In spite of Jesus’s suffering and death on this day, it is called ‘Good Friday’ because Jesus, through his death, brought the remission of sins and salvation for mankind. So, the Good Friday brings hope for many of his followers.

St. Lawrence the Martyr Church in Toronto is jam-packed on April 6, 2012 during the Good Friday church service

After this Holy Communion service, the faithful will venerate the cross, unveiled and kept in the middle of the church

These two stained glass windows in the church depict the scourging and nailing of Jesus on the cross, which are the main theme of the Good Friday

Photos (Toronto: April 6, 2012) © Jerome D'Costa