The Quotation of the Week (April 7-13, 2019)

A quotation of Arnold Lunn on 'the success of a Catholic school,'
compiled by Jerome D'Costa

Above design by Jerome D'Costa

Student-To-Student Abuse And Sex Abuse Scandal At St. Michael's College School in Toronto

St. Michael's College School Sports Arena

Photo courtesy: ca.news.yahoo.com/

St. Michael's College School, a prestigious private Catholic institution, run by the Basilian Fathers of Toronto, drew international media attention in the second and third week of November when four videos -- one after the other -- appeared showing cases of student-to-student abuse and sexual abuse. This generated an outcry for in-depth and impartial investigation and appropriate punishment of the students involved in abusing fellow students. 

So far, six boys have been arrested and charged by police. Among the arrestees are two boys aged 14 and four boys aged 15 years. 

The school principal Greg Reeves and president Father Jefferson Thompson, C.S.B., resigned on November 22 to allow an independent investigation into the offenses. 

To learn more, please read the following:

• Six Students arrested in connection with St. Michael's College alleged sex assault scandal (Nov. 19, 2018)
• St. Michael's College School reeling in wake of six arrests (Nov. 19, 2018)
• Fr. Raymond J. de Souza: Lazy media suggest St. Michael's coverup (Nov. 19, 2018)
• How the St. Michael's College School sex assault scandal unfolded (Nov. 20, 2018)
• 'It starts at the top.' Former St. Michael's College School student demanding changes to regain trust (Nov. 21, 2018)
• Alumni call for an end to "bully mentality" at all-boys school (Nov. 21, 2018)
• What we know and don't know about the scandal at St. Michael's College School -- and what we can't report (Nov. 21, 2018)
• St. Michael's College School principal and president resign amid sexual assault scandal (Nov. 22, 2018)
• Media are not the enemy in the St. Michael's sex assault scandal (Nov. 23, 2018)
• St. Michael's College School (Under the direction of the Basilian Fathers) [Official Website]

(Updated on Nov. 25, 2018)

Eight Scholastics of the Brothers of Holy Cross in Bangladesh Take the Final Vow

(L-R) Brothers Nicholas Tolentino CSC, Provat Placid Purification CSC, Placid Rebeiro CSC, Shimul Andreas Rozario CSC, Sanchoy Mathias Rozario CSC, Sumon Joseph Costa CSC, Toren Joseph Palma CSC and Chayan Victor Corraya CSC -- eight scholastics of the Brothers of Holy Cross in Bangladesh -- took their final vow on November 23 at St. John the Baptist Church of Tumilia

Photo @ the courtesy of Brother Binoy Gomes, CSC

Eight scholastics of St. Joseph’s Province of the Brothers of Holy Cross in Bangladesh took their final vow on November 23 at St. John the Baptist Church of Tumilia in Gazipur District, Bangladesh.

Bishop Subrato Lawrence Howlader, CSC, the auxiliary bishop of Chittagong, concelebrated the solemn Mass, where dozens of priests, Brothers and Sisters of Holy Cross as well as some other Congregations participated. Several hundred lay men and women, including parents and relatives of the scholastics, were also in attendance. A cultural show and banquet followed the Mass.

On the previous day, scholastics from the parishes of Rangamatia and Nagori came to join their compatriots at Tumilia with their relatives and well-wishers, who sang and danced on the way. After an hour of the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, all the scholastics underwent a gaye-holud (turmeric-smearing) ceremony according to a local custom. This ceremony symbolizes the purification of the body and soul. 

Presently, 92 Brothers of Holy Cross are labouring in the vineyard of Bangladesh. They mainly run and teach in schools in the Archdiocese of Dhaka and the dioceses of Chittagong, Dinajpur and Mymensingh.  

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

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)

A Photo Essay on the 2012 Annual Sports Day at Holy Cross Girls' High School in Dhaka

It was the annual sports competition at Holy Cross Girls' High School at Tejgaon, Dhaka. This is the first time I witnessed all-girl sports competition in my life. 

The colourful competition was timely, well-organized and disciplined. Among the spectators were parents, girl students and a few invited guests. 

Holy Cross Girls' High School, besides regular studies, gives equal importance on extra-curricular activities of its students. 

This photo essay gives you an over-all picture of the annual sports competition held in the school on January 20, 2012.


School-teacher judges (below):

School Girls Participate in Drills and Parades (below):

 

 

Running and Quiz-Answer Competition (below):

Competition on Skipping and Running with Books on Head (below):

Student Spectators (below): 

School Teachers, Parent-Spectators and Invited Guests (Below):

Photos (Dhaka: January 20, 2012) © Jerome D'Costa