DB-HSS, Gandhi Nagar, Katpadi, Vellore: October 29, 2024

DEEPAGAM, DON BOSCO CATECHETICAL CENTRE (INM) has organized Annual Bible Quiz for the INM Vellore Region Schools on October 29, 2024 at Don Bosco Higher Secondary School, Gandhi Nagar, Vellore.

Fr. Jesudoss began the Bible Quiz program on St Pauls with an interactive session for the hundred-strong school children in Don Bosco Higher Secondary School, Gandhi Nagar/Katpadi. He gave an awareness on the stage backdrop messages to the Children: திருநூலை அறியாமல் இருப்பது கிறிஸ்துவை அறியாமல் இருப்பதாகும் (St Jerome’s Quote). விவிலியம் அறிவோம்! வீதியெங்கும் எடுத்துரைப்போம்! 

Education is knowing, comprehending, understanding and so on. While Bible speaks about Jesus, by reading the Bible, we know Jesus; we love Him and we live for Him. Salesian’s fundamental ministry is education: especially, faith education. Catechetical instruction is about God, Christ, Church, world, and our happiness. Every Salesian has a fundamental qualification as a catechism teacher to the children and youth. Because, our mission is “Proclaiming Christ” to the world. Hence, the Catechetical Centre at The Citadel (Chennai Salesian Provincialate) is now giving importance to the rural areas.

Fr. Kirupakaran Rathinasamy, SDB, the eighth director (during the difficult times of Covid outbreaks) served six-years in Deepagam Catechetical Centre. He was called to introduce Deepagam and DBICA to children. Fr. Kirupakaran said, “We all grow in six-dimensions of our life; namely, physical, intellectual, psychological, spiritual, societal and media-communication. In Don Bosco methodology of education, we approach in these multi-dimensions towards our children and youth. In this, the foundation for spiritual dimension is Faith. Faith or spiritual dimension is planned and executed by Deepagam (an INM Provincialate wing); Deepagam Catechetical Centre is focussed on Spiritual Dimensions for Christians and for Non-Christians, the value formation is imparted.”

“There are four ministry sub-sectors for Deepagam, they are: 1) Education and Culture, 2) Evangelization and Catechesis 3) Groups and Movements (i.e. forming faith communities), and 4) Vocation Promotion”, Fr. Kirupakaran highlighted from his experiences of catechetical apostolate. 

In it, “The Education to Faith and Culture dimension is to sow faith and values in children and people to grow the Kingdom of God. இல்லம் தேடி இறையரசு, கூடுவோம் கொண்டாடுவோம், நம்பிக்கையை பேசுவோம் and so on, are few efforts to spread God’s Kingdom” Fr. Kirupakaran told the students in simpler way. Media-Communication-Dimension by DBICA is media education for the young and media consumption for all. Fr. Kirupakaran is now the Principal of the Don Bosco Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Katpadi, Vellore.

He, in his inaugural address catechized the children thus: Scripture and Jesus are the same like Eucharistic bread and wine is Body and Blood of Christ. Jesus lived in flesh and blood among us as Galilean Jew. Yet, Jesus is the primordial Word, Word was with God and was God (Gen 1:1), the Logos. This Word became Flesh (Lk 1:38) when Mary said, "Let it be with me according to your word." Jesus came into the world as an expiation for our sins (for instance, in John 8:1-11, Jesus redeems the sinful woman from the condemnation by the sinners).

Further, Fr. Kirupakaran reminded the children: “When we carry the Bible, we are carrying Jesus. For, Word of God is alive, active, and powerful as double-edged sword.” We must read, love, understand and live the Divine Word.”

Fr. Francis Sundarraj SDB (Rector, Gandhi Nagar - Vellore) welcomed all who are present for the Bible Quiz Program and he expressed his happiness to host the program in Don Bosco – Gandhi Nagar house. He officiated as chief guest for the catechetical program.

In his message to all present in the hall, he said, “Deeply rooted in faith is important for catechizing.” Knowing scripture is ongoing life education and so he thanked the teachers who prepared the children for the program. He quoted in English, St. Jerome’s words inscribed on the stage backdrop: ‘Ignorance of the Bible is Ignorance of Christ’. We are to answer six questions by Christ after the end-time (Matthew 25:31-46) – feeding the hungry, quenching the thirsty, sheltering the stranger, clothing the naked, caring the sick and visiting the prisoner. We are all searching for answers to Christ's questions. Our Life is still a quest for answer to these Jesus' questions of praxis.

Jesus gave us two metaphors in Matthew 5: 13-16, ‘Light to the World’ and ‘Salt to the World’. We Christians, must be spiritual light to the world. Salt flavours food. And, we must be socially salt; let us be the flavoured Christians for the society and the world.

The Quiz Program proper began with prayer session led by Mr Santo Andrew from Deepagam. The participating schools for the Quiz program from Vellore Region of INM Province were: 

1. Don Bosco Higher Secondary School, Gandhi Nagar, Vellore (DBHSS-GN)

2. Don Bosco Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Gandhi Nagar, Vellore (DBMHSS-GN)

3. Don Bosco Matriculation School, Veeralur (DBMS-VL)

4. Don Bosco Higher Secondary School, Polur (DBHSS-PL)

As usual, based on three K-12 groups in India, namely, Primary (GP1), High (GP2) and Higher Secondary (GP3) levels, three children were selected for each school group to take part in the final day of the Quiz. The last round of Bible Quiz for INM Vellore Region Schools was held at Don Bosco Higher Secondary School, Gandhi Nagar, Vellore on October 29, 2024.

More than hundred school boys and girls with twelve teachers attended the quiz program in which thirty-six school children participated in the catechetical event. Rev. Fr. Francis Sundarraj SDB, Rector and the Salesian community graced the event as the chief guest. The program was organized and moderated by Mr. Santo Andrew.

Prize Winners were,

First Prize: DBMS-VL(GP1), DBMS-VL(GP2), DBHSS-GN(GP3)

Second Prize: DBHSS-PL(GP1), DBMHSS-GN(GP2), DBMHSS-GN(GP3)

Third Prize: DBMHSS-GN(GP1), DBHSS-GN(GP2), DBHSS-PL(GP3)

Don Bosco Higher Secondary School, Gandhi Nagar (Vellore) bagged first prize; while, Don Bosco Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Gandhi Nagar (Vellore) got second prize and third prize went to Don Bosco Matriculation School, Veeralur.

The catechetical objective behind Bible Quiz was to imbue in the school children, the biblical knowledge on St Paul and his Charism for the Universal Church. The theme for the day was “St Paul’s Life and His Apostolic Letters” based on the booklet, St Paul’s Information Bank by Fr. Antony Christy SDB (a Deepagam Publication) which contains over 250 informative questions and answers on St Paul, the Apostle. This is the fourth and final Bible Quiz session for this year, 2024.

The program concluded with Fr. Director’s interactive session with many children who on the podium gave many Scriptural quotes/messages from their memory to the participating children who were their audience. The Bible Quip program lasted for four hours.