Bengaluru: Fr Freddie Pereira inaugurated the Rolling Trophy Cricket matches on Sunday, July 22, at Maria Niketan School and College grounds here. The two-day matches were organized by the Salesian Cooperators of the parish for the last two consecutive years.

Speaking on the occasion Fr Pereira appreciating the efforts made by the cooperators in collaboration with the youth urged them to keep abreast of the time. Fr Pereira, vice rector of Salesian Provincial House encouraged all concerned to go for more events. He, also secretary to the Provincial exhorted them to keep the Salesian spirit and Don Bosco’s sportsmanship.

Well known across the globe as the founder of the Salesian Order, Don Bosco was hailed as one of the greatest teachers of his time. He is also the educator of St. Dominic Savio, one of the youngest canonized saints the Church has in her communion. St. John Bosco, affectionately known as Don Bosco, viewed education as the means to help Christian youth find their place in corporate society. He was the master of classroom management, good discipline rooted in liberty and a strong Catholic identity. For Don Bosco, interpersonal relationships were his primary approach when reaching children. He advised many of his teachers to take this approach with the children under their care.

Fr Pereira, also delegate of the Cooperators of Provincial House Unit, quoting Don Bosco said, “If one is to do good, he must have a little courage, be ready for sacrifice, deal affably with all and never slight anybody. By following this method I have always had significant success, in fact, marvelous success.” Also he said, “Do you want your companions to respect you? Always think well of everyone, and be ready to help others. Do this and you will be happy.”

Fr Freddie Pereira also prayed prior to the matches began and blessed the eight teams of players including girls and women. Fr Maria Anand, a local priest and a researcher from Rome, mingled and merged well with the teams of players.

The winner of the senior team was Bosco Blasters and runners up had gone to Grey Hounds. The winner among the junior teams played on Saturday was Josephites and Bosco fetched the runners up. The games and competitions were conducted professionally with professional referees and umpires.

The games, matches and competitions will culminate in the feast of Don Bosco and form part of the parish feast as well to be celebrated next month in August. The competition conducted last year was caroms, said Stanislas, the chief organizer and coordinator of the Salesian cooperators.

The same day, in the Serenade programme different groups took part in the singing of devotional songs. Some of the groups included the youth of the parish, cooperators, Vincent De Paul, Catechism teachers & students and choir groups of the parish. The various groups sang in Kannada, Tamil and English. Johannes Clemy received much applause for playing songs skillfully on his musical instrument.

Fr Martin Vijay, vice rector, administrator and Asst. parish priest guided the singers and coordinated the entire programme. Fr C M Jose, Rector and parish priest concluded the ‘Seranade’ with a final blessing. The singers sang inside the church soon after the evening Mass. The parish is not new to conducting and participating in various competitions in the parish and in the Archdiocese.