Christmas 2023 On behalf of 3L, their poor families, and Friends of 3L, I wish you and your family members a peace, joy, and grace filled CHRISTMAS🎄.
Jesus the Prince of Peace, may heal the broken and wounded world with his divine peace and joy. Jesus the Second Person of the Most Holy Trinity who was with His Father and Holy Spirit, and was sent to redeem us from the bondage of SIN through his suffering and shameful death on the cross, may grant you and your family members His love, peace, grace, and mercy. The Christmas Season begins on the 24th December at the sunset and ends on the Sunday celebrating the Baptism of the Lord. However, for us Friends of 3L (least, last, lost students and their families), Christmas is extended to 24x7 of the entire calendar year. The focus and centre of Christmas is Jesus and not Santa Claus (Christmas Father) or anything else. Without the focus on Jesus, Christmas is a meaningless ritual and commercialized hedonistic festival. The message of Christmas is centred on loving, caring, and sharing. Hence, throughout the year, we Friends of 3L reach out to 3L for their educational and other basic needs to make their life meaningful, joyful, hopeful, and dignified. For us: The hut with asbestos or tin sheets of 3L is the Crib. The youngest 3L represents Baby Jesus. Their parents are the replica of Mother Mary and St. Joseph. The donors are the angels who bring the Good News. The well-wishers who pray for them take the role of the shepherds. The ordinary lamp in their huts is the Christmas Star. The tree in the vicinity of their dwelling place is the natural Christmas Tree. The open sky with the moon, planets, stars, and other terrestrial bodies are the Christmas Decorations. Cattle, dogs, cats, goats, pigs which roam around their huts are members of the Stable. The songs which 3L sing while beating the empty tins become the Christmas Carols. Various sounds produced in the vicinity of 3L, become the Christmas Instrumental Music. 3L dance with joy in their own style the Christmas Ballet. The pictures which they draw in mud are the Christmas Cards. Clapping of hands with joy by 3L are the Jingle Bells. The provisions provided by the generous persons become the Christmas Banquet. The people of good will provide the Christmas Hampers. The extraordinary generous persons come as Magi with gifts. I as a coordinator, take the role of the Christmas Father to coordinate the entire Mission of 3L throughout the year. 3L do not take part in any Christmas competition. They live a life of cooperation, coordination, and solidarity. Where there is loving, caring, sharing, and praying done for 3L, there CHRISTMAS becomes a reality each day. This year we provided New Clothes to 22, 3L students and their mother/father. 2 boys and their mother who were out of Goa will be provided new clothes in the New Year. We distributed to 20 families Christmas Hampers with lovely strong jute bags. 9 families were helped for Christmas meal. We wanted to reach out to many more. But where our vision visualizes, unfortunately our hands do not reach!!! If others wish to join the family of “Friends of 3L”, they are most welcome at any day to contact me. With loving regards, Pratapananda Naik, SJ Coordinator of 3L 24th December 2023 7.00 pm Mobile: 9850658565 Email: pratapnai...@gmail.com