DON BOSCO ORPHANAGE - VELLORE
Don Bosco Higher Secondary School
Don Bosco Higher Secondary School, a government-aided school, which celebrated its Golden Jubilee last year, at present has 1354 boys, from class VI to class XII. Of the total number of students, 382 are Catholics, 718 Hindus and 14 Muslims. The teaching staff comprises 36 members, of which 4 are ladies. The non-teaching staff numbers 9 members. The staff is very committed and shows much interest in the education of the pupils. Catechism and Moral Science is taught daily. Other religious services include First Friday Mass, Commemoration of Mary Help of Christians on the 24th of the month, and annual retreats for boys of Stds. X and XII and for the staff. Sixteen groups in the school are active: NCC, NSS, Scouting, JRC, YCM/YSM, RSP, and the Philatelic, Maths, Science, Electronics, Media, Human Rights, Consumer, Friends, Red Ribbon and Eco Clubs.
The Don Bosco Orphanage
The boarding has 277 boys this year - all, except 8, Catholics. Most of the boarders hail from poor families. They have daily celebration of the Holy Eucharist, Morning and Night Prayer, rosary and good night talks. Feastdays are celebrated in a lively manner. The discipline is good, and the boys are well looked after. They have regular singing classes, while animation and extra-curricular programmes are also conducted. Special attention should be given to help them cope with their studies and to pass in their examinations.
Don Bosco Matriculation School
Don Bosco Matriculation School which was started this academic year has 549 students (60 Catholics) on rolls. Catechism and Moral Science classes are conducted everyday. Fourteen teachers (4 Catholics) and 6 office staff members are employed. Importance is given to co-curricular activities along with sports and games. The students follow the house system. There is also a music group in the School. The School is temporarily housed in the youth centre building. Plans for a new building for the School are underway.
Don Bosco Youth Centre
There are about 200 registered members in the DBYC (only boys) divided into sub juniors, juniors, inters, seniors and super seniors. The Centre has four teams: Football, Carroms, Chess, and Shuttle, while volleyball and basket ball are also encouraged. Tournaments in football and shuttle badminton are conducted annually. Medical Camps for poor people are conducted regularly. Educational help for poor boys is also given. Every year, 2 thatched huts are built for the poor.
The Neighbourhood Apostolate
The community carries out its apostolic service for the neighbourhood through the Don Bosco Rural Centre (DBRC) to 7 neighbouring villages on a regular basis, and occasionally extends its service to 3 other villages. This initiative of Bro. Lucas Gomes to reach out to the poor of the surrounding areas in the past few years is slowly taking shape and bearing fruit. At T.K. Puram, there is the Don Bosco Youth Centre, a 2 years diploma course in tailoring (24 students), a night study centre (813 children), dropout preventive centre (25 students), higher education scheme (6 students), house building scheme, computer centre, magalir mandram (15), self help groups (3), medical help (23 HIV patients) and life saving scheme.
Arulodhayam
Arulodhayam, which signifies “The Dawning of Grace”, is an ashram-inspired spirituality centre. Its purpose is to help people, irrespective of caste or creed, to come in touch with the Divine within them. The serene and peaceful ambient in the ashram is very conducive for this experience. Many groups of young people, religious and lay people from all over Tamil Nadu have come here on a regular basis to make their retreat, recollection or just to spend some time in prayer and meditation.
dbvellore@donboscochennai.org
Don Bosco Orphanage
Gandhi Nagar
VELLORE - 632 006.
