DON BOSCO SHRINE, AYANAVARAM - CHENNAI
Don Bosco Shrine
Don Bosco Shrine, Ayanavaram, is a parish with nearly 1060 registered Catholic families and 38 Anbiams (BCC groups), which meet regularly once a month. T.V. Nagar is the only sub-station, with 160 registered Catholic families and 8 Anbiams. Holy Mass is celebrated for the people very Tuesday and Sunday. The parishioners of T.V. Nagar await the building of a spacious chapel to accommodate the growing number of new parishioners in the area.
Sunday Catechism
There are a total of 542 children from class 1 to XII (English and Tamil) attending the regular Sunday Catechism classes held at the Shrine and at the sub-station, with 31 teachers. Periodic Bible and Catechism quiz competitions and occasional picnics are held to enliven the classes.
Devotions in the Parish
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is available every day in the morning and in the evening. Adoration on Fridays, Benediction on Wednesdays for all, the Monthly Marian Novena and Devotion to MHOC on the 24th of every month and the Commemoration of Don Bosco on the last day of the month are very regular.
Administrative Body of the Parish
The Parish Council comprises of the Anbiam Leaders and leaders of various Pious associations, and is quite active. The parish has also a functional finance committee.
Pious Associations and Groups in the Parish
There are numerous pious associations and groups in the parish: the St. Vincent de Paul Society, which helps 43 poor families, the Catholic L.I.C. which has started a small savings scheme, Vazhikaatti which helps job seekers, the Legion of Mary, the Catholic Workers Movement, the Liturgical and Charismatic Groups,, the Thursday Prayer Group, the Neo-catechumenate the Self-Help Groups, the Madha Sabai, the Altar Servers, the Church Choir and the CFCA.
The Salesian Cooperators number 33, of which 18 have taken the Promise. At present, it is consisting mainly of English-speaking members. However, steps are being taken to initiate a Tamil unit. The Cooperators are an active group with various initiatives in the parish.
The Parish Youth Group has been revived in both the main parish centre and in T.V. Nagar. A Deacon from the Provincial House animates the Youth Group of the main parish centre, while a student of theology from Becchi, animates the youth group of T.V. Nagar. The youth groups meet twice a month, of which one meeting is of a formative content.
Evening Study Centre
The parish also runs an Evening Study Centre for 30 boys and 24 girls with the help of 2 lay teachers.
Don Bosco Matriculation School
Don Bosco Matriculation School has 285 students on rolls: 175 boys and 110 girls. Among these, 125 are Catholics. There are 12 teaching staff members, all except one, Catholics. Since 2003, it has grown from a Primary School by one class each year to Standard VIII and proceeding to Standard X. Provision for a library, the Physics and Chemistry Laboratory, and a Computer Laboratory is being scheduled.
In the school there are two main groups: the Scouts & Guides, with about 40 members and the Band with 20 members. These two groups promote voluntary service and musical talent respectively.
The Morning Assembly talk, the monthly staff meeting, the recollection and annual retreat for the staff, the bi-monthly PTA meeting, the Holy Eucharist once a term for the whole school, are the different ways in which the students are animated.
Don Bosco Shrine
Ayanavaram,
CHENNAI - 600 023.
Cell – 94448 17684
