Prisoners, orphans enjoy Christmas

DHARWAD: The condemned convicts and undertrials cooling their heels in the central prison here were in for a pleasant surprise on Saturday last.
They celebrated Christmas on the jail premises, courtesy the members of Vidyaniketan and Don Bosco School. The team from the two institutions visited the jail and organized the celebrations, short service prayer and distributed sweets among them.
Fr Anthony Joseph S J, director of Vidyaniketan, shared the message of Christmas with the prisoners, highlighting the point that prisoners have dignity and a role to play in the society.
Prisons in charge Eshwarappa Nayak said the preachings of Jesus Christ should prisoners shun the wrong path of crime and revert to normal life of peace, love and brotherhood.
Sister Irine D'Silva, Sisters Theresa, Margaret, Asode, Jayadev, Vanita Fernandez and D'Souza among others were present.
Nursing school students performed a skit and gave the message of Christmas, while the children from Don Bosco School danced to a Christmas song.
In view of Christmas celebrations, joy and laughter reverberated the church campus of Our Lady of Perpetual Succor here. Around 90 children from girls' orphanage were invited. The parish priest, other fathers, brothers, sisters and parishes celebrated Christmas with them. Children were taken to the families of the parishors, and they shared with children not just food, but also love and affection.