From Sister Lilly
Dear Friends,
First and foremost, we wish you a bright New Year and a happy Easter. May the risen Lord grant us peace, joy and prosperity throughout the New Year 2016. Hope all are enjoying good health.
With immense joy and love, all the members of Holy Family Asha Niwas prepared themselves to welcome the New Year . On 31st December 2015 Sisters conducted half day prayer with all the staff and children, and prepared everyone to thank God for all the gifts and blessings that each one has received in 2015, and asked graces to have abundance of blessings for the coming year 2016. All were very happy to go for the Holy Mass at midnight . We exchanged messages, greeting cards and gifts as part and parcel of the New Year celebration. Every one wished each other happy New year and all success for the days ahead. Sisters arranged an outing for the children in honour of new year .All of them enjoyed the outing and the party was arranged by Rev .Fr.Mathew O.C.D ,the house superior of OCD provincial house.
On 3rd Jan 2016 Holy Family Asha Niwas, Najafgarh celebrated the patrons’ day of our organization .Many invited guests and well wishers were gathered for the function . And children enjoyed that evening by performing beautiful cultural programme.
His Excellency Archbishop Salvatore Pinocchio the Apostolic Nuncio of India invited our children and staff to Vatican Embassy on 10th January 2016. With full happiness and joy we the sisters and children of both centers visited his Excellency and spent some time with him . We participated in the Holy Mass and children sung for the same. One of our girl Miss.Sona gave an introduction about our centre . His Excellency was very happy to be with our children and he danced and played with them . Our Nuncio gave a small donation to the Director Sr.Lilly Chirayath for the expenses of our children. Sister thanked the Nuncio and parishioners for their love and generosity for collecting this money. Children performed beautiful programe and entertained all the guests who were present there. His Excellency arranged delicious food , sweets and ice cream for all the children and staff . Nuncio and other fathers and sisters were very happy to see the beautiful programme performed by our children.
Outreach Program:
On 5th January 2016 10 Students from St.Francis School, Janakpuri came to Mahavir Enclave for their outreach programme and they provided lunch for our children. On 21st from Loretto School 40 students came to Mahavir Enclave with many gifts. Sr.Lilly Chirayath gave a brief history about our institution. Children learned many things from the students. They shared their feelings with each other and also received many gifts from these children. On 24th the parishioners from Infant Jesus Church, Mahavir Enclave came and spent time with our children by playing tennis.
45 Students from Loreto School made an exposure visit to Najafgarh center on 3rd Jan 2016. Children welcomed them to our organization and interacted with each group. Both the groups learnt many things through their group activities and personal interviews. Sr.Suja Thomas gave brief history about our institution and its objectives, activities and so on. Children showed their talents and self confidence through the cultural program.
Holi Celebration:
Holi is a Hindu festival of colours , it was celebrated on 25th March 2016 among staff and children. They played with colours (Gulal) and enjoyed sweets. The young and old looked alike having drenched themselves with full of gulal. Children enjoyed the day with different types of colours .Sisters arranged good party for all the children on the occasion of Holi. Mr.Ankit our benefactor and many others came to both the centers to celebrate Holi with children and they also arranged party for them.
Proposal for Santhola:
A proposal came from U.P, Mr. Chanderpal ‘s family for our girl Santhola who is the pioneer of our centre. Sr.Lilly Chirayath the Director enquired about the matter and got all the details . Sr.Lilly , Sr.Jasmine and Mrs.Magdaline went to U.P to get more details about the family. After verification of their family , Sister gave a chance for both the boy and the girl to meet . She gave them enough time to take decision for their own of life. After long discussion they decided to marry. They informed Sr.Lilly regarding this matter and after getting their reply sister gave approval for the further steps about the marriage and the date.
LORI :
Lohri is Punjabis’ cultural celebration. On the 13th January , is the celebration of winter harvest festival and it is dedicated to the end of the winter season. Farmers take this opportunity to thank God for good harvest and blessings .At night we made a bonfire and Sr.Lilly Chirayath and Sr.Suja Directors of both centers explained about the meaning of Lorhi. It started with prayer at night, made a bonfire and children sang and danced around it and enjoyed. They enjoyed with peanuts, thill nuts(rewri) and sweets. They threw sweets, puffed rice and popcorn into the flames, this celebration continued for 2 hours .We ended it with a thanksgiving prayer.
Republic Day celebration:
The Republic Day was celebrated on 26th January with big enthusiasm, and patriotic feelings. Children showed their patriotism by performing skits . Sports activities also kept as co curricular activities for energise the children. Gifts and awards were given to the winners. Celebration completed with lunch and sweets.
Santhola’s Marriage:
One of our girl Santhola got married with Mr.Chanderpal on 30th January 2016 at Mahavir Enclave. More than 400 people were gathered for the marriage ceremony. This is the fifteenth marriage that happened in our centre. Sr.Lilly invited all our married girls with their full families, benefactors , neighbours ,staff, workers and many other guests. Ring ceremony took place at 11 am Rev.Fr.Santhosh was the main celebrant for the function .After the prayer service both bride and groom went to the stage for the reception. They cut the cake and exchanged the garlands. Sr.Lilly the Director congratulated both of them by giving bouquet and precious gifts. Santhola’s in laws family also received new clothes from Sr.Lilly as a marriage ritual. After that every member came one by one on the stage and congratulated the new married couple with their gifts and blessings. A delicious lunch was served . At 3 pm departure time came it was very touching moment for everyone.
Shanthola showed her sentiments with tears, and hugged her mother Sr.Lilly Chirayath and all other sisters. Sr.Agnes said a prayer for her happy married life. Sisters , Children, staff and all the guests who came for the marriage gave farewell for our girl Santhola. It was really a memorable and sensational event for all . After 3pm they went to the Temple for their marriage ceremony as per Hindu customs. On the same day the married couple left for U.P. as their final destination. In her marriage Sr.Lilly all the necessary things such as furniture, dress ,sewing machine ,ornaments, crockery items and many other household things just like (A to Z). With the help of our benefactors and neighbours. We are very grateful to Bosconet who took more initiative to arrange all the needed things. This grand marriage ceremony was published in the new paper named ( Malayala Manaorama and Mathru Bhoomi ) dated 2.2.2016.
Birthday celebration of our Children:
Our children Vinita, Reshma, Preeti , Ruby, Saloni, Kumkum and Sanjana celebrated their birthdays. They cut the cake and distributed it with soft drink. We prayed for them and wished them by singing birthday song.
Activities of our Children: After the final exams, children got their result. Roj Rusksar , Aanchal , Rimjhim and Pummy are excitingly awaiting for their 10th class result. Seema,Arpita and Anjana cleared exams of class 5 . One of our girls Laxmi became 1st in UKG and she got admission in 2nd standard in MCD School. Anju got 1st rank in Sixth class.
Benefactors and Visitors
Our benefactors Mrs. Brigitt Didior , Brigitt Donk and Muriel Missoni came from Belgium to visit our children.
On 28 February they arranged a picnic for our children to Akshardam Temple. Children enjoyed the day with delicious lunch and other refreshments. It was a memorable day for all of us. We are very grateful to our benefactors Mrs. Brigitt Didior , Brigitt Donk and Muriel Missoni for their love and concern towards our children.
On 29 February Rev Sr Annie Kuriakose , the General Councillor visited our both centers Mahavir Enclave and Najafgarh , children performed a beautiful programme to honour her. She gave an inspiring message to our children and also distributed sweets for them.
Two of our married girls Mrs.Ruby and Mrs.Riya came to our centre Mahavir Enclave on the occasion of Easter and spent some days and had comfortable stay with Sr.Lilly . She did all the necessary things for them at the time their returning home. On 6th February our children performed a beautiful dance programme on the occasion of Parish day of Syro – Malabar Church at Palam. Parishioners appreciated our children’s programme.
Miss.Reshmy came from Palam to celebrate her parents’ wedding anniversary by cutting cake, exchanging garlands. Our children gave a big applause and also blasted balloons. Miss Reshmy served delicious lunch for our children. Mr.Ragunath and his son Mr.Ravi celebrated their birth day with our children. They provided lunch and gifts.
On 8th February the staff from ICICI bank Mahavir branch came to our centre and provided snacks for our children. On the same day Fr.James Mudkodil V.C visited Najafgarh center and shared his love and concern for our children .Fr.James Mudakodil V.C is doing his mission in Germany. On 3rd Feb 2016, Our Arch Bishop Kuriakose Bhranikulangra the Bishop of Faridabad –Delhi Diocese made a short visit to our centre and shared his love and enquired about the well-being of the inmates of the centre .Children & staff gave him a warm welcome and received blessing from our Good shepherd.
Rev.Fr.Sajin and Bro.Jesudas came from Kerala to visit our children at Mahavir Enclave .Sr.Lilly Chirayath and Sr.Jasmine took them for the site seeing in Delhi and Agra.
Sr.Lilly Chirayath’s nephew Mr.Jackson and their group came from Kerala to Delhi to receive Award for their company, and they came to Mahavir Enclave to meet our children, and showed their love by distributing sweets for them.
The Parishioners of Latin Church at Dwarka came to visit our children at Mahavir Enclave , they arranged sports and musical chair. At the end gave gifts for the winners. We had lunch together (around 60 people). And are very grateful for their donation.
Dr.Ashima Aloona , the Dentist came to visit our children with sweets.
New Born Baby
On 25 February Sr .Lilly Chirayath and Sr .Jasmine along with two children went to our married girl Sukhia who blessed with a baby girl. Sr. Lilly carried so many gifts for her daughter on this joyous occasion. Sukhia was very happy to see her mother’s family and she is doing well.
Health Check-up
Sr.Lilly Chirayath took keen interest for the medical check up for all the children of our center Mahavir Enclave to Dada Dev Hospital with the help of MLA’s office staff Mr.Ravi and Mr.Isach Joseph , children got full health check up and got medicine according to their sickness. We are very grateful to them for their love and generosity showed towards our children.
Other News:
Director Sr.Lilly Chirayath took initiative to make ID card for our children and staff of both centres on the name of Holy Family Asha Niwas.
Our staff Mrs.Stella and Mrs. Josephine participated in women’s day celebration which was organized by district crime branch police department (DCPO) at Dwarka.
After 4 years of dedicated service at our Holy Family Asha Niwas , Sr.Asirta Kiren transferred to Ropar community Punjab on 10th Feb 2016 . Sisters gave gifts thanks and prayers from all the staff and children of both centres.
One of our married girls Mr & Mrs Stella’s son’s birthday was celebrated in our centre Najafgarh. Sisters wished him with gifts and offered prayers and blessing on his birthday .
About Holy Family Asha Niwas
Holy Family Asha Niwas is an orphanage for street girls in Delhi: little girls, who are abandoned and run away or children of commercial sex workers wandering in railway stations and streets, eating from dustbins and leftovers from travellers. They are picked up by social workers and are referred to a safe and enriching shelter at Asha Niwas. In 2001, the Sisters of the Holy Family Congregation started to take care of 5 children at Mahavir Enclave, providing them with food, shelter, health care, education, protection and rehabilitation. The number of children in the orphanage has grown steadily. There are altogether 85 girls today accommodated in two campuses – Mahavir Enclave and Najafgarh Holy Family Ashaniwas. Holy Family Ashaniwas Orphanage is registered in
Delhi as a Charitable Organization (#S43701 of 2002). The organization is managed by Sister Lilly Chirayath (Director) with her staff and administered by a Board of Governors. A certified accountant provides administrative, legal and auditing assistance. The revenues come from charitable contributions from generous individuals and the divine providence has not failed us so far. Asha Niwas needs your support and appreciate your help. You may help us by:- Volunteer your love, your time and your skills to take care of the children with specific activities, outings, hygiene and health education and giving coaching in English, other subjects and computer work. We also need your help in office work.
Donate in kind or cash to equip our homes, especially our new house at Najafgarh.