PANAJI
January 29 marked the inaugural of the Jesuit Mentoring Program for IAS aspirants (JMPI), by the Jesuits of Goa Province. Twenty students who have been carefully chosen for the mentoring programme, from the Entrance Exam and F2F interview. Parents joined the students for the inaugural ceremony.
At this occasion, Bosco George, Director General of Police, gave the key-note address, on ‘Serving the nation as committed civil service officials’, which enthralled the audience. Thereafter, the Provincial of the Goa Province, Fr Roland Coelho, gave a brief overview of the program. He encouraged the students to remain focused, to be resilient, and to consistently work on the regular assignments given, so that they can be successful.
Fr Anthony D’Silva (Director of Xavier Center of Historical Research - XCHR) encouraged the students to grow intellectually in a holistic manner, including besides developing their cognitive faculties they need to give importance to their emotional intelligence (EQ) and also take care of their physical wellbeing (PI).
He stressed the need for students to embrace a collaborative learning model, so that all can learn together.
This initiative of mentoring the IAS students, emerged from a talk that was conducted at the Collaborative Learning Café, which is yet another initiative of the Jesuits and Friends of the Jesuits; where life-long learning is encouraged.
The talk on becoming an IAS officer was given by Mr. Tino D’Sa, a very famous retired IAS official. ‘Accompanying young people in the creation of a hope-filled future’; is one of the four Universal Apostolic Preferences of the Society of Jesus, which further fueled this initiative.
The JMPI program commenced with a welcome speech by Ms Velma Fernandes (the compere) and lighting of the traditional lamp, along with prayer dance, by students of Spring Valley School. The program concluded with a song and thanksgiving speech.
