A pre-Christmas party brought in Yuletide cheer for the residents of St. Catherine’s Home on December 3.
Filmmaker Indira Dhar Mukherjee, singer Christopher Lobo and former model and principal of Loreto Convent Jessica Gomes Surana joined in the celebrations.
The day began with the screening of The Green Window, an award-winning film by Indira Dhar Mukherjee. The film, shot at St. Catherine’s old age home and the adjoining premises of St. Paul’s Boarding and Day School, is based on a real-life person who was once a resident of the old-age home. The film will be released soon on an OTT platform.
“St. Catherine’s Home and my school, St Paul’s Boarding & Day School, are a part of my life. As a child, I have several memories of the school and the old age home. We were taught to visit them and be of service to them [the residents of the old age home] and what I learnt most during this time is to be kind. As a filmmaker, I always look for stories which are inspiring and filled with value so that it inspires the viewers. So I made The Green Window on St. Catherine’s Home,” said Mukherjee.
The evening was filled with performances by young children, who were dressed as Mary, Joseph and little Santas. Their adorable dancing to Christmas carols won the hearts of the old age home residents. Christopher Lobo made sure that everyone shakes a leg with his hits, which included carols and Bollywood numbers.
Young performers put up a show for the audience
Sister Regi, Mother Superior, Daughters of the Cross, Kolkata, the congregation that runs the old age home, said December is a special month for the boarders. “These celebrations are very special for them as they dance and sing together. Many of them have no one in this world to call their own. Some of their family members live abroad and haven’t been able to come to meet them in three years. They become little kids during these days,” she said.
Jessica Gomes Surana, also an ex-student of St. Teresa’s Secondary School under the Daughters of the Cross, was the guest of honour. “It feels very nice to be here today. Our schools have given us a lot and coming back to such events is always special to us. It’s lovely to see each one of them enjoying the event today,” she said.
(L-R) Jessica Gomes Surana, Christopher Lobo, Indira Dhar Mukherjee and Christopher Lobo at the event
Little Santas distributed goodies among the residents of the home. Other ex-students of schools under the congregation also participated in the celebrations.
