The YSS: Golden Jubilee of Service
The 1st of March 2020 was a red letter day for the St. Peter’s Youth Social Service, popularly called the YSS, as it completed 50 years of service to the parishioners of St. Peter’s Church and the residents of Bandra.
The YSS was founded by late Fr. Douglas Rowe S.J. on 1st March 1970 along with a group of dedicated youth with its motto “We Serve Others To Show We Care”. The five founder members Clarence Gomes, Richard D’Souza (now Jesuit Fr. Richard), late Claude Barretto, late Jimmy Machado and late Benjamin Saldanha opened a bank account by investing Re. 1/- each.
The activities and projects of the St. Peter’s YSS are:
– The Summer Holiday Club – Organized during the month of May since the past 50 years, for children whose parents cannot afford to take them out for summer holidays and which provides healthy recreational activities.
– The Library for Parishioners – Its rich and varied selection of books with nominal fees attracts readers from all over Bandra.
– The Free Text Book Distribution Scheme – At the commencement of the academic year, poor and deserving students from all over Bandra, irrespective of caste and religion, have been allotted text books and stationery items.
– The Parish Christmas Tree – During the season of Christmas, a Christmas Tree Party for all the children of Bandra along with children from various orphanages are invited for a grand Christmas party.
– Blood Donation Camps – These were organized annually.
– An Employment Bureau – During the formation period of the YSS, there were many dropouts and neglected youth that were misusing their talents, indulging in many nefarious activities. With this in mind, the YSS established the Employment Bureau for those who were not so educated by placing them in offices and factories and even securing employment abroad.
– Tournaments – To keep the youth occupied with healthy recreational activities and also to encourage local talent, the YSS has regularly organized tournaments for girls and boys in Football, Hockey, Volleyball and Throwball, through which sportspersons secured employment in reputed companies.
The YSS has given to the vineyard of the Lord, Fr. Richard D’Souza S.J., Fr. Conrad Pesso S.J., Sr. Lavinia Almeida DOC and Deacon Navin D’Silva. We also remember those members who have been employed in reputed NGOs and other social service organisations in the city of Mumbai.
Many sponsors, benefactors, well wishers and especially the youth of Bandra have contributed to keeping the flag of the YSS flying high. The YSS commenced its Golden Jubilee Celebrations on Sunday 8th March 2020 at 6.00 p.m. with a Concelebrated Mass cum Reunion of its members from India and abroad.
Founding Member: Clarence Gomes
Honorary Secretary: John Murzello