With deep sorrow, we inform you that one of our boys, John Shinde, aged 19, passed away on the night of 30 January 2012 in a tragic accident in the train.
The funeral rites were conducted yesterday (31 January 2012) evening in the Baptist Cemetary in Daund.
John and his older brother Vikas were picked up from the railway station and were brought to SADDAC in 2003.
John, who did his schooling from Class (grade) 3 to 8 from SADDAC, was a very fine boy - talented in music, dancing and acting. He was a fine gem of SADDAC, always ahead in prayer and spiritual activities - never was a day when he slept without reading Bible.
He was so good at flute that music just danced at the movement his fingers. Recently he had also mastered the guitar and enjoyed paying hymns in praise of Jesus.
In 2009, when his brother, Vikas, completed his class (grade) 12 and got a job in Pune, both moved out of SADDAC. John was in class (grade) 8 then.
With a little help from Vikas, and support from SADDAC, John continued his studies staying with his grandparents in a nearby village close to Daund.
Though staying with his grandparents, John was so fond of Sr. Olive that he continued to spend time at SADDAC during the week-ends.
Whenever there was a programme, John took lead in preparing the SADDAC boys - teaching them music and dance.
This year John was in Class (grade) 11.
On the night of 30 January he was travelling to Sholapur with one of his friends. At one station when an elderly person was trying to catch a the train which was already begun to move, John - who was standing at the door in the train - extended his hand to help the old man get in to the moving train. That help that John offered to a stranger cost him his life. John lost his balance and slipped off the steps... to be crushed by the train.
SADDAC has lost a fine gem... A blossoming flower is untimely plucked away...!
John was part of our life, and he will continue to live in us and through us... We believe God will receive John in his eternal abode where we will meet him one day.
Please pray for Vikas and his grandparents who are shattered by this tragic death.
Fr. Vally Mendonca, SJ
(for) SADDAC.
