Our Work - Major Events
Prerana Diwas: Inspiration Day
Fr. Ramiro Erviti, SJ, a teacher at Loyola School through its Social Service League (SSL) outreach programme visited the slums of Ahmedabad with his students in the 1960’s. The outreach programme later took a formal shape giving birth in 1976 to St. Xavier’s Social Service Society (SXSSS) an organization that worked for the poor and marginalized in the city of Ahmedabad and different parts of Gujarat. Fr. Erviti succeeded in leaving an indelible mark on the lives of many and a rich legacy of love and compassion to the poor and marginalized people of Gujarat before his death on 20 May 1986 under tragic circumstances.
SXSSS observes “Prerana Din – Inspiration Day” in memory of Fr. Erviti on his birth anniversary March 11, with his close friends and associates. A simple Prayer Service remains the heart of the day. It is inspiration day because the life of Fr. Erviti inspires thousands to follow his values and his birth anniversary is observed in such a way that his message of love and compassion reaches as many people as possible. Apart from the staff of SXSSS, the community leaders whom we work with are also invited to observe the day. Fr. Erviti’s friends and close associates share their experiences associated with the life and values of Fr. Erviti.
As part of our efforts to spread the message of Fr. Erviti to others SXSSS started the Father Erviti Memorial Lecture in 1998 in the memory of Fr. Erviti. Periodically it is organized around current topics like communal harmony, health, and so on. Experts are invited to deliver a talk on the particular subject and space is provided for healthy discussion on it.
The objective of Fr. Erviti Memorial Lecture is:
- To pay tribute to the founder of the organization
- To create an environment conducive for healthy discussion on an ongoing issue
- To bring the experts and people working in the field of the ongoing issue together and make the sharing of their experiences possible