FRIDAY Fellowship

–Ravi Saraf

“Thank God it's Friday”, TGIF in short, is a phrase that people utter around the world, for Friday marks the week's end, a little respite between two hectic weeks of work. Some look forward to spending some quality time with the family and friends. Some hit the watering holes of their respective cities, some cherish the time in the pursuit of their hobbies, while some just lie down and relax.

But mention Friday to a Xaverian and chances are that he or she would immediately match the word with “fellowship”. What is this fellowship, which is so close to the Xaverian heart? “It's a weekly pilgrimage to the College – our church of faith, where we hold our mass in Room No. 5” said P.K.Mathur a prominent member of the Alumni and my senior, when I broached the subject.

This religious fervor with which Xaverians take their fellowship activity is what immediately adds a completely new dimension to the whole thing. The bonhomie and camaraderie that is common among all those who partake of this feast, is a joy to behold – a spectacle in itself. One should witness Xaverians, cutting across all barriers of caste, creed, religion or social standing coming together in a spirit that is unique to the institution.

Over samosas and tea, issues ranging from the welfare of the college to the movement of the Sensex are discussed with gay abandon. The meetings (the formal part of it at least), is mostly chaired by our President, Rev. Fr. J.Felix Raj, who shares many of this thoughts with the assembled family members. An unique networking platform, it is also time to catch up with old friends and sometimes even to further business interests.

The fellowship often gets extended with members moving on to the “Cosy Room” of the International Club, which has a steady number of Xaverians in its rooster, apart from being a stone's throw from the college.

Ask a Xaverian, “Are you coming this evening”? And the answer is bound to be “come hell or high weather”, such is the strength of our bonding. For, more than anything else, the “Friday fellowship” is a catharsis, a release for all of us. It is the magic potion that keeps us going. It is the nectar that rejuvenates, help us pick up the pieces and carry on irrespective, secure in the knowledge that our buddies in Room 5 are, and will always be there!