I first met Fr. Robin when I must have been no older than 8 or 10 knowing only that he was a priest who conducted family camps in Khandala which my sister frequented as a 'helper' and that we coincidentally shared the same birth date -January 15th.
I'd been to the camp at St. Marys Villa, Khandala twice along with my family and my recollection of those times are still vivid: St. Marys covered a sprawling area with clusters of rooms at 4 ends, The Cozy Cottage, Chapel Wing, Kitchen Wing and The last cluster off the Dining Hall side. I remember hundreds of people belonging to their families, eating, living ,playing, praying and having fun together over a week. There was the Hens Coop for girls who came to camp by themselves and the by then defunct Pig Sty which was initiated for boys but then the system was done away with.
Fr. Robin managed the activities of the camp with efficiency, Mass, Morning hikes, trekks, swims, meals, evening games, Rosary, night walks to see the dazzling "Lights of Khopoli". He had a floating team of 'helpers' consisting of 15-20 young boys or rather young men who would voluntarily assist with managing the camp activities. These helpers were larger than life icons who were effortlessly able to do everything from playing games, refreeing, singing, dancing, leading us along the hikes into jungle, over mountains or down into valleys, lighting campfires, and keeping everyone entertained throughout the camp. In my little mind they became legends I was inspired to follow.
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