Archive | April 2015
Your Presence is a blessing
From 18 – 19 April 2015, Provincial Sr. Maria Pettayil visited the community of Kalyani. Boarders welcomed her at the entrance and led to the Chapel for a short prayer service, animated by Sr. Asha Kiran to invoke the presence of the Spirit for the success of the Provincial visit.
Basing on the theme of the visitation “With Mary a community that evangelizes” Sr. Maria exhorted the sisters to imitate the example of our Blessed Mother to be a witnessing community by accepting the daily realities of life. She drew our attention to the Empty tomb so as to live a life of hope and courage.
In the evening the whole community gathered around Sr. Maria for a short programme. Through a short sketch the boarders thanked God for Sr. Maria’s selfless service and hidden sacrifices interspersed with gestures of love and concern.
Sr. Maria released the bicentenary cushion prepared by the Social Ministry center. She appreciated the small steps the community takes to enhance the growth of women and young people.Sisters expressed their gratitude to Sr. Maria in the words of St. Paul: “I thank my God each time I think of you…”
Kalyani Community
Children around their father……
The Auxilium Community Barasat made a meaningful pilgrimage to Don Bosco Church Kalyani on 18th April 2015, on the occasion of Bicentenary year of Don Bosco. All the sisters, boarders, house staff, non-teaching staff and workers set out at 8.45 am for Kalyani. All had a very pleasant journey with lots of fun and singing. In the Church Rev. Fr. Peechat Thomas SDB, the parish priest of Don Bosco Kalyani parish gave a talk on Don Bosco both in English and Bengali. ‘Don Bosco is a great man and he is well known by the people. He imitated Christ the Good Shepherd and began the work for poor and abandoned boys and girls. As long as the boys and girls exist his work will be relevant. Even today people appreciate the great mission of Don Bosco. India’s mission is the actualization of one of Don Bosco’s dream. Today India has the highest number of Salesian confreres in the world. The wonderful works carried out by the salesian fathers and sisters are the reflection of his vision and love for the young people. He exclaimed that it was his pleasure to impart blessings in the name of Jesus and Don Bosco and blessed the gathering in the church.
There were also few but enjoyable games for boarders, workers along with the sisters. Everyone had amusing time during the games and tried their level best to secure the prize. The presence of provincial Sr.Maria Pettayil, in Kalyani was another source of blessing. She along with the community sisters of Kalyani, joined for the sumptuous meal. Boarders proposed vote of thanks to Sr. Rosalia and the community for providing the beautiful ambient for the pilgrimage cum mini outing. Indeed everyone felt the belongingness in the family of Don Bosco. Everyone thanked Sr. Stella the animator and sisters for organizing such a wonderful event in the name of Don Bosco.
Sr. Basanti Ekka Fma
Our journey to Emmaus …
On 13th April 2015, six sisters, five from Kolkata Province and one from Mumbai Province commenced their 2nd phase of the Second Novitiate, at Sacred Heart Novitiate, Ranchi. This voyage commenced with a well prepared inaugural prayer service animated Sr. Rose Ezarath and Sr. Mukta. The Mazzarello community too joined the second Novitiate sisters for the prayer moment. Each one of us was cordially welcomed by Sr. Rose Ezarath on behalf of Sr. Provincial.
The picturesque image of the disciples of Emmaus was the guiding force, and 1 Corinthians Ch.13 which speaks on love was the scriptural passage that began illumining our journey of one month.
Sr. Philomina Prabalanathan spoke on consecrated life and exhorted us to acquire eight qualities to be an authentic Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. We thank the sisters for helping us to enter into the sacred time of Second Novitiate.
Sr.Usha Kiran Tirkey
Mazzarello week at Aspirantate
The Postulants and Aspirants at Barasat had the “Mazzarello week” from 8th to 15th April 2015. The week began with a meaningful morning prayer animated by Sr. Leelamma around the statue of Mother Mazzarello and the symbolism of the well of Mornese. Every day of the week the community Sisters took turn to animate the Morning Prayer and meditation on the various aspects of the spirituality and places of Mornese – Valponasca window, Roverno, Mother Mazzarello and the Eucharist, Well of Mornese, slide shows etc. The Aspirants and Postulants vied with each other to learn more about Mother Mazzarello, by reading, giving talks, quiz, maxims, composing play lets, poems and songs, searching the Letters of MM etc. The celebration of Mazzarello week did take all of us into the little town of Mornese to breathe its spirit. It was a wonderful and enriching experience. It created in us a deep desire to be like MM by practicing her virtues in our daily life. Some of us said: ‘I will pray more and become holy’, ‘I am happy to be her daughter’, ‘I will always say yes to will of God’, ‘Her life inspired us to grow strong in our vocation’. 
Other expressions are: “The week impressed in my heart a deep longing for cheerfulness, obedience and acceptance and I have decided to make these virtues of MM my own”; “I have not seen MM, I have not talked with MM, but in all the Sisters of the community, I can find the image of MM and I can feel the presence of Mother Mazzarello; “I have decided to become humble. If I am humble, I can practice all the virtues”; “Whenever I get discouraged, I have decided to read the Letters of MM applying the contents of the same to my daily life”. The wonderful experience made us to be stronger in our vocations. It was a lovely time we had with our Mother and we say with our first Sisters of Mornese: how lovely it is to be here. Our hearts overflow with gratitude to dear Sr. Lily Perumpettikunnel our Superior who helped us to make this experience a part and parcel of our life and to all our dear Sisters who accompanied us to know more about Mother Mazzarello. The week was concluded on 15th April evening with a beautiful stage programme which everyone enjoyed.
Aspirants and Postulants
On our work your blessing Lord….
Auxilium Convent School Barasat gathered around the decorated statue of Mary, the Seat of Wisdom to invoke God’s blessings for the New Scholastic Year 2015- 16. The High school and Primary both had a meaningful prayer service on 13th April 2015 in the School auditorium. All in unison invoked God’s blessings upon parents, sisters, teachers, supportive staff and the different activities that will be carried out in the coming Year. Superior Sr. Stella in her message for the new scholastic year exhorted them to be messengers of love in Don Bosco way and presented the method CARLPP: C- Cheerfulness, A- Amiability, R- Responsibility, L- Loving kindness, P- Preventive system and P- Pro-active. Principal Sr. Rosy V. also invited the students to possess the Divine light and shine for others. That people may see the good works and give glory to God.
Meeting of principals and vice- principals
The meeting of the principals and vice- principals of the province of INC from 28 – 29 March 2015, commenced with inviting the Holy Spirit to come and fill the ambience and awaken the hearts and minds of the participants.
In the absence of the provincial Sr. Maria Pettayil, Sr. Teresa Adampakallel, the vice- provincial delivered the inaugural address. Introducing the revised Educational Policy of the province she said, “Through this policy we wish to ensure that our institutions do not pursue the narrow goal of academic prestige, with strong focus on marks and medals, but instead aim to foster human values and spiritual maturity among the students and staff.” She then released the revised Educational Policy of the province by handing over the first copy of the book to Sr. Elizabeth Makil and Sr. Stella P, the education coordinators of the Province and to Sr. Elizabeth Valliyil, animator of Auxilium – Bandel.
Sr. Stella painstakingly prepared PPT on the Educational project of the province. She fittingly quoted Abbe Duvallet who acknowledged the pedagogy of Don Bosco, “You have your work, your schools, oratories and houses for the young but you have only one treasure; the pedagogy of Don Bosco. Preserve it, update it, strengthen it, enrich it with all modern discoveries and adapt it to the youth of today, their problems. Change everything but preserve the treasure, teaching thousands the way to love and save the youth of today. In a world where the young are betrayed, withering away, crushed, exploited, God has entrusted you with a pedagogy which highlights the respect for the young, their greatness, their weaknesses and their dignity as children of God. Sr. Stella elicited candidly the striking characteristics of the Preventive System and its components. She concluded her presentation by reminding the participants about the recommendation of Don Bosco to all the educators. “Just as there is no sterile or barren land which cannot be made fertile through patient effort, so it is with a man’s heart. No matter how barren and restive at first, it will sooner or later bring forth good fruit. It will begin by loving what is naturally good and ultimately advance to what is supernaturally good. Even the most callous youth have a soft spot. The first duty of the educator is to locate that sensitive spot, that responsive chord in the pupil’s heart and make advantage of it.”
Sr. Elizabeth Makil and Sr. Stella P with the aid of PPTs presented every letter and word of the revised policy so as to make the participants familiar with the policy. The two days meeting wrapped up with a few recommendations for the harmonious administration of the educational institutions of our Province.
Sr. Celine A.
Teachers’ Orientation programme
The scholastic year 2015 -16 began with great zeal and promise. The teachers of Auxilium Convent School Barasat had three days orientation programme from 30th March to 1st April 2015.The programme was mainly led by Rev. Sr. Rosy Veliyan the principal and Sr. Stella the animator. Every new academic year embraces a ‘Thrust’. The thrust of 2015 -16 is “The Auxilian messenger of love in Don Bosco way”.
Therefore the orientation was mainly laid to follow, guide and imbibe as teachers and mentors within all the Auxilians the Spirit of Don Bosco, enabling them to be true Auxilians, following the footsteps of this great EPITOME. The programme comprised of different interactive sessions- revision of Service Rules, detailed discussion of the striking characteristics of the Preventive System and analysing and synthesising the responsibilities and duties of every faculty member of the Institution. Even a humorous ambient was created, when the teachers had to enact a small extract of the various encounters of Don Bosco with his boys; assigned by Sr. Stella the animator. This was an endeavour mainly done by her to make teachers realise and feel different means which one can adopt as teacher to transform mere pupils to extraordinary assets. Lastly, the orientation programme concluded by extending warm welcome to all the teachers and especially new faculty member and pledging altogether to make better future Auxilians.
And…..all the teachers departed with happy hearts and strong determination to set on in one’s vocation and wishing each other Happy Easter.
Ms. Anindita Choudhury
Easter Triduum at Aspirantate
Auxilium Aspirantate celebrated the Easter Triduum (April 2-4, 2015) with fervor. On Holy Thursday morning recalling the Passover meal of Jesus with his 12 apostles, the community (consisting of 13 members) gathered together in the specially prepared upper room for the washing of the feet and the last supper. Before commemorating the last supper of the Lord, the members of the community washed the feet of each other with the same attitude of Jesus, the Servant. The entire service was a moment of deep intimacy with Jesus who loves us so much and teaches us to love each other in Him.
At 4 pm our two communities of Barasat together we had the commemoration of the Passover meal and exchange of greetings for Easter followed by the Washing of the feet, Eucharistic meal and the Adoration with the neighbourhood religious communities.
On Good Friday from 5 am – 10 am the entire community joined in the Good Friday Peace Walk organized by the parish. The day spent in recollection, prayer and fasting was concluded with an hour of animated adoration of the cross.
On Holy Saturday morning the community gathered together with Mary, the Mother of Jesus around the tomb of Jesus for prayer and meditation awaiting with joy the resurrection of the Lord.
Easter Celebration
He has Risen indeed, ALLELUIA! On 4th April 2015, Auxilium Dum Dum community shared Easter Joy with the Senior citizens of the Locality.
FMA INC News Update 