National FMA meeting of 3 sectors of Education, Media and Youth Ministry coined as NAFMA Edumedym  participated by the 3 national coordinators and provincial coordinators, was held in INC  Provincial House  Dum Dum on 28^th and 29^th January 2016.  The meeting was spearheaded by the Youth Ministry coordinator Sr. Elizabeth Kaniampadickal, in collaboration with Sr. Hilda Braganza the national Media Coordinator and the Sr. Stella Potteparambil the Education coordinator. The historic meeting commenced with an inaugural ceremony  – welcome speech by Sr. Teresa Adampakallel the vice provincial, lighting of the lamp  and  a mini cultural fiesta of song and dance by the students of Auxilium Dum Dum.

The programme then continued with the sharing of experiences : The national youth Ministry coordinator  gave the account of the bicentenary celebrations at Rome and others who participated in the bicentennial celebrations heightened the sharing with their own  distinctive  experiences.  Sr. Stella Potteparambil who participated in  in the world congress on catholic Education on the theme, ’Educating Today and Tomorrow- A renewed  Passion” held at Rome and Castelgandolfo in November 2015 from 18-21 on the occasion of the golden jubilee of the second Vatican Council Declaration Gravissimum educationis and the twenty fifth anniversary of the Catholic Apostolic Constitution  EX Corde Ecclesiae,presented a PPT   on the rich experience  of the entire procedures and the outcome of the meeting.

After the tea break the national coordinators of 3 sectors presented their report presented at the PCI meeting held on 1-3 September.   The provincial coordinators of Media, Education and Youth Ministry enriched all present with their recounting of the great initiatives accomplished in each province. Sr. Elizabeth George the PCI president was welcomed after the lunch break with a shawl and flowers.  The sharing session continued and Sr. Elizabeth Pothen enlightened the participants on:  how to make our schools exceptional with the tri – characteristics – quality, catholic and Salesian, well establishment of Educating community, the social dimension of Education and introduction of the thinking School academy.  At 3.15  p.m. the participants  engaged themselves in sector –wise meeting  planning  certain tactics  to make all our FMA Schools march as a unified force   transforming them into holistic and qualitative centres.  At 5 p.m. Sr. Elizabeth George the PCI president and provincial of  Guwahati delineated  methodically and clearly the Encyclical letter , “Laudato Si’ of the Holy Father Pope Francis on the care of the common Home, Mother earth through very interesting video clips and power point. The day ended with the Good night talk with   Sr. Runita Borja  Councillor for the youth Pastoral through skype.  Her appreciative words encouraged the participants to do ever better in their respective mission of animating others.  She pinpointed that engagement in education is also an act of mercy and encouraged all to be visible face of mercy through the Salesian assistance,  possessing the oratorian heart.

The second day’s highlight was an informative and illuminating session on the theme       ‘Merciful interventions in Education” delivered by Fr. Joseph   Thannickal SDB, Phd, Rector and Director Ongoing Formation Centre, Nitika Don Bosco.  He emphasized that the most apt attribute  and expression  of God is that of Mercy.  In his lecture he delineated the various components of being an effective educator :  Education to be pragmatic and realistic  one need to know  and integrate the holistic formula in exposure programmes, Expereince+Reflection+Action = Formation, create mercy centered education, set up merciful educational ambient, educative methodology to pass through mercy test, and do and don’ts to be  kept in mind in living our mission. Sr. Elizabeth Pothen thanked the PCI president  Sr. Elizabeth George for her edifying and unassuming presence and for her well planned session on Laudato si .  After the lunch  the participants had an exciting afternoon – an outing to the Tomb of Blessed Mother Theresa who will be canonized next September,   new market and visit to the shrine of Mary Help of Christians and tea at Auxilium Gobra.  After late supper they assembled again to evaluate and synthesize the outcome of the meeting.  The chroniclers readthe well prepared reportof both the days and the assembly thanked them for their wonderful recording of the events.

Every participant expressed her view  and  they could be summarized in the following points:-  profited much from sharing and  the sessions,the meeting was great resource bank, received practical guidelines, the family spirit experienced with one another and hosting community was marvellous.    The day ended with short thanksgiving ceremony thanking the  PCI for initiation, the 3 coordinators for organization, the INC provincial community for immense hospitality and availability manifested to each member,  the provinces for the  liturgical and prayer moments animation, the participants for their enthusiastic participation and gifting of a token  by INC Province.   So the NAFMA Edumedym II  came to a successful finale with each participant  leaving the sacred ground enthused to commence their combat to actualize the dreams, visions and deliberations’

Reported by Sr. Stella D