Provincial Community Day, Golden Jubilee celebration of Sr. Elizabeth Joseph, Transmission of PCI 2016, Seminar on CPP were held at the Provincial House, Dum Dum from 7^th – 10^th October  2016. About 50 FMAs gathered to celebrate it in great joy and gratitude.

Having kept the theme for the Provincial Community Day “Channels of mercy radiating joy and hope”, a thanksgiving Vigil Service led us to appreciate what Sr. Rose Ezarath, our provincial is for each of us and our wishes for her.

Festal songs and felicitations and the opening of the Exhibition of charts on Works of Mercy accomplished in the community and Produti casa kept us all in a joyful and festal mood. A significant prayer moment was when the 23 animators offered burning candles to signify the light of Christ in them and in their communities and to allow it to radiate for the good of our mission among our young people.

The following day was yet another day to rejoice at the Golden Jubilee of our dear Sr. Elizabeth Joseph. The celebration of the Holy Eucharist by His grace Most Rev. Thomas D’souza of the Kolkata archdiocese along with 6 priests, who highlighted and appreciated and thanked Sr. Elizabeth’s fidelity and her generous self giving these 50 long years, while quoting Mother Teresa of Kolkata he said: “It’s more important to be faithful than successful”. It was then felicitations and jubilations that followed that concluded with the FMA anthem O qual Sorte. The agape took all of us to realize that we all belong to one big Salesian family.

A special moment to remember on this day was the FMA having tea along with the poor people of Dum Dum.

In the evening Sr. Annie T. the provincial bursar met the group of Animators and principals and spoke of certain important issues pertain to accounts, billing, entries, Taxes etc.

The 3^rd day took us to the Transmission of the PCI shared by Sr. Rose Ezarath, our provincial, Sr. Teresa Adampakallel, the vice provincial and Sr. Mini Chettayil, the province Secretary. Sr.Rose briefed us on the 4 main topics, viz the Historical Aspect; Identity of the FMA; the charismatic identity and the Spirituality of the FMA. The PCI participants were convinced and edified and absorbent at Sr. Piera Cavaglia’s talk which had such depth, richness, conviction, passions and love for the Institute. Sr. Teresa took us to understand who an FMA Animator is and the entrustment of the Institute has its origin in the Eucharist which derives from the mission of animation and accompaniment, with a presence that welcomes, knows and loves every person, takes care, knows how to move from words to dialogue and a mother with a prayerful heart as was Mother Mazzarello a wise animator. Sr. Mini gave us valuable inputs of the 3 main functions of history: Great and brief history; Importance and Types of sources (written and unwritten) and Documentary Sources that consisted of: Sources of personal data; Titles of studies; Memoirs; Various Registers and Narrative sources. She stressed the need to write the House Chronicles in the right manner as this serves as History to be preserved.

Sr. Lily P. enthusiastically shared with us the Meeting of South Asian Unit of ACSSA- Association of the Promoters of Salesian History, inviting us again to value, appreciate and be proud of the history of our own Institute.

The fourth day was over to Sr. Stella P. and Sr. Leelama P. who gave us input Sessions on CPP, viz; What is FMA CPP, its need, it takes a community to protect a child, Child Exploitation; CPO: CPC; LEC, PEC: Complaint Box: Types of Abuses and the Guiding Principles and Objectives of the Policy. Sr. Leelama enlightened us on Staff recruitment Procedures: Training and Orientation of Staff: Preventive Measures: Prohibitive Behavior and Code of Conduct. 2 movies were shown pertaining to Child Abuse. There was group work followed by  Case Studies  enacted by 4 groups.

Finally the day concluded with forming a Drafting Committee (FMA) to once again read, review and consolidate the given Declaration Form for the code of protective behavior to be given to each staff member. True indeed these days, we may say were not just days of enrichment and benefit but days of grace, solidarity, love and gratitude!