A celebration marks the milestone of a great historical event. The year 2022 marks the centenary of the Salesian sister’s presence in India. A Centenary is an occasion of thanksgiving for the abundance of God’s continuous guidance in the past hundred years and to rekindle the relive the charism of Don Bosco and St. Mary Mazzarello handed over by the pioneer sisters to India.
Sisters and other collaborators and association representatives were all invited to be part of this Mega Event, So sisters, teachers, ADMA members, past pupils and students from Kolkata province boarded the train on August 31 2022 to Auxilium College Katpadi where all were welcomed and accommodated. On 2nd September 2022 Auxilium College Katpadi accorded a solemn and ceremonial welcome to Mother General Chiara Cazzuola and the General Councilors for the mission and Youth Pastoral Sr. Mora Velazco Ruth del Pilar and Sr. Borja Galve Runita in typical South Indian tradition. There was a lot of cheer, shouts and happiness pervading the whole ambient of the large college campus. All then gathered in the chapel to thank God for the hundred years of faith journey initiated by the pioneers accepting the invitation to recommit our life with the experiences of the past, welcome the challenges of the present and together move towards the vision of the future.
3rd morning the day of the centenary began with Morning Prayer in the auditorium animated by ING and INS provinces. At 9a.m a brief presentation of the mission of the various members of the Salesian Family took place in different and creative ways by the Indian Provinces: ADMA (INC Province), Salesian Cooperators (INK), VIDES (INM), Educating Communities (INM), Past Pupils of the FMA (ING). ADMA was presented by INC Kolkata directed by Sr. Stella a Tableau on the history of ADMA in the world and in India. The year of establishment of ADMA in each province , the No of units and activities carried out were depicted with placards. The tableau was a combination of video background, a dream of Don Bosco portrayed by ADMA members, pink and blue races and placards with various descriptions.
At 11:00 began the Eucharistic Celebration of gratitude for the Centenary, presided over by the Rector Major and concelebrated by the SDB Provincials of Chennai, Trichy, and Hyderabad; by Msgr. John Robert, Diocesan Administrator of Vellore; and by over 50 diocesan and religious priests. The auditorium was packed with around 1000 people in attendance.
An introduction explained the meaning of the day and opened a rhythmic dance, with the procession of flags carried by the Mother General and the Councilors, the Provincials, and representatives of the Salesian Family Groups. In addition, 100 lamps were introduced, like the 100 years of presence, accompanied by the welcoming gesture of the kumba arathi. Sr. Stella as Coordinator of the renewal committee was in charge of the Eucharistic procession of the flags and the hundred lamps. After the Eucharistic celebration there was a photo session for each province with Rector Major and Mother General.
The Grand Finale of the Celebrations for the Centenary of the Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco in India, with the cultural program, began at 4.30 pm, in the open stadium of the Auxilium school Vellore, with a moment of prayer followed by a dance of welcome.
Mother Chiara Cazzuola was the main guest, while guests of honor were the Rector Major of the Salesians; Sr. Celine Jacob, Visiting General Councilor; Sr. Runita Borja, Sister Ruth del Pilar Mora, Fr. Jr. Biju Michael, SDB, Regional Superior General for South Asia; Fr. John Robert, Diocesan Administrator of Vellore; the FMA Provincials and the SDB Provincials of India. Sr. Nirmala Lazar, INM Provincial and President of the PCI Interprovincial Conference, welcomed the public and introduced the present and past Provincials of the seven Provinces of India.
Three publications entitled, “Presence of the FMA in India 2020”, “The tender touch of the Mother – Marian miracles”, and “Success stories and milestones of social pastoral care” were officially presented in the presence of Mother Chiara Cazzuola and the guests.
During the event, in the spirit of the Salesian Family and on the occasion of the Centenary, there were bestowals of scholarships to students in need, Career Awards, acknowledgments to some FMA for their commitment to the mission, and to students for school commitment. Ms. Clotti and Sr. Dolores Munisamy, FMA, among the first girls raised by the pioneers, also received recognition from Mother. Sr. Elizabeth Makil from INC Kolkata was rewarded life time award for her commitment and contribution to Educational field.
Mother General and Rector Major expressed their gratitude for the great work originated by the pioneers grown into gigantic stature in hundred years. The cultural celebration continued with a presentation of the Centennial theme through an interpretation of the Centennial hymn, a mime, and an engaging performance of dance forms ranging from folk, to classical, to modern, to fusion, to ballet. The cultural fusion was done by students of New Chumta of INC Kolkata. The event ended with mutual thanks for having lived a memorable day, achieved thanks to the teamwork of the 7 Indian Provinces and followed in live streaming by the FMA of the Communities of India and by those around the world.
After Festive supper in the Katpadi college canteen 13 sisters Rosina Thomas,Innocentia Jojo, Ezarath Rose, Salomi Minj, Taramani, Eliswarna Tigga, Mary Ekka, Kanta Tirkey , Xalxo Teresa, Maxima Dung Dung, Stella Potteparambil Devessy, Angela Kerketta and Ashalata Kerketta and 6 Saleisan family members Celine David, Flora Banerjee, Isabella Anthony, Gerald D’Rozario, Gloria D’Rozario and Clara Thomas commenced their pilgrimage to southern holy places in two AC travellers at 10.30p.m arranged by Sr. Stella with Katpadi college animator Sr. Anna Kunnath. The pilgrimage commenced with recital of prayers with stop over for personal needs and coffee and they reached the first destination velankanni at about 6.30a.m. Hotels were not available due to novena days of the feast of Velankanni Our Lady. Sr. Stella with the help of her brother in law managed to procure 3 hotel rooms near the church. After quick wash up and breakfast they proceeded to the velankanni campus. The first place stopped was the largest church in the campus Morning star church the newest church structure built in 2013 where we participated in the mass in progress in Malayalam. Then visited the various apparition locations at various points of time, Our Lady’s tank, Oil distribution counter and reached the main shrine of Our Lady of Good health. Although crowded, some squished in to see the Tamil Mass which was going on and others participated in the Hindi Mass on the first floor Chapel. After the mass People were rushing so the sisters and other pilgrims moved and they witnessed the ceremonious flag hoisting on the flag pole with band and electronic fireworks with booming sounds. As it was almost 1p.m arrangements were made for lunch in south Indian Hotel. The blazing sun and heat forced the pilgrims to take scanty hours of rest. After cup of tea and coffee they proceeded to the original church to recite a rosary and get blessings. Beach and purchase of some mementos was next in line where some of them became untraceable. After long searching all were united for supper. At 10a.m the onward journey to Kerala started with short stopovers on the way. Early morn we entered Kerala and enjoyed the pristine beauty of nature the greenery, the attractive hillocks of tea gardens and gushing waterfall. The travellers could not resist to stop and watch the spouting waterfall and had a cup of hot coffee and banana fritters called Pazhampori in Malyalam to drive away the wearisome travel fatigue. They reached their destination Elegance hotel Kidanoor owned by Sr. Rosina’s nephew Binoy who has sponsored the entire Kerala trip. After two days of night travel to Velankanni and Kerala the air-conditioned hotel with all amenities was dreamland for all. After a splendid breakfast all took time for refreshing and taking the needed rest. Sr. Stella and Sr. Rose Ezarath left for their homes with the waiting family members as they had some work to accomplish. At about 1p.m they proceeded in a traveller to Sr. Rosina’s nephew Binoys house where they enjoyed a sumptuous meal and the warmth of the family members. They also visited the house of another nephew Benny’s house two minutes away. From there they proceeded to St. Mary’s Church Bharananganam, where the mortal remains of St. Alphonsa is entombed. They visited the tomb and prayed and procured some souvenir and returned to the hotel for supper and the deserved night sleep.
6th was a memorable day visiting the places of Blessed Kunjachan in Ramapuram and St.Chavara Kuriakose pilgrim centre in Mannanam. Ample time was spent in praying, photographs before going for lunch in the hotel. No visit is complete without marketing for the specialities of the place so at 2p.m the vehicle took them to the shopping centres where the teachers purchased sarees, Dhothys and towels specialities of Kerala. At 6p.m they enjoyed tea and delicious snacks in Sr. Rose Ezarath’s sisters house where all her sisters and brothers families had gathered to greet all the sisters and Salesian family. Tea and varied snacks were sufficient for supper so they directly went to the hotel rooms for rest. On 7th Morn the pilgrims bid farewell to the elegance hotel and the owner and other employees for their services and travelled to Chalakudy. The first stop over was at Sr. Stella’s home for the onam festival lunch. They were welcomed with towels and roses by the grand nieces, nephews, sisters, sister-in-laws, brothers, brother in.laws and her elderly parents both octogenrians. The sisters of Sr. Stella and she dressed in onam costumes did the Thiruvadhira a dance around Flower designs to welcome the sisters and as a part of Onam celebrations. The family served the Onam lunch on customary banana leaves with numerous vegetarian dishes ending with payasam and pappad. After the meal they visited the places of Saint Mariam Theresa the founder of Holy Family sisters in Puthenchira who was canonized 13 October 2019, St. Euphrasia Eluvathingal a Carmelite nun from Trissur canonized on 23rd Nov 2014, Holy land in Chalakudy Church. From there the pilgrims went to Matha book store in karukutty where all purchased sufficient religious articles and moved to hotel harbour again belonging to Bijoy and company.
On 8th Morning everyone was anxious to see the cherai beach but to their disappointment there were no beach except granite boulders kept to prevent land erosion and destruction of the houses from strong seismic waves as happened during the tsunami. Although they went to close by churches for mass timing did not suit. En-route to Ernakulam they visited the famous Our Lady of Ransom church at Valarpadam island raised to national shrine of Our Lady. The picture of the Virgin Mary and Infant Jesus, installed at the top of the main altar of the Vallarpadam Church, was brought by Portuguese merchants under the leadership of Vasco da Gama in 1524. ( In 1676 the old Church, which was known as the Church of the Holy Spirit, founded by the Portuguese missionaries, was destroyed by a heavy flood, and the picture was found floating in the backwaters. Nobody except Paliyath Raman Valiyachan, the Prime Minister of Maharaja of Cochin, could recover it. The present church at Vallarpadam is built on land donated by Paliyath Raman Valiyachan. A sanctuary lamp which he donated has been burning day and night from 1676 onwards in his honour.In May 1752 a miracle is believed to have taken place which made Vallarpadam a centre of pilgrimage. In Vallarpadam there was a young Nair Lady named Meenakshi Amma, who was a member of a noble family called Palliyil Veedu. Together with her son she was sailing to Mattancherry. There arose a storm and the boat capsized. Meenakshi Amma and her son went deep down into the backwater. She promised to devote the rest of her life to Mary’s service if she and her child were saved. It was a promise she kept. On the third day, as per instructions in a dream, the parish priest asked the fishermen to cast net in the river, and Meenakshi Amma and her son were rescued. After her death, the church put up the picture of Meenakshiamma and her child alongside the painting of Mary.)
Binnoy’s close collaborator subin brought Banana chips sent by Binnoy which Sr. Rosina distributed to all the sisters, teachers and ADMA memebrs. Binnoy and Subin took them to Lulu Mall the biggest in Asia for a sumptuous supper. After supper all took the chance to express their gratitude to Binnoy who had subsidized all the expenses of food, lodging and travel in Kerala pilgrimage. From there they directly went to Ernakuam junction to catch the Shalimar Express to return to the city of Joy Kolkata. Although this time they were scattered in 3 compartments they often visited one another and had a pleasant journey back home. The centenary and pilgrimage troupe will ever remain grateful to God, Sr. Leelamma the provincial who planned this trip and to all who contributed for this pilgrimage and will cherish the indelible memories of these spiritual and glorious moments.
Written by Sr. Stella Potteparambil and Sr. Rosina Thomas
FMA INC News Update 