The Great Missionary Expedition of November 14, 1877 was celebrated at Auxilium Bandel with gratitude and fidelity. The celebration began with a morning prayer, where the brief life sketches of the six valiant missionaries were read. Indeed it was a good platform for the rest of the day with its theme ‘Go into the whole world and proclaim the Good news’

The day coincided with the children’s day celebration. The introduction to the Holy Mass highlighted the Spirit of Mornese and the Charism of St. John Bosco and St. Mary Mazzarello crossed  the ocean to an unknown new world Uruguay Latin America. The celebration reached its peak with an hour of evening prayer service. The mandate of Jesus to His disciples was enacted. This was followed by symbolic offerings of the Bible, globe, ship, a vase bearing the names of the sisters. They signified their total availability and ready for any sacrifice, even that of never returning to their home country.

St. John Bosco’s parting message to memorize and live the constitutions was also enacted. The example of Mary most Holy the first missionary was highlighted as our souls were in tuned to the Magnificat. Sr. Elizabeth Valliyil the animator’s inspiring good night thought re-enkindled in us love for the ‘missionary ad gentes’. The day ended on a joyous note with the inspiring thought ‘a missionary exists wherever a missionary heart exists’. We owe our manifestation of love for our sisters as we live our lives with gratitude, fidelity, and prophecy.

From 14 November 2016  – 14 November 2017, the yearlong preparation was done through the study of  ‘100 Question Quiz on Angela Vallese’, prepared by Sr. Mary George U. with much love and precision. Celebrating the 140^th Anniversary of the First FMA Missionary Expedition, was really a memorable day. Our Community prepared for it with a Triduum.  During the evening prayer moments we thanked God for the courage and decision of our first missionaries ‘ad gentes’. We thanked God for today’s missionary vocation to all our FMA.

On 14^th November was the climax of our celebration.  The replica of the ship was carried to the sanctuary as we began our morning prayer with such missionary fervor. We also recalled to mind our six pioneers of our Indian Missions. We sang psalms of thanksgiving and praise for the wonders the Lord has done in our Missionary Institute. During the Holy Mass, once again a short introduction was read out highlighting the importance of the day’s event for all the faithful who attend the daily Eucharist. The celebrant, Rev. Fr. Arul SSJM., centered his well prepared homily on the missionary theme and appreciated the works of the FMA in times past as well as today, in the footsteps of our Founders.

This memorable day reached its highest peak, when in the evening our Community joined yet another celebration at Auxilium, Barasat. We entered the PORT GENOA and met the real replicas of the First six FMA Missionaries in the persons of our candidates who enacted the scene and took us all in spirit to that far away distant mission land, Montevideo – Uruguay.

O what wonderful day !!!!!         Day we shall never forget !!!!!!!

Reported by Sr.Emilia Vas

Dum Dum