Archives

Celebrating the milestone of 25, 50, and 60 years of Consecration

Oct20

The Daughters of Mary Help of Christians popularly known as the Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco have marked two great events in the history of the Institute i.e. the 150th anniversary of the foundation of the Institute and the centenary of the arrival of the pioneers in India. Million thanks to the Pioneers who sowed the seed of vocation in our country. The fruit of their hard work was celebrated on 06 October 2022 in the Province of Kolkata at Auxilium Provincial House, Dum Dum as we celebrated the jubilee of the religious profession of our sisters. With great joy celebrated and thanked God for the life of fidelity and dedication lived by our dear sisters, Sr.Elizabeth Makil and Sr.Silvina Kujur for 60 years, Sr.Rose Ezarath, Sr.Teresa Korattiparampil, Sr.Dorothy Torcato, and Sr.Teresa Thudianplackal for 50 years, Sr.Minimol Chettayil and Sr.Taramani Minj for 25 years.

The day’s prayer was completely dedicated to the jubilarians. At Morning Prayer the outstanding and exceptional qualities of the sisters were highlighted in which each jubilarian was asked to place a monument with the year of the profession on it to place at the feet of Mary Help of Christians. Sr.Leelamma Palliparambil the Provincial brought to the limelight the various activities carried out by the jubilarians among the young thus imprinting in the young minds the lives of our founders and above all living an exemplary life as a true religious.

The climax of the celebration was the Holy Eucharist which was officiated by His grace   Most Rev. Thomas D’Souza the Archbishop of Kolkata. He was surrounded by four Con-Celebrants. The joy was doubled with the presence of different religious communities, teachers, students, Co-Operators, Past Pupils, ADMA members, Candidates, Benefactors, well-wishers, and the close relatives of our Sisters. During the homily, the Archbishop exhorted the beauty of religious life. He then continued saying, it is a love story of God which the church summarizes as gratitude and we celebrate this love story as a jubilee. Every vocation can be summed up with three stupendous words i.e. “following in love” to the one who calls. This is the reason why Christ calls us that we are precious in His sight.

The beautifully decked hall with Jubilee bells created an atmosphere of jubilation and celebration. An hour of cultural program was hosted by students, candidates as well as well-wishers. The last message was delivered by one of the jubilarians Sr.Rose Ezarath in which she shared her experience of religious life and thanked all who made the long-awaited auspicious day a great success with their token of love and expressions. The hour-long presentation came to an end. After which all were served a sumptuous meal.

This occasion of coming together did not remain only in mere celebrations but imprinted in everyone’s hearts the edifying lives of our jubilarians lived with total commitment and passion for young people.  

Reported by  Sr. Pranati  Sabasundar

Please find below a glimpse of the celebration

https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAbPqK

The Salesian Sisters (FMA) celebrates the 150th anniversary of their Foundation at St. Patrick’s Church, Dum Dum

Jul17

On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA), on Sunday 17 July 2022, the Provincial House Community of Auxilium Convent, Dum Dum along with the Provincial Sr Leelamma Palliparambil FMA, renewed their commitment of fidelity to the call of the Lord during the Eucharistic Celebration presided over by Fr. Dominic Kishore, in the Parish of St. Patrick’s Church Dum Dum, in the presence of the parishioners, children and young people.

The worldwide Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (also known as the Salesian Sisters) celebrates its 150th anniversary of its foundation on 5th August 2022! This year they also celebrate 100 years of their presence in India. On this occasion they decided to renew their Religious Vows publicly in the presence of the parishioners of Dum Dum.

St. John Bosco founded the Institute as a living monument of his gratitude to Mary Help of Christians for all the graces he received through the intercession of Mary. It was founded in 1872 in Mornese, Italy, when St Mary Domenica Mazzarello, Co-foundress, with the first group of 11 young women, became Salesian Sisters in the presence of St. John Bosco, Founder. With the direct intervention of Mary Help of Christians, the Salesian charism has spread throughout the world as a gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church and the salvation of young people. They are the largest Congregation of women religious with over 11,500 Sisters around the world, serving young people, the poor, and the young at risk, in 97 countries.

The Salesian Spirit has prevailed through the times and is encompassed in Don Bosco’s Preventive System that strives to educate youngsters through Reason, Religion and Loving kindness. The 150th anniversary of the foundation, the centenary of FMA presence in India and the 62 years of their presence at Dum Dum, were an occasion for them to renew their gratitude to God for His fidelity and to plan for the future with hope!

The 150th anniversary is a time to be grateful for the existence of so many FMA Sisters who gave their lives until the end of their days, for the life of the numerous lay collaborators who accompanied them in the mission to the young, for the former students who brought to the world what they received in their homes and institutions, for the good and humble people of the origins who made the charismatic reality possible for them to reach out to the people of Dum Dum and around in the Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello way.

During the holy Eucharistic celebration the Sisters and the parishioners thanked Mary Help of Christians for walking along with them as Mother and Helper, for being a living presence in their communities and pastoral ministries, for strengthening their commitment to educate the young, and be a sign and expression of God’s foreseeing love among young people.

The Sisters expressed their gratitude to the parish priest Rev. Fr. Irudayaraj, Fr. Dominic and all present for joining them to thank God and Mary Help of Christians as they renewed their Religious Profession during the Sunday’s Eucharist.

Sr Lily Perumpettikunnel FMA

A Cat brought his owner back to the CHURCH

Apr16

On 9 February 2022 I had a beautiful experience with Pietro Lozzia who had lost his pet cat named Perla. This made him very sad that for five days he had not slept well. As usual on that day after lunch my companion and I went for a walk and on entering we found a notice on the gate written “A cat is lost. The one who finds it kindly contact the following number”. When we entered inside the gate, lo and behold, we found a cat sleeping under a bush. Immediately I took a photo of the cat and sent it to that number. Surprisingly within two minutes Pietro, almost restless, reached Auxilium with a basket.  He was so mad for the cat that he did not even wait to open the gate but just jumped over the wall and snatched it away.

On the next day, i.e. Friday, he sent me a message saying that the cat brought back his life, joy and happiness. So, he asked me to meet him personally to thank me and he gave his house number (his house is very close to Auxilium). Instead I requested him to come to the convent on Sunday for Mass and after that I could meet him. On that Sunday we began a dialogue and I came to know that for so many years he had not gone to the church and now he feels unworthy to enter the church. He even felt that if he goes to the Church the Lord may drive him away. At this point, I being a student of Catechesis and Youth Pastoral, took advantage to teach him some Catechism. He was truly open and the Lord entered into his life.  My message to him was: “Human beings are more valuable than animals; the Lord loves you unconditionally” and I assured him of my prayers. He was moved by our encounter. To my surprise, it worked and the Lord touched his heart and he agreed to come again on the following Sunday. So, on the following Saturday after Mass, I spoke to Fr. Francesco Motto SDB, who was supposed to come for Mass on Sunday for the parishioners. I told him about this young man and Father agreed to meet him.  Since Pietro is working on Sundays he could not reach on time but as soon as he finished his duty he came along but he reached after Holy Communion. After mass I invited him to pray and then directed him to the priest.

After their long conversation, both of them came out happy and Father wanted to know my name and from where I was. He said, “sorella, brava! tu hai fatto un grande lavoro”. To this I affirmed,  “Il Signore è più grande”. Pietro then spoke up, “It was the Lord who wanted me to return to the church, the cat was only a means for me to return to Him”. He went back home happily with a desire to show himself again on the following Sunday.

Sr. Shradha Kispotta

Auxilium Rome

Transmission of GC XXIV in the Province of FMA – INC

Jan10

On 7 January 2022, the province of Mary Help of Christians, Calcutta (INC) concluded the transmission of the experience of the XXIV General Chapter lived in Rome from 17 September to 24 October 2021 by the Provincial Sr Leelamma Palliparambil and by the delegate Sr. Stella Potteparambil. It was done in five groups, one in North Bengal, one in New Delhi, two in the provincial House Dum Dum and one in Bandel, from 12-15       November; 1-4 and 18-22 December 2021 and January 5-7, 2022 respectively.  

Dancing to the tune of the song “The daughters of Israel dance with joy” the six Sisters who represented the ‘servants’, enthused the participants to re-live the ‘Wedding feast at Cana’, the passage from the Gospel of John from which the theme of GCXXIV was taken, “Do whatever he tells you” (Jn 2:5). Communities that generate life in the heart of contemporaneity”. Sr. Leelamma and Sr. Stella gave an overview of the participants, the process and the methodology, reflection and sharing in Commissions, Report on the life of the Institute (2014-2021) and the talks given by Sr. Marta L. Riccioli on the three nucleus of the theme of the Chapter.  The personal study, group sharing and general assembly gave ample opportunities for the participants to deepen the contents of the General Chapter assembly. The presentation of the Final Chapter Document, With Mary, a life-giving presence, that tells the experiences and contents of GC XXIV and presents the priority choices and guidelines for action, was a moment of gratitude to the Lord for the great work done by the Capitulars, and an invitation to resume our journey “from Cana to Capernaum” and share life and mission together with the educating community.

All the five groups of Sisters welcomed with gratitude, enthusiasm and joy the experiences of the General Chapter and its contents communicated so creatively with the help of power points and video clips by Sr. Leelamma and Sr. Stella. The transmission aroused in the Sisters deep gratitude for the gift of our vocation and charism, and a renewed enthusiasm to go ahead with ever new creative fidelity towards a future of hope. Everyone resolved to take up seriously the implementation of the three priority choices of the General Chapter: to be in on-going formation for a new vocational fruitfulness, to walk in synodality and to network in the perspective of integral ecology. Some of the priority commitments assumed by the groups are: i) Assume the attentive, creative, involving and accompanying presence of Mary, with the heart of the Good Shepherd; ii) Live the service of authority as a life-giving presence in a circular and  participatory style; iii) Courageously redesign the physical structure at the service of the mission for the vitality of the charism; iv) Restructure our boarding houses offering the young people adequate training to become self-supportive in  society.

The participants expressed their deep sentiments of gratitude to the communities of Jaigaon, Provincial House Dum Dum, Vasant Vihar and Bandel who have hosted the Transmission of GC XXIV, to the provincial Sr. Leelamma and to Sr. Stella who worked unstintingly day and night in preparation for the group transmissions making the sessions very lively, innovative,  interesting and appealing.

Sr. Lily Perumpettikunnel

????????????????????????????????????

A glimpse from the courageous ‘yes’ of the young people to the Lord “ Here I am you called me” on 24 May 2021

May26
  • Expression of gratitude to God for the gift of His call ” Come and follow me”
  • Felicitation of the Perpetually Professed
Perpetual Profession of the Salesian Sisters at Auxilium Aspirantate, Barasat
First Profession at Mazzarello Convent, Ranchi
Renewal of THE Religious Profession at Auxilium Convent , New Chumta
  • Renewal of the Religious Profession at Auxilium- Aspirantate, Barasat
Vestition at Auxilium Aspirantate, Barasat
Felicitation of the Novices

Auxilium Convent School, Dum Dum Celebrates Diamond Jubilee

Dec21

Auxilium Convent School, Dum Dum celebrated its much awaited Diamond Jubilee (1960-2020) in a modest yet meaningful way maintaining the prescribed safety protocol on the 19th of December, 2020. The programme was held in the School Hall in the presence of about thirty people including distinguished guests, Sisters, teachers, students and Parents representative as per the demands of the new normal.

The Auxilium family was extremely fortunate to have Rev. Fr. Dr John Felix Raj, SJ, the Vice-Chancellor of St. Xavier’s University, Kolkata as Chief Guest on the glorious occasion and Rev. Sr Rose Ezarath, FMA, the Provincial of the Kolkata Province as Guest of Honour.

The programme commenced at 11:00 am and was live streamed on the School’s YouTube channel for the teachers, students, parents, past pupils and other members of the Auxilium family who had to partake of the celebration virtually due to the ongoing pandemic. A colourful‘Welcome Dance’performed by the students set the tone of the programme. The Chief Guest and the other distinguished guests were felicitated with uttorios and bouquets. The ceremonial lamp was lit and the Almighty’s blessings were invoked through a prayer and a dance. This was followed by the Diamond Jubilee Song that was composed and sung by the High School students.

Sr. Stella Devis, FMA, Secretory of our School accorded the august assembly and the larger online audience a warm welcome in her Welcome Address. Sr. Stella traced the journey of the school that began on 15th January 1960 and cited how it has been driven by the spirit of its patrons St. John Bosco and St. Mary Mazzarello.

Rev. Sr. Esther Rani Abraham, FMA, Principal of our School, presented the Diamond Jubilee Report which traced the ascent of the school in both challenging and conducive conditions in the last six decades. The report made viewers both virtual and real nostalgic and inspired the Auxilians of today to carry on the legacy left behind by their seniors.

The Diamond Jubilee Report was followed by the presentation of the School Report- (2020-2021) by the School Captain. The reports were interspersed by dances, both Eastern and Western that expressed the joy of the Auxilium family at having crossed the Diamond Jubilee mark.

The Honourable Chief Guest, Rev. Fr. John Felix Raj, congratulated the entire school community on the completion of sixty spirited years. Father, in his stimulating address, explained to the students the difference between the words ‘like’ and ‘love’ in the context of their relationship with their alma mater. He reinforced that to love one’s school actually meant to embrace its spirit, to emulate its steadfastness and emerge as embodiments of its motto ‘Virtue and Knowledge’.

Christmas, being round the corner, the programme was concluded by a tableau depicting the Nativity scene and a few Christmas carols. The Senior School Coordinator, Mrs.Sharmila Biswas delivered the Vote of Thanks on behalf of the Management, Sisters, Staff and Students.

This, however, was just an account of the programme presented on the 19th of December 2020. The pandemic failed to dampen the desire of the other students, whose items could not be presented on the 19th due to Covid 19 restrictions, to present a tribute to their alma mater on its sixtieth birthday. A few students from every class right from Class Nursery to Class Twelve presented an item which was shot in the school and would be uploaded on the school’s YouTube channel and its social media account. This ensemble of songs, dances, skits, recitations and power point presentations display the indomitable spirit of the students. Despite adverse circumstances, every member of the Auxilium family strived to make the school’s Diamond Jubilee a memorable one exemplifying Mother Mazzarello’s simple yet striking words in one of her letters, “To be cheerful we must go ahead in simplicity…”

Miss. Janelle Rodrigues, Teacher

A New Beginning …

Oct3

30 September, 2020, was a unique and unforgettable day for us at Auxilium, Dum Dum. The much cherished initiative of our dear animator, Sr. Stella, to have a new beginning in the community was put into action. The moment of our coming together as a community began in the evening at 5 pm.  The theme “Community gathered in Love by the Father” was well highlighted. Sr. Stella, first and foremost, had a short and meaningful community encounter where she recalled the Constitution Articles on Community life, thereby reminding each sister of her role and the responsibility for the growth of a good and loving community. She distributed a file for each sister with her name and the responsibilities she carries out for the smooth running of the community.

At 6 pm the whole community had a synodal Prayer Service before the Eucharistic Lord. Sr. Stella, our animator introduced the “Commencement of the new beginning” as a moment of Community Communion: a family founded on the presence of the Risen Christ; a family rooted in the Salesian Family spirit, working with optimism and solicitude for the kingdom of God. At this juncture the altar was surrounded with lights, when each sister and each house girl placed a lighted lamp, while the animator exposed the Blessed Sacrament with great reverence and devotion. This was felt as the highest moment of our communion in the Lord.

The apt readings from the Acts of the Apostles and the Gospel of St. John highlighted the aspect of a community that should work closely united among ourselves and with the Lord. “Remain in me, as I remain in you.” There followed a moment of thanksgiving for each sister that the Lord has placed in this beautiful community. The prayer ended with the hymn “Bind us together, Lord.”

After the photo session the community gathered at the dinner table for a sisterly agape, rejoicing in the Lord who has gathered us together in his name and enjoyed a sumptuous meal together.

We are grateful to our animator, Sr. Stella Potteparambil for her creativity and enthusiasm and the initiative she takes to make our community active, collaborative and synodal.  God bless us all. Sr. Emilia Vas fma                                              

Jubilee for the Earth celebrated

Sep10

“All Creation sings praise to God”. 0n 1 September 2020 Auxilium Convent Dum Dum celebrated the ‘Jubilee for the Earth’ with a short prayer service.  The globe representing the entire creation was garlanded by the provincial Sr. Rose. The animator, Sr. Stella communicated Pope Francis’s message on this occasion. She highlighted that “Everything is connected”, and the jubilee of the earth (1 September – 4 October 2020) is the month during which we are called to renew the relationship with the Creator and all of Creation through celebration, conversion and commitment to our Common Home. A symbolic reminder is kept below the altar to remind us of our pledge to care for the earth as a gratitude to God for His creation.

Sr. Anima Minj