JUBOREE

Jan15

 

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The mild winters of 2013 opened the gateway to another escapade – Juboree 2013 – 2014.  64 Guides along with 6 Guides’ Captains and principal, Sr. Rejina Joseph, participated in the seventh Juboree 2013 – 2014.

The four days Juboree with the theme ‘Heal the world’ started on 29­th December 2013 at Don Bosco School, Bandel. 16 Salesian schools participated in the camp from all over the state.  As the co-host of the camp along with Don Bosco School, Bandel, Auxilium Convent School, Bandel, provided accommodation for 200 Guides.

The inaugural function began with the March Past.  Fr. James Chacko SDB the camp chief was assisted by Fr. Alfred Paul SDB, Mrs. Nitu Singh and Bro.Stephen Biswakarma.

The four days long camp was packed with activities and competitions directed towards achieving the objective of creating leader, providing the Scouts and Guides with a cultural exposure and popularizing scouting and its ideals.The competitions included Folk dance, Quiz, Exhibition of Handicraft, Sill-O-Rama (Best out of waste), Pioneering Project, Gadget making, Theme Presentation, Adventure Games, Pageant show and Peace Rally. 

Auxilium Convent School, Bandel, zealously participated in all the activities and won prizes for eleven competitions.  Auxilium Convent School, Bandel, Guides company was declared the Winner of the Seventh Juboree 2013-14.

The joy and thrill experienced during the camp left a memorable imprint engraved in the minds of each participant.  All the scouts and guides returned happily and promised to become healers of the world.

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Youth Meet

Jan12

VICUNA NIVAS – JUMAIKELA: On 5th January 2014, the young people from different villages of Jumaikela Parish gathered with enthusiasm and zeal for the monthly youth meet at Nonpani village.

At 11.00 am, the Rosary procession started with great fervor and reached the Grotto dedicated to  Our Lady, followed by the Holy Eucharist presided over by Rev. Fr. Patric Tigga sdb, the Parish Priest. He wished the participants good luck and God’s blessings throughout the year. He invited the assembly to offer ups and downs of daily life to lead better lives.

Sr. Shanti  Tirkey,  the youth animator organized  group games  which helped them to  discover their positive qualities.   She invited the young people to offer their good qualities to Baby Jesus to grow one step higher in virtue than last year.

In the afternoon Nonpani’s Youth President Anshu Minj presented the brief history of the village. She said that all the people in the village pray together the Rosary and God blessed them with two vocations – Two Salesian sisters (FMA).

The day ended with the fellowship meal. All returned home with a strong conviction and determination to make the New Year 2014 to shine through their exemplary lives. It was indeed an enriching and enjoyable day.

Sr. Shanti Tirkey

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Annual Retreat – A Journey with St. Teresa of Avila

Jan6

AUXILIUM BANDEL: On 28th December 2013, 62 sisters from 21 communities of the province began their spiritual journey with St. Teresa of Avila, the patroness of the Institute. The retreat began with the talk of Provincial Sr. Maria Pettayil and followed by the Holy Eucharist.

Rev. Fr. Tony Marshall OFM the retreat preacher enriched the sisters with the ‘Spirituality of St. Teresa of Avila: her early life, entry into convent, her struggles in the progress of her spiritual journey followed by her contemplation and the different stages of prayer in attaining the mysticism. The retreats were assured by St. Teresa that once the soul experiences the bliss of God he/she will not prefer the worldly pleasure. In order to have these types of mystical experience the soul needs to be completely detached from worldly attachments and constant efforts will lead to attain the real experience of the Divine contemplation. The formulae to attain this are love, faith, good resolutions and a virtuous life. The awe inspiring meditations on Abraham ‘the father of faith’, with historical, geographical and spiritual facts made the sisters to travel through the desert of Egypt to Mesopotamia and to the Promised Land. Abraham’s humility, prompt- listening, simplicity, obedience and openness to the will of God were highlighted.

The time spent before the Bl. Sacrament was a real source of energy to draw inspiration from the Eucharistic Lord. The good night  thoughts of Sr. Provincial on St. Teresa of Avila, Don Bosco, Mother Mazzarello and encyclical of Pope Francis ‘Evangelii Gaudium’ were enriching and thought provoking.

The retreatants commenced the New Year with newness of heart with the reception of the sacrament of Reconciliation. The personal and animated thanksgiving adoration from 8.30 pm to 11.00 pm followed by the Eucharistic celebration was another wonderful opportunity to venture in to the New Year with the Eucharistic Lord. After the Mass everyone exchanged New Year’s greetings to each other. The New Year day was spent in the company of Mother Mary, by praying the Rosary at the grotto and writing letter to her, the sure hope and guide in our life.

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At the end of the retreat an outing to Aqua –Marina deepened the bond of communion and family spirit. The sisters made use of all the opportunities to enjoy to the full through games and delicious lunch. The outing was concluded by praying the Rosary at the shrine of Our Lady of Bandel. After the eight days of spiritual renewal sisters thanked the provincial Sr. Maria Pettayil, Preacher            Rev. Fr. Tony Marshall OFM, Bandel community and all those who supported them during their retreat.

Sr. Basanti Ekka

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Seminar on “The Community for Evangelization”

Jan6

AUXILIUM BANDEL: On 5th January 2014, the retreatants were glad to have a day seminar on the theme “The Community for Evangelization” by Rev. Fr. Mourlin Fernando S.J. He spoke mostly on the encyclical of Pope Francis “Evangelii Gaudium.”

The aim of the seminar was to rediscover the original freshness of the Gospel and to point Jesus Christ to others with Mary the Star of Evangelization. Mr. Raymond Rozario, a college student from St.  Xavier’s Kolkata spoke on two main topics:

1. Youth Today: Types of families and Spiritual life

2. Church Today: Exclusive, Decision making, fun and sin

He spoke with conviction and gave the participants the real picture of the young people of today.

Sr. Leelamma P.

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Historic Christmas

Dec25

22nd December 2013 was a red letter day for the staff and students of Janta Higher Secondary School, Jumaikela.  The day marked with three important events:  releasing of the first school magazine by Sr. Rose Kureekattu the superior of the community, singing of the School Anthem for the first time and Christmas gathering.

Sr. Shanti Tirkey was congratulated for taking the first step in bringing out the school magazine for the first time and Sr. Julita Kujur for translating the School Anthem from English to Hindi. Mr. Norbetus Panna, the editor of the school magazine was lauded for his effort.

The Christmas gathering of this year had a special note. The staff and the students prepared the programme with a professional touch. All the items performed by the students had a message for the audience.

Superior, Sr. Rose in her message said, “Let us experience joy, peace and love from the Babe of Bethlehem and share it with others.”  Lastly the school anthem was sung by the assembly.   

 

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Christmas Celebration at Aspirantate Barasat

Dec25

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On 22nd December 2013, was a day of joy and thrill for the Staff, Spoken English students, Bridge school students, IGP women and for all our friends. The day marked with two great events: Christmas celebration and the Valedictory session of Communicative English.

276 people gathered together to celebrate the feast of Christmas.  The celebration was consists of carols, dances and the Christmas message.  Mothers took pride to dress their children with Santa’s dress. The Oratorians and the candidates danced with rhythmic steps to welcome Jesus our Saviour. The seminary brothers enthralled the audience with songs sung in three languages, English, Hindi and Bengali.

Superior Sr. Lily Perumpettikunnel highlighted the presence of Jesus among us and said that we are blessed to be here altogether to celebrate the birth of Jesus as well as to welcome the New Year 2014. Sr.Leelamma Palliparambil thanked everyone for their active participation to make the celebration a successful one.

The day ended with a slice of Christmas cake and some snacks which have been contributed by each group to mark the event. 

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SARAS MELA

Dec25

Ashaloy S.H.G. had an opportunity to participate in the 10th SARAS Mela organized by the government of W. Bengal in Salt Lake Kolkata. The women were enthusiastic and prepared well for the event. The Mela began from 12th of December and it will end on the Christmas day on 25th December, 2013. 

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SECOND NOVITIATE

Dec24

It is in the Lord we find our way to journey,

It is in the Lord we gain our hope for better future,

It is in the Lord we gain our strength to live our life of love and service.

 With these words of our saintly Mother Mazzarello eleven of us 7 from INM and 4 from INC entered into one month of intensive and immediate preparation for our final vows in Mornese-Yercaud, from 15th November to 15th December 2013.

We joined together in this precious period of prayer and reflection, reviewing our life in the light of the Holy Spirit and to prepare ourselves better to give a definitive response of fidelity to God in the institute to be united with the Lord more intimately, preparing for our final profession.

Sr. Kulandaisamy Lourdumary fma was the facilitator this one month programme. There were 11 different topics taken by different resource persons from Chennai, like, cost of discipleship, psycho-sexual spiritual integration, and person of Jesus portrayed in the Gospel of Luke, Mary in the design of God, in the Church, in the institute and in the life of every FMA etc.  The classes were conducted in a very creative and dynamic way which helped us to live in a deeper manner the following Christ.

Togetherness helped us to view our abilities, enriching every one by sharing, caring and loving, experiencing God’s love immensely.

We are grateful to Sr. Magnificat Soosai fma, the Provincial of INM and our provincial Sr. Maria Pettayil fma for giving us this opportunity to renew and commit ourselves totally for the Kingdom of God, evangelizing oneself and to evangelize others around us. We also thank all those who helped us in our life’s journey through their sacrifices and prayers in order to make our life worthy of Jesus our Master.

 Second novitiate sisters

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Christmas Gathering

Dec19

JUMAIKELA: On 15th December 2013 at 11.00 am, the Volunteer Health Workers (VHW) assembled for Christmas gathering for the first time. It started with short prayer service followed by dance and songs.

Sr. Rose Kureekattu, the animator of the community in her Christmas message said, “Jesus’ first mission was to heal the sick.  In the same way you have volunteered yourself to serve people.  Acquire the attitude of Jesus and do everything with love and in the name of Jesus.”

Mr. Suresh Toppo, the supervisor of VHW then shared his own experience in preparing oneself to welcome baby Jesus at Christmas.  He said every evening they gathered in prayer and at the end of it every member kept aside a hand full of straw to prepare a beautiful stable for Jesus.  He categorized Christians into four groups.  He said, “I call the first group ‘New Christians’ because they come to Church only on Christmas Vigil to show their new clothes.  Second group is called seasonal Christians, they come to church for some occasions only.  The third group is known as Mendhak (frog) Christians.  The frogs make noise only during the rainy season.  In the same way the people who belong to this group come to the church only when something happens to their life.  And the fourth one is called regular visitors.  All of us can find ourselves in any one of these groups.  Let us become daily visitors of the Lord that He may find a worthy place in our heart when He comes at Christmas night.” The celebration was concluded with a festive meal prepared by the sisters.

Sr. Shanti Tirkey

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The First ACSSA Meeting in South Asia

Dec11

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South Asian Meeting of the Association of the Salesian History Lovers (ACSSA) was held at Don Bosco Provincial House, Bangalore on 15- 17 November 2013. The event was inaugurated by Regional Fr. Maria Arokiam. The participants  were Fr. Thomas Anchukandam, the Provincial of Bangalore, Fr. Stanislaw Zimniak, the Salesian representative of the Generalate of Rome, and 26 members of the Salesian Family of South Asia among SDB, FMA, SMI and Disciples. Fr. Mathew Kapplikunnel SDB organized and coordinated this unique event for the three days for the Salesian Family of South Asia, to instill, motivate and inspire love for Salesian Historiography.

During the inaugural talk, Fr. Maria Arokiam emphasized the need for love for history and documentation among the Salesian India. The messages of Rector Major, Pascual Chavez, SDB, Mother General, Sr. Yvonne Reungoat FMA, were read to the forum.

ACSSA (Associazione Cultori Storia Salesiana) was erected by the decree of the Rector Major dated 9 October 1996, and it brings together those imbued with a passion for history and committed to research in the Salesian ambit. 

All the participants appreciated the organization, resources and topics of the seminar. The seminar helped the participants to love and appreciate the rich heritage of the Salesian history.