Sr. Rose Mathew: Rest in peace
Silver Jubilee Celebration at Auxilium Convent, Dum Dum
“In every age there have been men and women who devote themselves to Christ with an undivided heart in order to be with him and to put themselves at the service of God and humanity.” (Vita Consacrata)
On 30th May, 2022, the Community of Auxilium – Dum Dum celebrated the Silver Jubilee of the Religious Profession of Sr. Minimol Chettayil FMA, the Provincial Secretary. The community rejoiced with her for the wonders God has accomplished in and through her. The beautiful white roses in the chapel with their silver lining and the wreathes hanging in the dining room- all creative ideas of our dear Sr. Stella gave an exuberant welcome to all the guests. The celebration began with a Solemn Holy Eucharist at 11 a.m. Rev. Fr. Dominic Gomes, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Kolkata along with Rev. Fr. I.C. Jacob SDB, Provincial Secretary, and four other concelebrants officiated the Holy Eucharist. The entrance dance by the young Catholic girls of our school with their rhythmic steps ushered the celebrants, the jubilarian, Provincial and Sr. Stella to the altar. After a short introduction to the celebration the Jubilee bells chimed. The presence of many sisters of our neighbouring communities, Salesian Family members, SMI, MC Brothers and sisters, Ursuline Sister, Past Pupils, teachers and youth made this event a grace filled and joyful one for our jubilarian. The main celebrant Rev. Fr. Dominic Gomes in his homily highlighted the Bible quotation “Be not afraid, I go before you always…” the persistent phrase of Sr. Minimol in her 25 years which led her through. He assured that the Lord truly walks ahead of every event and every situation in our life and brings us out into safety and crowns it all with success. On this great occasion Sr. Minimol renewed her religious vows before the community and was felicitated with a garland by Sr. Provincial and adorned with a Silver Crown by the celebrant Rev. Fr. Dominic Gomes. After the Eucharistic celebration Sr. Minimol expressed words of gratitude to the celebrants and all well-wishers for their presence and the support of every one’s prayers. Everyone then proceeded to the dining hall where the Jubilarian was felicitated and congratulated with songs and dances and concluded with a sumptuous meal well served. This day will be remembered as a unique one by the Jubilarian and by all who cherish it.
Sr. Emilia Vas
Perpetual Profession of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in the Province of FMA Kolkata
On 26 May 2022, once again, the Salesian Sisters of Kolkata Province exults in joy for the gift of Sr. Ranjita Nayak and Sr. Suzan Maria Louis who committed themselves in perpetuity to the Lord at the Basilica of the Holy Rosary, Bandel.
The Holy Eucharist was presided over by Most Rev. Thomas D’ Souza, the Archbishop of Kolkata along with other con-celebrants. Archbishop started his homily highlighting the importance of the forthcoming synod and reminding the assembly that we are pilgrims, journeying towards our heavenly home and we are a family of communion. Basing on the reading of the occasion he stated that the vocation to be religious is not received due to one’s own merit but God’s love for us, his great compassion for the humanity. In the book of Jeremiah the Lord has promised His everlasting love for the humanity. Finally, he invited the sisters to be effective models to the young people after the example Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello keeping in mind their motto of the profession: ‘Called to Love, Send forth to Serve’.
The presence of the parents and relatives of the professed sisters, the religious, friends, the Salesian cooperators and the students brought color and delight to the celebration. The Eucharistic celebration was followed by felicitation and a fraternal meal.
“Here I am Lord, you called me !” First Profession in the Province of FMA Kolkata
As the Institute celebrates the 150th Anniversary of its foundation; the Province of Kolkata rejoices and thanked God for the gift of our six sisters who made their first profession at Mazzarello Convent Ranchi, on 24 May 2022. The FMA India, commemorates, the centenary of the arrival of the first missionaries in India in 2022. In the year 1922, the six missionaries arrived in India, and it is a coincidence that six sisters Sr. Alice Rosline Tirkey, Sr. Elina Minj, Sr. Neha Beck, Sr. Neha Lucy Kujur, Sr. Nayna Agatha Kujur and Sr. Ursula Kujur made their first profession in Mazzarello Convent, Sahera Ranchi with their motto: Chosen to love, serve and generate life. The Holy Eucharist was presided over by Most Rev. Felix Toppo, SJ, the Archbishop of Ranchi along with other con-celebrants. During his homily he highlighted Jesus as an obedient Son of the Father who gave himself for the humanity. He offered his body mind and soul to his father to fulfill his Father’s glory. Therefore, our only desire should be to sacrifice to God. He invited the newly professed sisters to be the glory of the Church. The presence of the parents and relatives of the professed sisters, the religious, friends and the past pupils and the class mate of the professed sisters added joy to the celebration. The Eucharistic celebration was followed by felicitation and a fraternal agape.
Feast of Gratitude 2022
The Province of FMA INC joins the FMA world to celebrate the feast of Gratitude 2022 to say ‘Thank you to Mother Chiara’ the Superior General of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians on 24, 25, 26 April 2022 in Turin, Mornese, Nizza Monferrato.
A Cat brought his owner back to the CHURCH
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
Provincial Team Meeting
The annual Provincial Team meet was held from 11-13 February 2022 at Auxilium Dum Dum, Provincial House to draw up the provincial project and program for the coming year. 13 members participated. Sr. Lily Perumpettikunal the general coordinator of the province gave a warm welcome to all especially to the new team members of different sectors. The introductory talk was delivered by Rev Sr. Leelamma Palliparambil the Provincial. She thanked the sectors for carrying out their responsibilities faithfully and encouraged the members to do everything with love and nothing through constraint. She invited everyone to be with Mary a life-giving presence.
Thereafter the general coordinator guided the team members in the planning and programming. The sectors presented their reports and planned for the future. The members showed keen interest in this important task and each one gave her rich contribution in planning the project and program for the year 2022-2023. The members then presented the well-defined provincial project and the calendar and the sector plans to the provincial and the provincial secretary and got their approval. The members thanked Sr. Provincial for her wise guidance and also proposed the vote of thanks to Sr. Lily for her continual guidance and support.
Sr. Pranati Sabhasundar
Blessing of the House at Kurtumgarh
This is the day the Lord has made, we rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 11:24)
By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches (Proverbs 24: 3-4).
11 January 2022 will be a memorable day in the history of Auxilium Convent, Kurtumgarh. The beautiful day dawned with an unparalleled air of joy and excitement in everyone. It was the long awaited day of the inauguration of the temporary residence of the Sisters in one wing of the new school building.
The historic event was graced by Fr. Jugal Kishore Digal the Parish Priest of Kurtumgarh, Fr. Aswin Singh the assistant Parish priest, Sr. Leelamma Palliparambil our Provincial and four provincial councillors – Srs Teresa Adampakallel, Lily D’Souza, Inocencia Jojo and Celine Alexander besides Mr. Bishember Nayak and Mr. Ugresan Nanda the representatives of Parish council, Mahila Samiti, Youth group, village leaders and other invited guests.
Fr. Jugal accorded a very warm and grateful welcome to Sr. Leelamma, councillors and the community Sisters of Kurtumgarh. They were greeted with a song, bouquets of flowers and Gamuchha. Fr. Jugal then enlightened all present on the importance of the house blessing. It was followed by the cutting of the ribbon by Sr. Leelamma and the lighting ceremony of the Indian lamp. The Parish Priest conducted the rites and prayers of the house blessings. The solemn Thanksgiving Holy Eucharistic celebration and the blessings of the new chapel followed. Fr. Jugal presided over the Holy Eucharist and Fr. Aswin Singh delivered the homily on the liturgical readings of the day highlighting the persistent prayer of Hannah, and Jesus in the synagogue teaching with authority. He compared the new house to the temple and invited all present to respect the place of prayer and to pray with faith and trust confident that God will hear our prayers and fulfil our hearts desire, like that of Hannah.
After the holy Mass, on behalf of the community Sr. Rinki Nayak extended her deepest gratitude to Sr. Leelamma Palliparambil for her untiring labour in establishing this wonderful house, and all the Sisters of the Province for their prayerful support. She also expressed her appreciation and thanks to the Parish Priest of Kurtumgarh Fr. Jugal Kishore Digal for his support and assistance offered from the time of our presence in Kurtumgarh, Fr. Aswin Singh, the assistant Parish priest, to all the invited guests and the provincial councillors. A sumptuous lunch was served for all present. Everyone raised a hymn of thanks for the good weather and the successful program.
Sr. Rinki Nayak
Transmission of GC XXIV in the Province of FMA – INC
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
Rooted and Established in Love
53 Sisters of the province made their Spiritual Annual Subscription to the Mercy and Compassion of God at Bandel from 28 December 2021 to 4 January 2022. The theme “Rooted and Established in love” was dealt at a deeper level by Rev. Fr. V.M. Thomas S.D.B from Don Bosco Renewal Centre, Bangalore (formerly known as Don Bosco Yuva Prachodini). The Holy Retreat commenced with the inspiring introductory talk by the provincial, Sr. Leelamma Palliparambil. It was an awesome experience when she asked the retreatants to bless each other. Her good night talks were very thought-provoking and based on the General Chapter XXIV theme and today’s reality.
The entire retreat revolved around making Jesus come alive in our consecrated life: in our being and doing. The intensive days spent with Jesus was for all the participants an experience of walking down the dark corridors of our inner world; searching the hidden corners that have remained unexplored in our subconscious; tracing our path along the slippery slopes of uncertainties, and exposing the areas of our intimate being to the Word of God. The preacher said that in order to be vibrant and efficient in our life and mission we need to ask 3 questions to ourselves like the pilots: Where am I? Why am I here? And where am I going? The participatory method used by the preacher helped the retreatants to get personally involved in our inner spiritual journey. The video clips, sweet chanting of devotional hymns, short prayers, discussions in two’s kept us in connection with the Lord all through the day. The figures of Simeon, Anna, Leper, Zaccheus, Nicodemus, Bartimeus, and ten virgins through light on our inner journey spurring us to imitate their attitudes of CS AAP: Come, Surrender, Acknowledge, Ask, and Proclaim. Fr. V.M. challenged the participants not to be a “Fuse Box” wire that comes in and goes out in the same manner, instead we should go out with a determination to be faithful and fruitful, and be a transformed person in the likeness of Jesus. A glimpse on our first missionaries and sharing of his own work experience enthused us to be more fruitful and faithful in our journey with the young. All the participants desired to put on the ‘Armour of God’ (Eph.6: 10-18) to bear witness to Him, generate life, and to produce ‘New Wine’ in the mission among young people as we are on the eve of 100th anniversary of the FMA presence in India and 150th anniversary of the foundation of our Institute.
The holy and fervent Retreat was concluded with Thanksgiving Holy Eucharist and renewal of the Vows. Indeed, the Almighty has done great things for all the retreatants. With hearts filled with love and gratitude they expressed their thankfulness to the provincial, preacher and community in a very creative and festive manner. Praise, Honour, and Glory to God today, tomorrow and forever for His countless blessings upon everyone!
Sr. Shanti Tirkey
FMA INC News Update 