On 21^st November 2017, Auxilium Convent Gobra celebrated the 140^th Anniversary of the first FMA Missionary Expedition with the poor families of the closest village. They were invited by the sisters on their family visits. At 3.00 p.m. the parents with their children arrived in our compound. It was followed by a procession carrying the symbols of a Ship, a Globe and a Bible around the playground later Sr.  Sadhanan Majumdar explained in brief the significance of the symbols and about the significance of the  celebration. This was followed by a solemn recitation of the Rosary. The celebration concluded with tea and snacks for all the 100 participants and 56 families were given a packet each with rice, dal, potato, onion etc.

On 25 November 2017 Auxilium Convent Kurtumgarh celebrated the 140 years of First Missionary expedition of FMA. The day was combined with the children’s day celebration. There were about 70 children who had come for this celebration. While going with the children to our new land we recalled the first missionaries who had gone to the far away country and had experienced their joys and fatigues, their courage and enthusiasm for evangelization for the kingdom  of God.

This great remarkable day was celebrated in our new land with the Eucharistic celebration. Rev. Fr. Jugal Kishor Digal our parish priest was the main celebrant with the assistant parish priest Fr. Bikram Pradhan.  Rev. Fr. Jugal Kisor  Digal made the children to understand the importance of the day 140 years of first missionary expedition of FMA and thanked the Almighty God for the gift of this   six valiant Missionary sisters who left their own land and went to spread Gods Kingdome to unknown land in South America -Urguay having one aim in mind – spreading   Gods Word.

He also acknowledged the presence of Salesian Sisters in Kurtumgarh. And asked God’s blessing on Mother General, Provincial and  on our new land and the mission. Rev. Fr. Bikram in his homily highlighted the importance of learning, through the example of the parrot that hears and learns.  If they hear good things they will learn good things but if they here bad things they will learn bad things therefore all must try to listen good things and learn good things. After the Eucharistic celebration all of them had fellowship meal and went home happily. Some of them even expressed their desire to become missionaries.

Sr. Prisca Bara

 For the celebration of the 140th anniversary of the first missionary expedition, the community prepared it with triduum. Each day animated prayers and intercessions kept alive the spirit of our origin that Mother Mazzarello had lived and shared.  We prayed all the FMA missionaries during adorations and prayer moments in order to be missionaries of hope and joy.

Celebration started with Holy Eucharist and was solemnized by introduction and prayer of the faithful by Sr. Premika Tirkey. Fr. Sanjay Kindo, the Parish priest spoke about the life and struggles of missionary life. Around fifty parishioners and our boarders witnessed the event. After the Mass a picture of Mary Help of Christians with family prayer and sweets were distributed to all.

On 18^th November school celebrated missionary week. The students express their talents and love for our six FMA missionaries through prayer dance, skits, drama and songs. They used PowerPoint to make the day more colorful.  Sr. Cecilia Tamba and Sr.Emerenciana Bara took the initiative to prepare the young people. To mark the day they drew beautiful charts on the different scenes from the life of Sr. Angela Vallese.  Finally the animator Sr. Theresa V. congratulated and thanked the sisters and the students for the wonderful performance.  At the end everyone with sweets in their hand went home with the message of love, hope and Joy

Reported by Ms. Namika Lama

                                                 “Be a Little missionary everywhere”

November 18 was one of the most memorable days for the Auxilium family of Thecho-Nepal. We commenced this preparation with the Tridumn from 11^{th _} 13th November. During three days of Tridumn the various letters of Mother Mazzarello was read, reflected and were cherished. On 18^th November Saturday we had a beautiful celebration along with the Parishners. The Eucharistic celebration commenced with the introduction read by Sr. Maria Goretti Ekka. It  was followed by the short enact  by  the boarders which was depicted  about final  departure and the last magic words   spoken by Don Bosco and Mary Mazzarello to the first missionaries  as they  were leaving the port of Genoa. Then the Six Missionary sisters name was read out and displayed in front of the missionary ship. The globe and FMA flag was brought in procession. This scene made great impact on the participants because the way children presented themselves with the original habit of the FMA’s. The Holy Eucharist was solemnized by Rev. Fr. Raja Philip SDB. Fr. Augustine the Director the Technical Centre Thecho through deep insight on the Gospel of the Day exhorted everyone to become saints in the present world.  The Liturgical celebration was well animated with melodious singing, prayer of the faithful and offertory procession.

At the conclusion of the Mass Sr. Aquila seized the opportunity to thank each and everyone for sharing the joy of missionary religious vocation together as one family and exhorted the young people to take up daring steps   like the missionaries to go out to the whole world to preach the Good News to the humanity. After the Mass light refreshment was served for everyone.

In the evening the boarders put up significant and colourful mind blowing programmes with dances and short skit. Sr. Aruna Paul   made extra effort to help the children to put up a lively programme. The boarders through skit depicted the departure of the First missionaries’ which was presented very creatively. The Thecho community   was fortunate to have Fr. Nirmal Gomes, SDB the provincial of Kolkata who gave short speech at the end of the programme in which he motivated and encouraged the boarders to become missionaries of Hope and Joy to the world. To mark the day of the celebration of the 140^th anniversary of First Missionary Expedition   the sumptuous dinner was served for all.

On 14 Nov. 2017 HC Auxilium Vasant Vihar community celebrated the 140^th Anniversary of the First Missionary Expedition. To mark this day we chalked out various initiatives like solemn celebration of the Morning Prayer, Eucharistic celebration, special prayers during the day and speaking of the missionaries and their lives to the children. From 5.00 pm to 7.30 pm, guard of honour was kept to thank and pray for the Missionaries.

Recalling the lives of our courageous and generous missionaries, Class IX students distributed food stuff to 800 lepers living in Kusht Ashram, New Delhi. It was a beautiful gesture which inspired them to follow the great ideals of missionaries who sacrificed themselves in order to serve humanity without counting the cost.

Sr. Kanchan Karuna Bara