Provincial Visit

May4

Prov.Visit

 On 24th April 2015 was a Red Letter  day for the Sacred Heart Novitiate, when Provincial Sr. Maria Pettayil arrived to make her annual visitation. The community warmly welcomed her in a traditional way and with a melodious song, after which proceeded to chapel to seek God’s blessings. The presence of the six sisters who are preparing for their Final Commitment added joy to the occasion.

She based her talk on  “With Mary a community that Evangelizers”  and highlighted the main points such as to become like Jesus, live and act like Jesus, to transform ourselves everyday and  to imitate Jesus like Mary.

On 25th April, the feast of Mother General Sr. Yvonne Reungoat was anticipated to celebrate it with Provincial. The Solemn Eucharistic celebration was presided over by  Rev. Fr. Gilbert SJ. The feast day celebration was ended with a thanksgiving programme.

The World Gratitude day celebration

May1

Mother General's feast

The World Gratitude day celebration in Barasat started on 25th April with the solemn Holy Eucharist animated by the Aspirantate community. During the Holy Eucharist Rev. Fr. Mourline Ferando quoted Pope France ‘We pray for the grace of memory of love” and invited to be grateful to God for Mother General  and to one another. He joined the community to thank God for every remembrance, for steadfast love, hope and partnership in mission. He said, pray that you may grow in love the Divine kenosis, that unifies as one family in the congregation along with the Mother General.He offered special prayers for her and for the intentions of discernment, knowledge of God, Charism of the origin and fruit of righteousness.

Auxilium Convent School Barasat celebrated the feast of World Gratitude Day on 27 April 2015 by joining the FMA world gratitude day and praying for Mother General.  The students of class X B and V B organized prayer service on the occasion. The students drew the attention of the gathering towards Bolivia where Mother General was honoured through an awe-inspiring power point presentation. The  songs and dance made the celebration memorable and colourful. In his message Rev. Br. Jose SDB the principal of Don Bosco Lilua invited the students to be grateful to God for the gift of life, for the gift of parents and the opportunities provided for them to study.Sr. Stella the superior also congratulated them for the wonderful celebration.

Investiture Ceremony 2015-‘16

May1

Investiture C.

The investiture ceremony of the newly elected Auxilium Convent, Barasat School captain, vice-Captain, house captains, club presidents and prefects of both primary and high school was held on 27th April 2015 in the School Auditorium. The Arrival of the Chief Guest Br. Jose SDB Principal of Liluah Don Bosco, triggered the ceremony.  The captains marched sprightly and majestically in sync to the beating of the drums to the auditorium stage with the accompaniment of the anchoring of Ms.Suchita.

The ceremony was ushered in with a beautiful prayer service with scripture readings, offering of meaningful gifts and appropriate prayers. In the oath of allegiance the newly elected captains promised to discharge their duties with dedication, sincerity and to the best of their ability. They pledged to take the School to newer heights and resplendence. After the swearing ceremonial the leaders were given the badges pertaining to their responsibilities by sisters and teachers.

The chief Guest Bro. Jose addressed the assemblage inviting everyone     to be thankful to God for protecting from natural calamities and blessing them in various ways. He told the students to be aware of their family situation and be grateful to their parents.He exhorted the leaders to execute their responsibilities with utmost care. They should not have any friend or enemy when it comes to the execution of their responsibilities of  the school. He  projected the  examples of various leaders especially Mr. Pius Goyal the cabinet member of central government, a Past Pupil of  Wadala, Don Bosco who  expressed his eternal gratitude and  gave credit  to the school  for the great leader that he is today. He congratulated them and also encouraged them  to become genuine leaders for the world  is in dearth of  charismatic leaders who  could be catalyst of  Social change.Investiture ceremony

Rev. Sr. Stella the superior also congratulated the leaders and summoned them  to carry out their tasks with enthusiasm and vigour. She in her message gave them  a formula  to be a great leader  ‘HC3 Pa ShA2’ : H – Honesty, C – Confidence, C – Creativity, C –Commitment, Pa – Positive attitude, Sh – Sense of Humour,  A- Ability to delegate, A- Ability to inspire. Sr. Rosy the principal also congratulated them and gave a boost to be good leaders for the session 2015 -16. Indeed it was a memorable day for the school as well as for the captains and prefects.

Sr. Basanti FMA

Your Presence is a blessing  

Apr25

Provincial Visit

From 18 – 19 April 2015, Provincial Sr. Maria Pettayil visited the community of Kalyani. Boarders welcomed her at the entrance and led to the Chapel for a short prayer service, animated by Sr. Asha Kiran to invoke the presence of the Spirit for the success of the Provincial visit.

Basing on the theme of the visitation “With Mary a community that evangelizes” Sr. Maria exhorted the sisters to imitate the example of our Blessed Mother to be a witnessing community by accepting the daily realities of life. She drew our attention to  the Empty tomb so as to live a life of hope and courage.

In the evening the whole community gathered around Sr. Maria for a short programme. Through a short sketch  the boarders thanked God for Sr. Maria’s selfless service and hidden sacrifices interspersed with gestures of love and concern.

Sr. Maria released the bicentenary cushion prepared by the Social Ministry center. She appreciated the small steps the community takes to enhance the growth of women and young people.Sisters expressed their gratitude to Sr. Maria in the words of St. Paul: “I thank my God each time I think of you…”

Kalyani Community

Children around their father……

Apr21

Pilgrimage

The Auxilium Community Barasat made a meaningful pilgrimage to Don Bosco Church Kalyani on 18th April 2015, on the occasion of Bicentenary year of Don Bosco. All the sisters, boarders, house staff, non-teaching staff and workers set out at 8.45 am for Kalyani. All had a very pleasant journey with lots of fun and singing. In the Church Rev. Fr. Peechat Thomas SDB, the parish priest of Don Bosco Kalyani parish gave a talk on Don Bosco both in English and Bengali. ‘Don Bosco is a great man and he is well known by the people. He imitated Christ the Good Shepherd and began the work for poor and abandoned boys and girls. As long as the boys and girls exist his work will be relevant. Even today people appreciate the great mission of Don Bosco. India’s mission is the actualization of one of Don Bosco’s dream. Today India has the highest number of Salesian confreres in the world. The wonderful works carried out by the salesian fathers and sisters are the reflection of his vision and love for the young people. He exclaimed that it was his pleasure to impart blessings in the name of Jesus and Don Bosco and blessed the gathering in the church.

There were also few but enjoyable games for boarders, workers along with the sisters. Everyone had amusing time during the games and tried their level best to secure the prize. The presence of provincial Sr.Maria Pettayil, in Kalyani was another source of blessing. She along with the community sisters of Kalyani, joined for the sumptuous meal.  Boarders proposed vote of thanks to Sr. Rosalia and the community for providing the beautiful ambient for the pilgrimage cum mini outing. Indeed everyone felt the belongingness in the family of Don Bosco. Everyone thanked Sr. Stella the animator and sisters for organizing such a wonderful event in the name of Don Bosco.

Sr. Basanti Ekka Fma

Our journey to Emmaus …

Apr21

2nd Novitiate

On 13th April 2015, six sisters, five from Kolkata Province and one from Mumbai Province commenced their 2nd phase of the Second Novitiate, at Sacred Heart Novitiate, Ranchi. This voyage commenced with a well prepared inaugural prayer service animated Sr. Rose Ezarath and Sr. Mukta. The Mazzarello community too joined the second Novitiate sisters for the prayer moment. Each one of us was cordially welcomed by Sr. Rose Ezarath on behalf of Sr. Provincial.

The picturesque image of the disciples of Emmaus was the guiding force, and 1 Corinthians Ch.13 which speaks on love was the scriptural passage that began illumining our journey of one month.

Sr. Philomina Prabalanathan spoke on consecrated life and exhorted us to acquire eight qualities to be an authentic Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. We thank the sisters for helping us to enter into the sacred time of Second Novitiate.

Sr.Usha Kiran Tirkey

Mazzarello week at Aspirantate

Apr18

Mazzarello

The Postulants and Aspirants at Barasat had the “Mazzarello week” from 8th to 15th April 2015. The week began with a meaningful morning prayer animated by Sr. Leelamma around the statue of Mother Mazzarello and the symbolism of the well of Mornese. Every day of the week the community Sisters took turn to animate the Morning Prayer and meditation on the various aspects of the spirituality and places of Mornese – Valponasca window, Roverno, Mother Mazzarello and the Eucharist, Well of Mornese, slide shows etc. The Aspirants and Postulants vied with each other to learn more about Mother Mazzarello, by reading, giving talks, quiz, maxims, composing play lets, poems and songs, searching the Letters of MM etc. The celebration of Mazzarello week did take all of us into the little town of Mornese to breathe its spirit. It was a wonderful and enriching experience. It created in us a deep desire to be like MM by practicing her virtues in our daily life. Some of us said: ‘I will pray more and become holy’, ‘I am happy to be her daughter’, ‘I will always say yes to will of God’, ‘Her life inspired us to grow strong in our vocation’. Mary MazzarelloOther expressions are: “The week impressed in my heart a deep longing for cheerfulness, obedience and acceptance and I have decided to make these virtues of MM my own”; “I have not seen MM, I have not talked with MM, but in all the Sisters of the community, I can find the image of MM and I can feel the presence of Mother Mazzarello; “I have decided to become humble. If I am humble, I can practice all the virtues”; “Whenever I get discouraged, I have decided to read the Letters of MM applying the contents of the same to my daily life”. The wonderful experience made us to be stronger in our vocations. It was a lovely time we had with our Mother and we say with our first Sisters of Mornese: how lovely it is to be here. Our hearts overflow with gratitude to dear Sr. Lily Perumpettikunnel our Superior who helped us to make this experience a part and parcel of our life and to all our dear Sisters who accompanied us to know more about Mother Mazzarello. The week was concluded on 15th April evening with a beautiful stage programme which everyone enjoyed.

Aspirants and Postulants

On our work your blessing Lord….

Apr16

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Auxilium Convent School Barasat gathered around the decorated statue of Mary, the Seat of Wisdom to invoke God’s blessings for the New Scholastic Year 2015- 16. The High school and Primary both had a meaningful prayer service on 13th April 2015 in the School auditorium. All in unison invoked God’s blessings upon parents, sisters, teachers, supportive staff and the different activities that will be carried out in the coming Year. Superior Sr. Stella in her message for the new scholastic year exhorted them to be messengers of love in Don Bosco way and presented the method CARLPP:  C- Cheerfulness, A- Amiability, R- Responsibility, L- Loving kindness, P- Preventive system and P- Pro-active. Principal Sr. Rosy V. also invited the students to possess the Divine light and shine for others. That      people may see the good works and give glory to God.

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Meeting of principals and vice- principals

Apr11

Meeting

The meeting of the principals and vice- principals of the province of INC from 28 – 29 March 2015, commenced with inviting the Holy Spirit to come and fill the ambience and awaken the hearts and minds of the participants.

In the absence of the provincial Sr. Maria Pettayil, Sr. Teresa Adampakallel, the vice- provincial delivered the inaugural address. Introducing the revised Educational Policy of the province she said, “Through this policy we wish to ensure that our institutions do not pursue the narrow goal of academic prestige, with strong focus on marks and medals, but instead aim to foster human values and spiritual maturity among the students and staff.” She then released the revised Educational Policy of the province by handing over the first copy of the book to Sr. Elizabeth Makil and Sr. Stella P, the education coordinators of the Province and to Sr. Elizabeth Valliyil, animator of Auxilium – Bandel.

Sr. Stella painstakingly prepared PPT on the Educational project of the province. She fittingly quoted Abbe Duvallet who acknowledged the pedagogy of Don Bosco, “You have your work, your schools, oratories and houses for the young but you have only one treasure; the pedagogy of Don Bosco. Preserve it, update it, strengthen it, enrich it with all modern discoveries and adapt it to the youth of today, their problems.  Change everything but preserve the treasure, teaching thousands the way to love and save the youth of today. In a world where the young are betrayed, withering away, crushed, exploited, God has entrusted you with a pedagogy which highlights the respect for the young, their greatness, their weaknesses and their dignity as children of God. Sr. Stella elicited candidly the striking characteristics of the Preventive System and its components. She concluded her presentation by reminding the participants about the recommendation of Don Bosco to all the educators. “Just as there is no sterile or barren land which cannot be made fertile through patient effort, so it is with a man’s heart. No matter how barren and restive at first, it will sooner or later bring forth good fruit.  It will begin by loving what is naturally good and ultimately advance to what is supernaturally good. Even the most callous youth have a soft spot. The first duty of the educator is to locate that sensitive spot, that responsive chord in the pupil’s heart and make advantage of it.”

Sr. Elizabeth Makil and Sr. Stella P with the aid of PPTs presented every letter and word of the revised policy so as to make the participants familiar with the policy. The two days meeting wrapped up with a few recommendations for the harmonious administration of the educational institutions of our Province.

 Sr. Celine A.