The 1^st phase of the Second Novitiate was held at Sacred Heart Convent, Provincial house, Bangalore from 15 November – 15 December 2018. Then junior sisters from the provinces INK, INC, INM, INT participated in it. The resource persons with their well prepared class to made us to understand in a deeper level the values of religious life and to form strong convictions.

The Second Novitiate programme commenced with inaugural prayer service. Sr. Celine Jacob, provincial of INK carried the statue of Blessed Mother representing four different provinces and as gesture of our entrustment to our Bl. Mother. After which we were warmly welcomed by Sr. Provincial and sisters of the community with welcome song offering beautiful roses to each one of us as a sign of great love for us.

The sessions were taken by various persons on different topics such as Period of Juniorate, Spirituality of St. Francis de Sales, 7 habits of highly effective people, Religious life in cannon Law, Salesian Spirituality and preventive system, Different forms of prayer and meditation for better God experience, Women Discipleship, Ongoing formation, call to holiness, Psycho-Spiritual integration, Community life and sense of belonging, Understanding the depth of Liturgical celebration, Marian Dimension of the  institute and challenges of media on the life of the young people. It was really a strengthening, encouraging and enriching experience. We were convinced of our religious call which is a call, a privilege, a responsibility which is demanding yet joyful. It is a gift and a task that is given by God to his chosen ones to give Jesus. The 1^st phase of the Second Novitiate concluded with a thanksgiving programme during which we expressed our gratitude to God the Almighty and the sisters of the community for their hard work and sacrifices. We express our gratitude to our dear Sr. Rose Ezarath, the Provincial for giving this beautiful opportunity for our spiritual growth and all our sisters for their prayerful support.

Sr. Clara Rai & Sr. Neera Tigga

The second phase of the Second Novitiate began at Sacred Heart Novitiate, Ranchi on 13^th April 2018 with the theme of “I give my life into the potter’s hands”. Srs. Delpina Bag, Rose Mary Ekka, Sabita Nayak and Sumitra Ekka were welcomed by the Novitiate and Mazzarello community. During the inaugural talk Sr. Philomena Prabalanathan  the animator of the second novitiate stressed on the significance of the second novitiate. Sr. Mukta Kerketta during the prayer service highlighted the theme of the Second Novitiate ‘we are the clay in the potter’s hands’. The four sisters were invited to carry the clay to offer it to the Lord as a symbolic gesture of surrendering oneself to the potter’s hands to be molded, shaped, filled and used. Through a short video clip Sr. Rosalia Tirkey, the animator of the community invited the sisters to trust and rest in the potter’s hands during the second Novitiate to become a perfect vessel for Him. Finally sisters and Novices wished God’s blessing and a fervent time of the Second Novitiate.

The 11 sisters from INK, INM, INT and INC Provinces started their 1^st phase of 2^nd Novitiate on 15^th November 2017 in Trichy Province at Manikandam, Divyadhanam, Provincial House.

The Inauguration ceremony began with the Eucharistic celebration, with the introduction and the eleven sisters carried the lamp invoking the Holy Spirit to come upon them and to guide them during this one month of programme. After the holy Mass Sr. Amalanathan Margaret the provincial, the Provincial community, Novitiate community sisters and the novices welcomed the sisters with their melodies song. The second novitiate programme commenced by visiting the Basilica of our Lady of Poondi Madha and entrusting themselves to her maternal assistance.  Sr. Michael Cruz, Novice Mistress and animator, introduced to the sisters the significance of the   1^st phase of the Novitiate.

Sr. Magdeline,  the felicitator welcomed all the resource persons and introduced them to the sisters. The various topics touched upon were Community living, Discipleship, Discernment, Cost of Discipleship, Mary in the Salesian charism and the Salesian Institute, Salesian spirituality of Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello, Religious vows theological and psychological perspective, Formation of conscience, Spiritual Humanism of St. Francis de Sales, Psycho spiritual integration, Person of Jesus portrayed in the Gospel of St. Luck and the Challenges of media in the life of the religious. All these sessions helped us to deepen our knowledge and to form our convictions in following Christ and to live our religious life courageously.

On the 3^rd December 2017, we made a half day recollection in the St. Mary’s Cathedral in Trichy. On 14^th December, the participants of the second novitiate expressed our love and gratitude to the provincial, the community sisters and the novices with the solemn thanks giving Mass and in the evening presented a cultural programme. The 1^st phase of the 2^nd novitiate programme was concluded on 15^th December 2017 with the visit to Tanjor community, where our 1^st six missionary sisters began the Salesian mission.