On 13 October 2018, Sr. Catherine Das and Sr. Cecilia Kollappally celebrated the 50 years of their Religious Profession at Auxilium Dum Dum. The solemn Holy Eucharist at 9.30am was presided over by Rev. Fr. Dominic Gomes the Vicar General of the Arch-Diocese of Kolkata.  The Jubilerians were led to the altar with the entrance dance performed by the Aspirants. The celebrant in his homily congratulated the two Sisters for their journey of 50 years in fidelity, prayer, faith, love and service. He invited them to Rejoice and give thanks to God for his love endures forever. After the homily the Jubilerians renewed their vows in the presence of the Priests, Religious, members of the Salesian Family, well wishers and friends present for the occasion. They were greeted by the Provincial Sr. Rose Ezarath with golden garlands and crowned by the main celebrant with golden roses.

A felicitation programme took place in the school hall. An array of cultural programme was displayed by the Aspirants and postulants. Sr. Catherine and Sr. Cecilia expressed their sentiments of gratitude to everyone present. The celebration came to an end with the fellowship meal.

Sr. Jancy V & Sr. Maria Goretti E.

The Golden Jubilee celebration  of the Religious profession of Sr. Catherine Das took place on 11 August 2018 at Auxilium Aspirantate. The Liturgy of Thanksgiving for fifty years of faithful service of Sr. Catherine Das was celebrated by His Grace Most Rev. Thomas D’souza Archbishop of Kolkata, accompanied by seven concelebrants.  Adding to the beauty of the celebration was the entrance dance, triple aarti, music and singing provided by the voices of the Postulants and Aspirants of the community. The Liturgy concluded with the crowning of the Jubilerian with a golden crown by the Vice Provincial Sr. Teresa Adampakallel and the golden garland by Superior of the community Sr. Leelamma P.V. as an expression of felicitation and appreciation of the dedicated life of Sr. Catherine.

Soon after the Holy Eucharist the guests gathered in the school hall for a short felicitation programme. Sr. Leelamma welcomed the august gathering and felicitated the guest of honour His Grace Most Rev. Thomas D’souza with a bouquet of flowers. She briefed the audience about the life of Sr. Catherine and her precious and unique vocation as an FMA. The journey down Memory Lane brought back recollections of lifelong dreams, challenges, and hopes.  The aspirants staged a wonderful and mesmerising cultural show with a welcome dance, mime and a fusion dance. The cutting of the Jubilee cake was a memorable event where the Jubilerian was accompanied by the Vice Provincial Sr. Teresa Adampakallel and Sr. Leelamma P.V. The Aspirants composed a jubilee song to felicitate her at this juncture which was followed by extension of greetings and wishes by the invitees. The stage programme was concluded with much laughter and a final word of appreciation from Sr.  Catherine. Then the Archbishop was called upon stage to bless the sumptuous meal after which all were invited to partake of the same meal where stories of the Jubilarian’s life continued to be shared among the invitees.

Jubilee is a milestone on the journey of life and a reminder of God’s fidelity all through.  Auxilium Barasat   anticipated and celebrated the golden jubilee of Sr. Dorothy Gomes who had come to visit our province and the North East provinces of Guwahati and Shillong from Chennai.  Sisters  from Park Circus, Gobra and Sr. Mary George U from Dum Dum and the entire Aspirantate community joined in the celebration.

The chapel was all decked in golden jubilee theme   befitting for the celebration of a person who had lived her consecration with great love for Jesus. Before the Eucharist could begin a corsage of gold  was pinned on the habit of Sr. Dorothy by Sr. Elizabeth Makil.  Fr. Joe Kallarangatt celebrated the Jubilee Mass with an apt homily and interspersed with elevating tributes.  The jubilee Eucharist was ushered in with a graceful and rhythmic entrance dance by the boarders.  The introduction to the mass on the jubilee was beautiful and comprehensive.  The aspirants’ choir was melodious and made the Mass truly solemn.  After the Mass the jubilarian was garlanded by Sr. Mary George U and memorial photos were clicked with all the sisters present.

After this, all proceeded to the Mazzarello hall for the felicitation ceremony.  The boarding choir initiated the ceremony with a melodic jubilee song followed by a modern prayer dance ‘Jesu nam Pukare’.  The aspirants did a short musical on the historical vision of St. Mary Mazzarello,”I entrust them to you” connecting it with the life of Sr. Dorothy Gomes.  A hilarious comedy presented by the boarders made the hall fill with gales of laughter.  The little boarders took Sr. Dorothy back to  Chennai with their humorous lunki dance which is famous hit from the movie, ‘Chennai Express”  Sr. Dorothy addressed the assembly with the inspirational story, “”Don’t go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention!” the programme came to a close with the vote of thanks by Sr. Stella, who shared her experience with Sr. Dorothy as a young sister and how she even now look up to her as her role model.  Every celebration is an experience, the external fades away, and the internal lingers and echoes in the most depth of our hearts. Today our hearts are filled with Gratitude and joy that over flows within us as we recall the path, Sr. Dorothy Gomes have travelled, in these 50 years in our Institute. We thank the Almighty for accompanying her in marvellous ways, all through these years and keeping her safe, healthy and productive in His vineyard.

The Golden Jubilee bells pealed all around Najafgarh and they resounded the FMA houses of New Delhi with a grand Jubilee celebration of Sr. Elizabeth Joseph’s 50 years of faithful fidelity to her vocation and dedicated service in God’s Vineyard especially among the Youth and Ex-students. The real meaning of community communion, family spirit and sisterly love among the members were typically seen and experienced on the day of celebration 13^th September 2016 at Auxilium, Najafgarh.  This was a unique celebration, the FMA communities came prepared in various ways and at 11 am the Trinitarian community of Najafgarh gave warm welcome to each and every one who came to join the celebration.

Twelve priests concelebrated the Holy Eucharist main celebrant being Rev. Fr. K.A Joseph SDB the rector of Don Bosco Najafgarh.  During his homely he highlighted on  the call of God to each one of us and how we have to respond to His call by our life of fidelity and faithfulness in His service, quoting from the scripture passages  Lev.25: 1-17, Letter to the  Ephesians 1: 3-14 and Jn. 15: 1-8.

After the holy Mass there was the felicitation and cultural programme put up by the Auxilium Snehalaya children with their rhythmic steps and melodious singing. Sr. Elizabeth with joy filled heart and profound gratitude to God appreciated and expressed her gratitude for everything that was done to mark this day a memorable one. It was indeed a day of blessing and the day to look at the past, to relive the present with love and renew and reconstruct the future for God’s Kingdom.  After the festal meal all greeted each other and parted for their destination thanking and praising God for this wonderful day.

Auxilium Convent Barasat celebrated the 50^th Anniversary of the Religious Profession of Sr. Elizabeth Joseph on 18 June 2016. The celebration commenced with the solemn Eucharistic Celebration at 5.30 pm presided over by Rev. Fr. Mourlin Ferando SJ and two other con-celebrants. Sr. Elizabeth was welcomed to the chapel which was adorned with golden flowers and bells, with rhythmic steps and golden crown. She carried in a lighted candle representing her 50 years of dedication and service in the vineyard of the Lord while a short narration was echoed of her life in the Institute and her contribution in the mission of the young. The well sung hymns by the boarders of Barasat brought in an angelic atmosphere throughout the celebration. Fr. Mourlin in his homily highlighted her caring attitude in times of adversity and her special love for the poor. Her attractive smile and simple approach to the people around are praiseworthy. He congratulated her and assured her of many more years of service in the vineyard of the Lord. At the end of the Holy Mass she was garlanded by Sr. Mary George U and crowned by Fr. Mourlin amidst loud applause and wishes.

This was followed by felicitation and entertainment in the Mazzarello hall of the aspirantate. The curtain was opened with a Jubilee song choired by the boarders congratulating her for 50 years of  ‘Yes’ to God. She was specially honoured with wishes and greetings while she cut the Golden Jubilee cake marking her joy of belonging to the Lord. The awesome performance of the boarders and the ‘thiruvadira kali’ of the aspirants added colour and joy to the celebration.  The on-stage celebration was concluded with her Golden words where she profusely thanked God and all those who were part of this celebration.

A special note of thanks was rendered to the community for the pre-celebration of her jubilee before she set out to the new community at Najafgarh. This was followed by the agape meal served at the Aspirantate community.

Reported by Sr. Rosy Veliyan