Tag Archive | Novitiate

A Joyful Step into Religious Life

May31

RANCHI: On 23rd May 2025, the Sacred Heart Novitiate Community, Ranchi, celebrated a very special and joyful moment — the vestition ceremony of seven young postulants. This event marked the beginning of their novitiate, the second and deeper step in their journey toward becoming Daughters of Mary Help of Christians.

The ceremony began at 3:30 pm in the Mazzarello Community Hall. The gathering consisted of Sr. Leelama Palliparambil, the Provincial of the Kolkata Province, Sr. Lily D’Souza, the Vice Provincial and Novice Mistress, along with other sisters of the community and the young people of Mazzarello Convent School, Ranchi.

The seven postulants were warmly welcomed as they took this big step in offering their lives to Jesus.  After a touching introduction given by Sr. Lemnom Mosang, the novices shared their deep desire to follow Christ more closely, living a life of prayer, simplicity, and love for the young, just like Don Bosco and Mother Mazzarello. Together, they sang a beautiful hymn of thanksgiving, expressing their gratitude to God for the gift of their vocation. A special moment in the ceremony was when the Provincial gave each novice a holy medal, a sign of their new identity and commitment to the Institute.  Provincial Sr. Leelamma shared a powerful message through which she encouraged the novices to be humble, open, and full of love, just like Mother Mary. She invited them to be “like a white handkerchief — ready to be used for God’s work,” and to follow the example of St. Dominic Savio, who wanted to be like a cloth in the hands of Don Bosco.

Holding lighted candles, the novices sang “God, the Light of the World,” showing their willingness to let God’s light shine through them and to keep the fire of their vocation burning bright. At the end of the prayer service, the Provincial officially entrusted the novices to Sr. Lily D’Souza, the Novice Mistress, who warmly welcomed each of them. The celebration ended with a joyful cake-cutting and singing, filling the hall with happiness and love.

The seven novices are thankful to God and to everyone who has made this day so special.

Report by Sr. Riya Rose Mary Biswas

 Initiation to Novitiate

May30

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Shashi Kanta Xalxo and Salomi Bhuinya were welcomed to the Sacred Heart Novitiate  on 15th May as we reached Ranchi accompanied by Provincial Sr. Rose Ezarath. We were given a traditional and a typical welcome of the place with the  washing of our hands and putting on garlands along with the melodious welcome song which made us to feel at home. In order to prepare ourselves in a worthy manner, we began with our retreat preached by Rev. Fr. Shilananad Kerketta, Rector of Don Bosco Kokar Ranchi.

After an adventurous journey to Vicuna Nivas Jumaikela for the final profession on 23rd May, in the evening during a meaningful prayer service, we were initiated into the religious life by receiving the medal from the hands of Provincial Sr. Rose Ezarath. She lovingly encouraged us to surrender ourselves into the hands of the Divine Potter. Our symbolic offerings of the lighted lamps were a reminder for both of us to know and love Jesus deeply. On 26th May we received the Constitutions from the hands of our Novice Mistress Sr. Rosalia Tirkey. Sr. Philomena Prabalanathan’s words  on the cost of discipleship was inspiring. We thank all the sisters for their prayerful support and to continue to pray for us.

Sr. Salomi Bhuiya