Tag Archive | Pilgrimage

Bandel Pilgrimage 2017

Dec9

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On November 25, 2017, the students of classes X and XII gathered in the grounds of our school at 7:30a.m. in the morning for Bandel Pilgrimage. The fun we had on the way, made the bus journey, apparently, very short. On reaching the Bandel Church we silently took our seats, as the Father was delivering his speech. He informed us how the Lord is the centre of our lives. He is the ultimate being in control of our destiny and praying to him would surely make our dreams come true. We then had a short prayer service programme to seek God’s Blessings. We then climbed the stairs to the top where the holy statue of Mother Mary is kept. We prayed with all our heart, and lighted the candles, and dropped the intentions in the wish-box.

Our next stop was at Auxilium Kalyani. The steaming dishes laid on the tables made our mouths water. After a satisfactory meal, all the students of classes X and XII having gathered together had a lot of fun. We danced, sang, clicked photographs and after getting exhausted, sluggishly climbed our buses. This Bandel Pilgrimage, shall always remain etched in the hearts of the students of ACS Barasat, as they all had the fun of a lifetime.

Anwesha Biswas

Class – X A

PICNIC CUM  PILGRIMAGE

Nov19

 

On 10th November at 8.30 am the novitiate community left for Sarantoli which lies in Ghumla District. We went to visit Mrs. Sunita, whom the Lord had taught to read and write. It was a day of healing and many healed of their sicknesses and gave their witness. We too could feel the power of the Lord working in that place.

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At 2.30 we left the place and stopped in the woods to enjoy our togetherness. While returning we entered the War Cemetery to pray and remember the souls of the Soldiers who had died in the II World War. We enjoyed the day experiencing the Lord’s blessings. Blessed be the Lord!

Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Graces

Oct27

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A group of 52 Catechism students belonging to the “Jesus Club” made a fruitful pilgrimage to the Basilica of Our Lady of Graces, Sardhana, Meerut, UP on Saturday, October 22, 2016 in order to celebrate the Jubilee Year of Mercy. They were accompanied by Sr. Celine Alexander, Sr. Jenita Mary Savarimuth, three staff members and Fr. Cyprian Creado op, who was invited to celebrate the Holy Mass at the Shrine. On reaching the holy place, Fr. Cyprian Creado op, invited the pilgrims to enter the Holy Door praying the Divine Chaplet and to experience the loving Mercy of God. It was followed by Eucharistic celebration, Praying of Holy Rosary, lunch, recreation and enjoying a walk around the Basilica.

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It was a grace-filled day for all of them as they understood that there can be true happiness and peace if Jesus, the Merciful Healer remains in their lives.

COME APART AND REST A WHILE

Mar26

Retreat From March 8-15, 2016 hearkening to the call of the Lord “Come apart and Rest A while”, 25 Animators of the FMA Kolkata Province hurried off to St. Mary’s hill Kurseong to be energized and enthused to be messengers of peace and joy in this year of Mercy. The driving force was Fr. Biji Thomas sdb, Rector of Don Bosco Liluah.

Sitting at the feet of Jesus they treasured each word as the preacher Fr. Biji led the retreatants  to delve deeply into the treasury  of his deep encounter with the Lord. As they came face to face with reality in the light of  the Word of God ,strong convictions etched in their memory ; to let the Rule of love supersede obedience, the Lord calls  to be Holy  and sets  apart to be fruitful at all times, under all circumstances in and out of season,  calling to greater  self giving.

“I am raised up to be fellow workers with God” was another clarion call to be holy as God is Holy. God has not exposed my weakness because of His mercy. Thus I am called to cover the evil and the nakedness with all charity. Discerning everything to be good but not everything beneficial is a wise decision to live for the greater glory of God.

Descending from the Tabor experience the 25 community leaders surely desired to let their  holiness to flow into the streets of their community living amidst dust and dirt but  still  remain crystal clear  so as to change the saltiness in others ‘ lives after the example of  Don Bosco who willingly plunged into saving souls. They courageously set sail to collect the broken pieces of their lives understanding fully well that no one is a finished product, that we are all work in progress. So not to give up on any one but cling to Him in order to put on the mind of God .They are convinced that   being  at the feet of  the  sisters  and not at their  head in love and service will bring about communion. For they are sure that when they go after God, God will come after them.

Sr. Provincial  Sr. Rose Ezarath interspersed the community leaders with her “Pep Talks “ to fall in line with the Post Chapter journey of our Institute keeping the profile of the FMA as our pointer to be prophets of hope and joy among  the young by keeping alive the Spirit of Mornese seen as the “ House of the Love of God “.

PilgrimagePilgrimage to the cathedral of Darjeeling Diocese after the retreat was another unique experience   to encounter God, during the Year of Mercy.

On 17th March Fr. Nobby George sdb from Salesian College Sonada presented to the animators the “Encyclical of Pope Francis on care for our common home “ – Laudato Si”

Going back to the book of Genesis we read  what God told our first parents ‘cultivate it and guard it” for everything God created He found it very good. Today the ground we stand is so fragile. So, as custodians of mother earth we are called to keep it safe for the future generation.

SeminarDelving deeper into the encyclical Fr. Nobby added that human life is grounded on three fundamental and closely intertwined relationships: with God, with our neighbour and with the earth itself. According to the Bible, these three vital relationships have been broken, both outwardly and within us. This rupture is sin. The harmony between the Creator, humanity and creation as a whole was disrupted by our presuming to take the place of God and refusing to acknowledge our creaturely limitations. Thus the custodians of mother earth are called for rreconciliation with creation and our responsibility to be taken to task. We as community leaders have a great role to play, Fr. Nobby added. This will enable us to strike out new paths meeting the needs of the present with concern for all and without prejudice, towards coming generations.

We were presented with practical tips which could help us to speak with an attitude of the heart, one which approaches life with serene attentiveness, which accepts each moment as a gift of God to be lived to the full. Thus to promote a new life style establishing a new covenant based on justice and in solidarity with all.
Reported by Sr.Rosalia Tirkey

Pilgrimage to Dantiling

Feb15

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On 11 February 2016, the faithful of Odisha celebrated the   feast of Our Lady of Lourders in Dantiling. People came from various parts of the states before one week ago, made tents and stayed there in order to celebrate the feast. We too had  the joy of participating in the feast  along with Fr. Jugal Kishor Digal, the parish priest.

A warm welcome was given by Rev. Fr. Sanjiv Kumar Berro, the parish priest of Dantiling  to  all the priests and religious gathered  in the Church. Rt. Rev. Sarat Charandra Nayak, the bishop of Berampher diocese and Rt. Rev. Niranjan Sual Singh, bishop of Sambalpur diocese were present to witness the celebration. A short reflection was given by Bishop Sarat Chandra Nayak to all the priests and religious based on the consecrated life. He said, “We serve God in different ways but according to our charism and we need to go out from our comfort zone to proclaim the Gospel to all”.  After the talk everyone proceeded for Mass in procession towards the grotto on the hill top. During the homily  Bishop Sarat  spoke about the year of Mercy.

The feast was concluded with the Holy Rosary praying in procession and exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. During the Rosary Bishop Niranjan spoke on Mary the Mother of God. He exhorted the faithful to cultivate filial love for Mary.

Reported by Sr. Ranjita Nayak

Pilgrimage.

Pilgrimage to Krishnagar – visit to the tomb of Fr. Francis Convertini SDB, the great Missionary

Nov23

 

Fr. Francis Convertini sdbON 15th November 2015 at 7 a.m. saw 40 enthusiastic pilgrims from Kalyani parish including Sr. Margaret Barla and Fr. Thomas Peechat , the parish priest set out to Krishnagar for a visit to the tomb of the great missionary Rev. Fr. Francis Convertini.( Born 29th Aug. 1898) We were warmly welcomed by the Sodality Mothers of Krishnagar parish. This was followed by Adoration at the Shrine Chapel to the Lord of wonder and animated by the mothers. By 11.30 we were led to the cemetery of Fr. Francis Convertini to pay our respects, gratitude and homage to this great and ardent missionary. There Mr. Samir Lahiri bore witness to a miraculous cure of himself as a babe of 3, through the intervention and prayer of Fr. Francis Convertini. And now this same Samir stood before all to proclaim God’s wonder and care and love over him through this great Fr. Francis. Before the Eucharistic celebratino once again Mr. Samir in his introduction exhorted the people of the 3 essentials in life, viz; Faith, Hope and Love. He bore witness to a strong RSS man  who was dying of cancer and was cured miraculously touching the blood of Christ with an apparition of Jesus speaking to him. This brought him to a life of conversion and right now he’s a great proclaimer of God’s Word for God’s people.  During Holy Mass Fr. Thomas too stressed on the need of faith, hope and love, the basis of our Christian life, bringing about the fresh and sad news of the Paris attack and to pray through the intercession of Fr. Francis Convertini for this gift. Thereafter a good meal prepared and served by the Sodality Mothers enabled us to go through this day. We then proceeded to Don Bosco Technical Youth Centre for a film show of the edifying life of Rev. Fr. Francis Convertini, where we drew much inspiration from his life of charity, simplicity, faith, hope and love. Back to Christo Mandir for darshan we made the Stations of the Cross there. It was a wonderful day spent with our dear and great missionary Fr. Francis Convertini.

Sr. Margaret Barla

 

Children around their father……

Apr21

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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

Pilgrimage to Dhori Mata

Dec9

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On Sunday, 30 November, the 2nd Novitiate sisters together with the Community Sisters of Novitiate and Mazzarello Convent went for a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Dhori Mata, at Bokaro. It was a long journey of 4 hours.

The little black statue of our Lady was miraculously found in the coal mine by one of the laborer working there belonging to other faith. People seeing this black statue thought it to be the statue of the goddess  Kali started  to worship. Later on it was confirmed by one of the missionary fathers that it is the statue of  Our Lady, as no Hindu goddess  has any child being held in their hand. The people of the area wanted a shrine to be built  in her honour and the statue to be  installed. They  gave her  the title Dhori Matha               ( Black Lady)   Hundreds of people come to honour  Mary  irrespective of caste  and creed and all receive blessings. The coal miners consider her as their protector. The shrine is surround by the coal mines  and the entire area is black and covered  with black dust.

We spent our time in front of Dhori Matha praying the Holy Rosary fervently and with daughterly affection. On our way back we visited Tenughat Dam and enjoyed the cold breeze of the Dam water. We are happy to have visited Dhori Matha and to be blessed by her.

 Sisters of the Second Novitiate

Sr. Alitrice, Usha & Nilam