By Sr. Teresa Joseph fma –
On 24th November 2021, (6.30 p.m. – 8.15 p.m.), The Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco, India organized an online meet to launch the 3rd Year in Preparation for the Centenary of the Arrival of the First FMA Missionaries to India (1922-2022). The Zoom meet was hosted by Sr. Tamizharasi Kanickaraj.
Sr. Prameela Pulapati Sundari ably compèred the program. Sr. Molly Kaniampady and the Sisters of her community set the tone for the meet with a very significant Prayer Moment.
The Display of one minute videos of flag hoisting in the 7 provinces did offer an opportunity to watch variety and creativity. The hoisting of the flag of the centenary was done in most of the communities.
Journeying together today
The panel on Journeying together today saw Mrs. Apurbaa Deb Choudhury – Teacher, Auxilium, Baroda; Mrs. Lilly Florence – Parent, in charge COVID-Ward – whose dear brother died of COVID in her hands; Sr. Nirmala Mummadi – Formator & Resource Person and Miss. Mercy Sanjana – III Year English – Auxilium College, Katpadi. The panelists spoke for five minutes on the theme from the perspective of teacher, parent, formator and young student.
Mrs. Apurbaa highlighted the core values that permeate Auxilium Convent High School and Junior College, Baroda and how the dedication and commitment of the Management and Staff play a significant role in building up the character of the young. Mrs. Lilly Florence affirmed: The Sisters were more than mothers to my three children. At Maria Niwas, Nandigama, all the children are blossoming like anything she added. I always tell my colleagues to put their children in convent schools. Referring to her dedication in the COVID ward she said: she is grateful to God for this opportunity to serve and is also seeing the will of God in the passing away of her brother and many others. One minute of silence was observed in memory of all the victims of COVID -19 followed by a short prayer.
Sr. Nirmala spoke of family, togetherness, community, communion and the relational aspect of God and human beings. She added: To us dear sisters, parents, teachers, pupils etc. journeying together is a challenge. Miss. Mercy Sanjana – III Year English – Auxilium College, Katpadi affirmed with joy that as a student she was proud to be part of a legacy that is 100 years old. Her words were filled with hope and gratitude as she acknowledged how like her, many young people are empowered by the Salesian Sisters to realize the dream of God for each one of them walking together to create a better world.
The moderator of the panel, Sr. Teresa Joseph had one question each for the panelists. Responding to: Do you think we can do something for parents? Mrs. Apurbaa shared how significant it is to conduct orientation programs for parents and to tell them that as teachers dedicate very many valuable hours with the students, they are in a better position to indicate to the parents how to accompany their daughters. To what do you think that Schools can do to get the children adjusted to the new normal we are living today? Mrs. Lilly Florence’s response was to offer regular counseling to the students by teachers and sisters and to have a professional nurse in each school to check periodically the health conditions of students and staff. Sr. Nirmala Mummadi was asked: any suggestion for the spiritual accompaniment of young people today? The response was to become credible persons of prayer, love, guidance and commitment to help young people to find God and plan their future. To the question: Tell us what is that one thing more that the Sisters can do for young people? Love and guidance was Miss. Mercy Sanjana’s response. She said: Teach us to love ourselves.
Launch of the 3rd Year in preparation for the Centenary
Sr. Nirmala Lazar, Provincial FMA Chennai, newly elected PCI President and Chair Person FMA Centenary Committee with a touch of gratitude and great openness to the need of the hour affirmed: Today is a day of joy and celebration; FMA India steps into the 3rd Year of preparation. She recalled the marvellous ways in which God planned to bring the FMA missionaries to India: the very many requests from the Archbishop of Mylapore Diocese, the winning of the lottery, the buying of a suitable house for the missionaries. To Go beyond, to be signs of hope, Christian hope etc. are some of the themes evidenced by Sr. Nirmala. Referring to the recently concluded XXIV General Chapter of the Salesian Sisters, she said: I had a lived experience of great synodality during GC XXIV. (for more log on to Sr. Nirmala’s speech).
The favourable time for the missionary departure came when the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians was celebrating the Golden Jubilee of its Foundation (1872-1922). Sr. Nirmala Lazar joyfully announced: “In the name of all the Provincials present here I declare open, the last and the intense year of preparation for the Centenary Celebration of the arrival of our Pioneers.”
The missionary spirit of the origins
The missionary spirit of the origins is constantly revived: right now, the Salesian Sisters of India are working also in Sri Lanka and Nepal. Every year from FMA India, Sisters chose to go to the missions and are sent to any part of the world. The theme for the Centenary is: With Mary through the Course of the Century and Beyond. The focus for 2021 -2022 is Plan the future boldly: “Courage! Let us go ahead with a great and generous heart” (L 47,12). Prophets and witnesses for a transformed society in the style of synodality. The specific objective is: To accompany the young towards integral formation making them agents of social change.
Our common home
One of the significant moments of this meet was the release of the book authored by Sr. Alice Chacko FMA titled: Come, Let us Journey Together into Our Common Home.
The Cover Page, artistically designed by Mr. Lijo John, transports the Reader to a galaxy of Salesian Sisters, who traversed the mighty ocean that transported them to the Indian Soil. They thus sowed the seed of the Salesian Charism which grew and blossomed. They slowly, surely and steadily came to know how this Charism embraces, one of the most burning issues of today – the Care of Our Common Home.
Sr. Meenkshi D’Silva – Provincial, fma India, Bombay & Vice-President of the Provincial Conference of India released the book. The first copy of the book was handed over to Mr. Siddharth Bagul, from the youth group of Maria Bhavan, Bableshwar, one of the Salesian Sisters communities in the peripheries. Sr. Alka Almeida, the animator of the community saw to the details of the release.
Joy in the life of Don Bosco
A short video clipping on Joy, in the life of Don Bosco helped all present to recall once again how Joy was the characteristic note of the style of living for Don Bosco and his youngsters. In the spirit of joy and gratitude, Sr. Euginia Laloo made everyone to enjoy the Centenary Anthem. Sr. Hilda Braganza proposed a very apt vote of thanks. With gratitude and joy the participants wished good bye to each other.