MUMBAI: The Annual Meeting of the FMA-PCI 2017 was held from 29-31 August 2017, at St. Joseph Training Centre, Lonavla – Mumbai. There were 28 participants from the seven FMA Provinces of India including Sr. Lucy Rose Ozhukayil, the Presiding General Councilor and her Secretary. The theme of the meeting was: “Mid-Chapter Evaluation 2018”.
The meeting began with the Morning Prayer on the theme “Transformed by the encounter”. The participants were then welcomed to the Eucharist with a bracelet representing the different colours of the rainbow and a traditional welcome with sandal paste and kumkum. The inaugural Eucharist was presided over by Fr. Valerian Pereira SDB, Rector of Don Bosco, Lonavla. In his homily he presented the encounter of Mary with Elizabeth. At 8.45 a.m., the participants were escorted to the school hall with the accompaniment of “Maharashtra  dhol tash” by the Auxilium School students. The welcome ceremony began with a prayer dance and a symphony of cultural dances followed depicting the culture of Maharastra.

At 11.00 a.m. the participants gathered in the conference hall to proceed with the day’s programme. Sr. Rose Ezarath the PCI coordinator extended a warm welcome to all the participants of FMA PCI 2017. The three new provincials Sr.Celine Jacob INK, Sr.Nirmala Lazar INM and Sr. Mary Margaret Amalanathan INT were offered a shawl and a gift as a gesture of welcome.
Sr. Lucy Rose Ozhukayil, in her keynote address presented the two symbols of the origins of the Institute, the Well and the Window. She exhorted the participants to make every encounter a moment that forms and transforms and wished everyone a fruitful journey towards the Triennial Evaluation 2018. The National Coordinators for Formation, Education and Youth Pastoral, Social Communication, Youth at Risk, National Development Forum and Mission ad Gentes then presented their annual reports.
The second day began with a meaningful Morning Prayer focusing on the theme of the day “Missionaries of hope and joy and being with the young”. Sr. Lucy Rose in her opening talk explained the modality for Triennial Evaluation 2018 which will take place in Kolkata from 24-28 January. She also announced the name of Sr. Lily Perumpettikunnel (INC), as the contact person for the Triennial Evaluation 2018 and the names of the General Councillors who will be participating in it along with Mother Yvonne Reungoat: Sr.Runita Borja, Sr. Maria Elena Moreira, Neves Phyllis and Sr. Lucy Ozhukayil. The assembly was then divided into four groups to suggest the icon, theme, modality of presentation of the answers during the Triennial Evaluation.
The theme of the third and the last day of the PCI was: “Consecrated life - to be a prophetic sign for the future” and the resource person of the day was the founder of Universal Solidarity Movement (USM) Fr. Varghese Alengaden. Some of the main topics he dealt with were: the challenges in the changing socio - political context in India and the position of the Church in India; ‘Put New Wine in New Wineskin’; Net working to uphold Constitutional values; 50 practical tips for Congregational leadership.
The meeting came to a happy conclusion with words of gratitude from Sr. Lucy Rose Ozhukayil who also exhorted the members to verify the output, outcome and impact of our mission today.