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Kolkata Province: In the 2rd Year of Preparation for the 100th anniversary of FMA presence in India (1922-2022), the PCI (Provincial Conference of India) has as its theme “Accept the mandate: I entrust them to you. To revive the Salesian family spirit and strengthen community communion.”To deepen the theme, the Province of Mary Help of Christians, Calcutta (INC) conducted four Webinars in four groups for the 150 Sisters of the Calcutta Province from 5-7pm., on 24 July, 14 August, 28 August and 11 September 2021. The four speakers of the webinar developed the following four topics: Family Spirit as lived at Valdocco; Family Spirit as lived in Mornese; Family Spirit as delineated in the Constitutions; Family Spirit as lived by the first FMA missionaries in India. Sr Francesca Ekka, Sr Deepa Minj, Sr Rosy Veliyan and Sr Maria Goretti Ekka were the speakers of the first webinar participated by 48 Sisters and Novices. Sr Francesca took the group to Becchi and Valdocco where Don Bosco and Mamma Margaret created a family atmosphere for the boys to grow as in a family while the second speaker Sr Deepa highlighted the Mornese spirit as the three YES of Mary Mazzarello, Yes to Life, Yes to Faith and Yes to Suffering. The third speaker Sr Rosy stressed on the Constitutions as a sure guide to holiness while Sr Maria Goretti spoke of the first missionaries who were sisters and mothers to everyone. For the 2nd group of Sisters the resource personswere Sr Mary Ekka, Sr Aquila Phawa, Sr NirmalaTigga and Sr Maria Pettayil. They too dealt with the four topics elaborately and expounded their reflections to the group. Sr Mary focused on the Preventive system practiced by Don Bosco,Sr Aquila enlightened on Morneset he house of the love of God while Sr Nirmala Tigga under scored the elements of the Family Spirit, and Sr Maria emphasized on Sr Maria Avio as an exemplary FMA who lived the family spirit to the full. Srs Mary John, Aruna Kispotta, Shanti Tirkey and Teresa Pulickathadathil the speakers of the 3rd group too dwelt with the topics extensively. Sr. Mary John took the participants for an online picnic to Valdocco exhorting the listeners to create a home where everyone felt loved; Sr. Aruna gave practical tips on how to build the family Spirit; Sr. Shanti had an interactive session delving deeply into the articles of the Constitutions pertaining to Family Spirit while Sr.Teresa stressed on the practice of family spirit lived by our pioneering sisters especially Sr.CesiraGallina. The resource persons for the 4thwebinar, Srs Prema Lourdu Francis, Basanti Ekka, Emilia Vas and Lucy Kachiraled the group to re-discover the family atmosphere that reigned in Valdocco and Mornese and are permeated in our Rules and in the life of our first sisters. Sr Prema took the audience to Valdocco the cradle of the family spirit followed by Sr Basanti who underscored the importance of practicing the family spirit among the sisters and girls. Sr Emilia stressed on the aspects that make up our family spirit as mirrored in our Constitutions while Sr Lucy invited the group to follow the example of the pioneer missionary of the northeast Sr Clotilde Appiano who weathered all types of difficulties of the beginnings living her motto, “to give and not to count the cost”. All the 16 speakers made the concepts penetrate the minds and hearts, by their vivid presentation and innovative methods.The webinar was a strong invitation to carry forward the rich and beautiful heritage that we have received from Don Bosco, Mother Mazzarello and the pioneers and to continue to make it bear fruit today and in the years to come. “Family spirit, the creative outpouring of Don Bosco’s heart, must characterize all our communities and requires the commitment of everyone”, was stressed by all the speakers unanimously. The resource persons were chosen from the Sisters of the province. Srs Stella Potteparambil, Celine Alexander, Rosalia Tirkey and Teresa Adampakallel were the Moderators of the webinar co-ordinated by Sr Lily Perumpettikunnel the General Co-ordinator of the province. |
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