1st Provincial Chapter of Indian Province 22-30 December, 2016

All the Chapter members gathered in our provincial house in Archana on 15th December. On 16th evening we had two days of retreat in order to prepare all the Chapter members to enter into this great historical event of our province in a worthy manner. The retreat was preached by Fr. Thomas MSFS. On the first day of our retreat the preacher invited us to leave ourselves totally and surrender ourselves to listen to the whispering of the Holy Spirit who will guide us throughout the days of Chapter. After two days of prayer and silence, we had two days of orientation class prior to the Chapter guiding us to reflect, evaluate and deepen our religious life which is based on the three basic and fundamental themes, such as, belongingness, adulthood, and mission activities. After two days of orientation class we had explanation about the new directory. Sr. Tessy, our General Councilor, gave us a detailed explanation about the changes that the committee had made. After a thorough preparation and confession, we, the Chapter members, entered into the Chapter on 22nd, after having celebrated the votive Mass to the Holy Spirit on 21st evening. After a meaningful and significant opening ceremony on 22nd, we went in procession from the chapel to the Chapter hall with the accompaniment of kumbha arathy. Two of our junior sisters welcomed us with a welcome dance in the Chapter hall. Rev. Mother, Sr. Emma Dal Maso, the President of the Provincial Chapter, and representatives from various states, lit the lamp asking the Lord to lead each one of us from darkness to light, from untruth to truth and from death to life.

We had the Chapter meet from 22nd to 30th December 2016. In the common search for the good of the Province and thereby the good of the Congregation, we all contributed our best for the spiritual revival of the Province on the aspects of Unity/Belonging, Maturity/ Formation/Adulthood, Revival of the evangelic Charismatic significance of the Mission.

We enjoyed very rich moments of peace, joy, unity, sharing, caring, encouraging, depth of relationship etc. … during the days of the Chapter. We also experienced the tangible presence of our Founder St. John Antony Farina and St. Maria Bertilla during these days of our Chapter. The extraordinary presence of Rev. Mother General, Sr. Emma Dal Maso amidst us really deepened in our hearts the sense of belonging to the Congregation. The tremendous support and wise suggestions we have received from her during these days of the historic moment of the Indian Province are innumerable. By playing the role of an expert in the chapter, Sr. Tessy Kallumpuram, the General Councilor guided us in the right direction.

We had the concluding session with a symbolic and inspiring prayer service conducted by the sisters from Poovar community. Finally, the Chapter concluded with the concluding announcement of our Provincial, followed by the thanksgiving Holy Mass too. On this auspicious day, Rev. Mother General, Sr. Emma Dal Maso, inaugurated the Website of the Indian Province. The concluding day of the Chapter came to an end with a grand cultural programme at night.