Feast of St. Pedro Poveda, 28th July 2008

Celebration of the 28th of July- Martyrdom of our Founder- St. Pedro Poveda.

The Feast of St. Pedro Poveda was commemorated in Pune with a Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and a get together thereafter.

The Bishop of Pune, Valerian D’Souza was the main celebrant and 4 priests concelebrated the 6 pm Mass. The following is a summative of Bishop’s preaching, ‘Jesus came to transform. The Eucharist is a sacrament of transformation, as we receive the Body and Blood of Christ, we must let Jesus transform us and then we go out to transform. From the start of the church, there has been a need for transformation but it has mainly been looked upon as the role of the priests and nuns. However post the Second Vatican Council, there have been many lay movements. Many lay men and women play an important role in the church. The Teresian Association works in the field of education and women development and their place in society and in the church.

Some important characteristics of the members are the faith in Christ and a life of prayer because prayer and inspiration of the Holy Spirit only have the power to transform, the Holy Spirit being the agent to transform and evangelize. To do this you must be knowledgeable, for this ongoing education and formation is very important. Finally one must have the courage to preach the Gospel values. Pedro Poveda gave his life for the Gospel values. Pope Benedict XVI at the World Youth Day at Cologne said that Christ came to transform. He transformed death to life. Jesus’ mission was to transform people and society. Let us be salt and light, let us have the courage to be agents of change.’


After the Mass, the congregation was invited to a celebration in Eichstatt Hall. Savitha Pais, President of ACIT India welcomed the audience and introduced the Association to them. Thereafter the youth presented a splendid powerpoint on the life of Pedro Poveda and through a contemporary dance representation, unveiled their minds on the role of the youth. This montage was choreographed by Hrishikesh Pawar. After an expression of gratitude to all present, the persons gathered enjoyed some snacks and some tete a tete.

Marian Pilgrimage, June 2008

Pre Plenary Assembly, December 2005

Outside the St. Pedro Poveda Church, Honavar

ACIT Pune Sub Group Camp, Diwali 2006

Year end thanksgiving, December 2007

Commitment of Jyoti and Caroline to ACIT, Honavar, 2008

Lenten Recollection, Pune, 2008

ACIT India Assembly

1. Group discussion
2. ACIT members, their families, Members of PA and the youth at Mass
3. Participants of the Assembly
4. The new ACIT Board (from left) Lily, Juliet, Savitha, Pearl, Christabel, Idalyn
5. The outgoing ACIT Board (from left) Veronica, Joseph, Ruth, Moses, Pearl, Reeves, Veera

The 4th ACIT India Assembly was held from the 9th to the 11th of May in Goa with its theme being, ‘Called to witness to bring about God’s Kingdom.’ The Assembly began with a welcome prayer and an introduction game. Nenita Tenefrancia, the Delegate for India and the Holy Land and representative of Loreto Ballester at the assembly, read Loreto’s message to the attendants on her behalf. The President of ACIT India, Reeves Rodrigues then formally welcomed the ACIT, reminding them of the objectives of the Assembly, that it was on the Feast of the Pentecost nine years back that the ACIT in India was formed and how ACIT India has doubled in its members in the past 9 years.


In the morning session of the 9th, Ruth, Pearl and Veronica, ACIT Board Members presented a summary of the 3 years gone by and its evaluation, highlighting focus areas for the next 3 years. Representatives from the sub groups in Mumbai, Honavar and Pune too acquainted the Assembly with highlights of the past 3 years from their local realities. In the afternoon, Savitha Pais lead the Assembly into a session on the Laity, her session had excerpts from Pedro Poveda’s writings and a book of Father John A. Harton S.J.


The next morning Juliet Fernandes facilitated a session on the Family. In her session, she quoted aspects on the family from writings of Pedro Poveda and Arantxa Aguado. Post lunch, the group met again to delve into the lives of the Youth. Reeves Rodrigues animated this session with role-plays and discussions and used the Pope’s message for the World Youth Day 2007 as a reference. Jennifer Fernandes, the Assessora for India, made connections between the conclusions of each session and the Common Mission Project of the TA in India.

The Feast of the Pentecost was on the 11th and that morning, the assembly in a prayer atmosphere and under the guidance of Nenita and Jennifer, elected the new President and Board. Later that morning Joseph Vaz, outgoing Board member and treasurer presented the financial statement of ACIT India for his term. Savitha and Pearl, having compiled the conclusions of the different sessions, presented the plan of action post the assembly. In his concluding remarks Reeves reinstated that the assembly was a junction in our journey from where we would find new direction to our mission of transforming presences and emphasized the sense of urgency in this calling.

Prayers and Celebration of the Eucharist everyday were integral, reflective and enlightening aspects of each day’s itinerary.

The following were the conclusions of the Assembly:

Laity:
1. To bear witness as the followers of Christ and Teresians by example in the family, at the workplace, in the neighbourhood and parish


2. To make the Teresian Association visible through individual work and group work

3. To commit ourselves to formation in awareness of current issues of society and the church and be a transforming presence in these realities.


Family:
1. To develop a deeper, stronger, more meaningful relationship with God through study and prayer, individually and as part of the ACIT family

2. To strengthen commitment in the various relationships in our family (as spouse/ parents/ children/ siblings/ in laws/ grand parents…)
Family being- blood relations, friends, Association, neighbours, colleagues etc.

3.To grow in the quality/ value of loving unconditionally and sharing this love in all we do and say spreading/ infusing whosoever we meet in the family and its extensions


Youth:

1. To make ourselves available/ approachable to the youth so as to accompany them on their search for meaning and journey through life

2. To train and offer ourselves to the faith formation of the youth

3. Being role models as Teresians in the virtues of joy and hope


The outgoing Board is:
Reeves Rodrigues (President- 2 terms), Veronica Lopez (Secretary- 2 terms), Joseph Vaz (Treasurer), Moses Noronha (2 terms), Veera Veigas (2 terms), Ruth Sequeira and Pearl Roche

The new Board is:
Savitha Pais (President), Juliet Fernandes (Secretary), Pearl Roche(re elected) (Treasurer), Christabel Lobo, Rita D’Souza, Lily Noronha, Idalyn Vaz