Advent is a new season and liturgically a new year. To mark this and help everyone prepare their to welcome Jesus in this Christmas season, the Teresian Association, Pune organized an advent recollection 29th November at Sanjeevan Ashram.
The recollection began with lighting of the advent candle followed by hymns and prayers led by Goretti and Agosh. The gathering was encouraged to spend moments of silence with the Lord to experience his presence. The group then contemplated on the question ‘Can my son come to your home? Will you open the door for me? This question left everyone deep in thought as we realized this is what the Lord asks us everyday. The response to this was written on a paper which was placed before the altar. This hour of prayer helped everyone experience the true meaning of advent.
Father Rosario Rocha, S.J. later, begun his talk with the phrase- “Living the word of God” which he developed into three main points:
How to ‘be alive to the word’ which would be possible only when one is aware of the word God speaks.
‘To have life in the word’, this can happen only when a person experiences Jesus because in John:6 Jesus speaks of himself as the ‘bread of life’ and
To ‘walk the earth with the word of God’ by being true disciples of Jesus.
He also spoke about our two concerns: being responsible towards our country and towards our society. Thus it was clear that during this season change is important and if our faith and attitude to the world around us is not right we need to renew it.
This was followed by the Mass during which Father asked everyone to share what advent meant to them.
After a sumptuous meal the adults and youth were separated into two groups. The adults had a discussion on ‘Jesus came to his own domain’ and also read the message of Advent and the Christmas Letter of Loretto, while the youth had to creatively present what they learnt during the day followed by a sharing of thoughts. The recollection then ended with a hot cup of tea and warm bonds of friendship.
Thus this recollection taught everyone that along with advent we need to bring something new in our lives. The best way to do this is to bring ‘Christ’ back to ‘Christmas’ and his word in our lives.
Lynn Nazareth
The recollection began with lighting of the advent candle followed by hymns and prayers led by Goretti and Agosh. The gathering was encouraged to spend moments of silence with the Lord to experience his presence. The group then contemplated on the question ‘Can my son come to your home? Will you open the door for me? This question left everyone deep in thought as we realized this is what the Lord asks us everyday. The response to this was written on a paper which was placed before the altar. This hour of prayer helped everyone experience the true meaning of advent.
Father Rosario Rocha, S.J. later, begun his talk with the phrase- “Living the word of God” which he developed into three main points:
How to ‘be alive to the word’ which would be possible only when one is aware of the word God speaks.
‘To have life in the word’, this can happen only when a person experiences Jesus because in John:6 Jesus speaks of himself as the ‘bread of life’ and
To ‘walk the earth with the word of God’ by being true disciples of Jesus.
He also spoke about our two concerns: being responsible towards our country and towards our society. Thus it was clear that during this season change is important and if our faith and attitude to the world around us is not right we need to renew it.
This was followed by the Mass during which Father asked everyone to share what advent meant to them.
After a sumptuous meal the adults and youth were separated into two groups. The adults had a discussion on ‘Jesus came to his own domain’ and also read the message of Advent and the Christmas Letter of Loretto, while the youth had to creatively present what they learnt during the day followed by a sharing of thoughts. The recollection then ended with a hot cup of tea and warm bonds of friendship.
Thus this recollection taught everyone that along with advent we need to bring something new in our lives. The best way to do this is to bring ‘Christ’ back to ‘Christmas’ and his word in our lives.
Lynn Nazareth
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