The Teresian Association founded by St. Pedro Poveda in the cave shrine of our Lady at Covadonga, Spain, in 1911, celebrated its centennial year on 21st July 2011 with a thanksgiving Mass at St. Xavier’s Church. Bishop Thomas Dabre presided over the celebration and in his homily likened the TA to a cricketer- 100 and not out!
While speaking about Fr. Poveda who was a martyr, he said that to sacrifice one’s life for Jesus is itself God’s blessing and reward. In less than a hundred years, the association has its Founder canonized and one of its founder members beatified. The TA is a universal community that works in the field of education and culture and may lack familiarity here in Pune but is associated with the UNESCO. It is a community at the disposal of the church and as a lay association has given identity and recognition to laity.
Bishop also commented on the joyfulness of the members and their assistance with inter religious dialogue. Like St. Paul who wrote, ‘I know only Christ, I live for Christ and I am crucified for Christ to the world,’ the Teresian Association has been for Christ in Pune and in 30 countries across the world. The Association in the last hundred years, has tried, sought and succeeded in being ‘salt, light and a community built on high’ (its mission).
Fr. George D’Souza, our Vicar General, Fr. Bertie Rosario, the parish priest at St. Xavier’s and several priests concelebrated at the Mass. The celebration continued after Mass with a fellowship dinner at the Parish Hall.
Inspired by the centenary theme “from grateful memory to renewed commitment, the members hope that grateful memories will inspire us to give new life to our commitment to our evangelising mission, as lay persons committed in the church and the society to promotion of the human person, in keeping with the values of the kingdom through our presence in the field of education and culture, a call to be salt and light, in the style of the early Christian communities. For more information on the Teresian Association call 020 26356913 or email teresian@eth.net.
While speaking about Fr. Poveda who was a martyr, he said that to sacrifice one’s life for Jesus is itself God’s blessing and reward. In less than a hundred years, the association has its Founder canonized and one of its founder members beatified. The TA is a universal community that works in the field of education and culture and may lack familiarity here in Pune but is associated with the UNESCO. It is a community at the disposal of the church and as a lay association has given identity and recognition to laity.
Bishop also commented on the joyfulness of the members and their assistance with inter religious dialogue. Like St. Paul who wrote, ‘I know only Christ, I live for Christ and I am crucified for Christ to the world,’ the Teresian Association has been for Christ in Pune and in 30 countries across the world. The Association in the last hundred years, has tried, sought and succeeded in being ‘salt, light and a community built on high’ (its mission).
Fr. George D’Souza, our Vicar General, Fr. Bertie Rosario, the parish priest at St. Xavier’s and several priests concelebrated at the Mass. The celebration continued after Mass with a fellowship dinner at the Parish Hall.
Inspired by the centenary theme “from grateful memory to renewed commitment, the members hope that grateful memories will inspire us to give new life to our commitment to our evangelising mission, as lay persons committed in the church and the society to promotion of the human person, in keeping with the values of the kingdom through our presence in the field of education and culture, a call to be salt and light, in the style of the early Christian communities. For more information on the Teresian Association call 020 26356913 or email teresian@eth.net.
