Year End Thanksgiving

To thank and praise God for the beautiful and abundant blessings and graces He has filled our lives with in the year 2008, the members of the Association in Pune, met on Saturday the 27th in the evening for the year end Thanksgiving. A meaningful prayer interspersed with Christmas Carols, readings of Psalm 118 and Ephesians 1: 3-8, moments of reflection and a litany of praise and thanksgiving led all present into a beautiful expression of gratitude to our God, before the Blessed Sacrament. After the prayer, the group met over Christmas sweets and dinner and celebrated the festive spirit.

Advent Recollection

Members of the Teresian Association in Pune gathered together for the Advent Recollection on 30th November at Sanjeevan Ashram. The day began with prayer, prepared by Veronica and conducted by Savitha. The season of Advent is a good way to come to ourselves and analyse how prepared we are for the second coming. There's a time to get ready by focusing on your own sinfulness and evil, a time for personal transformation and following Christ. There's a time to get ready by rejoicing that our God is not far away and unfamiliar with the struggles of human life, that Christ is here right now among His followers, that God has already begun to bring in the Kingdom, and that Christ will come again to make it clear who really runs the place. That's Advent. "Lo, I am with you, even unto the end of the age", says Jesus. Post a tea break, Fr. Steven (SJ) led the participants into a deeper understanding of incarnational spirituality. In the creed we pray, 'born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried'. Where is the life of Christ reflected? We must admire Jesus not only for the way he died, but for the way he lived. The incarnation is so beautiful because, God empties himself for us. Our own spirituality is often so self centred, that even at the last supper, when Jesus declares that he will be betrayed, the response is, 'Is it me Lord' and not 'What have you done Lord to deserve this?' or 'We will protect you Lord.' Emmanuel means God is with us, not for us but with us, here on earth. He doesnt say come up to the heavens, but he comes down. Seeing Jesus in the human form we can love God now and not merely respect him. Is Christmas then a happy ocassion or a sad one? God came to his own and his own welcomed him not. Let us pray for a Jesus who disturbs us, challenges us and channelizes us.

The members then spent time in silence and reflection and were encouraged to take the sacrament of reconciliation after which we had a meaningful Eucharistic Celebration.

After lunch, the members participated in a sharing around Loreto's letter for Advent and then a discussion on how we can be instruments of hope and joy in the lives of our youth.

2nd International Seminar for Inter-religious Dialogue

I have known the learning process is life long and this seminar was just one stop on the road for me. I never for a moment thought there was so much to unlearn, such a lot to absorb, assimilate. I admit it’s been quite a while since I oiled the wheels of my mind and got them turning. They were in the process of falling apart and this seminar was exactly what they needed, and what I needed too.

I have known for a long time that God lives in India (make that plural); however would you expect it run otherwise. India runs on faith, multi-faith. And it was the venue for the 2nd International Seminar for Inter-religious Dialogue, the Praxis of Inter-religious Education. Ishvani Kendra hosted delegates from Taiwan, Japan, Spain, Israel, Philippines and other countries as well as India from October 28 (Diwali – the festival of lights was truly to bring enlightenment to all of us gathered there) to November 1.

The seminar had talks by distinguished speakers of 4 major world religions, Hinduism, Islam, Christianity and Buddhism and the role each religion played in the field of education. These talks were followed by intensive group discussions. The evenings were reserved for cultural programmes and visits to the Muslim Girls’ Orphanage, the Ramakrishna Math and Chokhidani.

Being there with people of different faith and different cultures, sharing and exchanging views, was an enriching experience. It opened my mind to so many new ideas, perspectives to see the world on a broader lateral plain. To learn from their personal experiences, some of which were deeply spiritual, emotional, of ordinary people with extraordinary abilities was humbling and uplifting.

I learnt of the connections and interdependence between everything in this world and beyond, the universe, man and God. Every little thing I do affects everyone. No religion teaches hate or propagates violence. Politics and religion is an explosive combination, a deadly cocktail. Doubts about the difference between Hinduism and Hindutva, the role of women in Islamic society and misinterpretation of the Koran, the role of educators in the broadening and developing of an open, liberal, tolerant society…were cleared.

Ultimately what is imprinted in my mind is the experience of holding grains of wheat in the palm of one hand and a slice of bread in the other.
Wheat - from many to one whole (grains to flour), a single grain gives rise to many others, it has to die (to be made into flour or to grow into a new plant), it loses its individuality for the greater good. Bread, a universal symbol - created from many many processes that are interconnected, interrelated. It is life and gives life, it is cosmotheantric (it requires the collaboration and co-operation of the earth, man and the divine), it is self-emptying, other-centred (at every stage in the making of bread, something dies to become something new), it cannot be made only by a single grain.

So must I be. And so must you.

So, where do I go from here? I will try to go into the world with a new vision, a new attitude, openness to receive and to give, to share and to learn, to absorb, assimilate and to live life in friendship and understanding, for I have but one life to live on this one earth which is our home.

Savitha Pais

Victoria Diez’ Death Anniversary Celebration

Teresian Association, Pune sub group, got together on August 12, Tuesday at Devika Apartments for a short celebration for the gift of life and the person of Victoria.

The celebration started at 7 with a short meaningful prayer. A PowerPoint presentation on her life gave the members a deep insight into the life of a dynamic young woman totally dedicated to God, prayer and study and her deep involvement in the Work of the association.

Portions of her letters were passed around and everyone picked out one and read it. Most of the members felt her presence in the little note that they received and were inspired by it.

The celebration wound up with the singing of her song followed by light refreshment.

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