Encounter with Bishop Thomas Dabre

The Bishop of Pune, Thomas Dabre learnt about the Centenary Year of the Teresian Association and he desired to meet with the members and acknowledge the work that we do and encourage our presence in the society. Accordingly a programme was planned on 23rd March 2011 with a Eucharistic celebration and fellowship.

All the ACIT and core members from Pune were present for this meeting with the Bishop. He greeted each member and appreciated all the work that we do in the different parishes. He also showed a great interest in our involvement with inter-religious dialogue.

We then had a fellowship meal and wound up, assuring the Bishop of our continued support in the diocese and he promised to invite all of us for the Inter-religious session planned by him during the Holy week in April 2011.

Juliet Fernandes

Bible Study Workshop

Alligned with our studies and commitments in preparation for the Plenary Assembly, the Teresian Association in Pune arranged a day long workshop on the gospel of Matthew. The session, on Sunday, 6th February at the parish hall of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, saw 17 participants learn and understand more about this gospel.

Fr. Henry P, a Jesuit from Kerala and a professor at Papal Seminary was the resource person for the day. So many various facets of reading and interpreting and being inspired by the Word of God were demonstrated through the day by him, both by illustrating and connecting the dots in the Gospel. But most importantly, the Gospel, was made relevant to our present day lives.

This was one really enriching experience!

2011- Centenary of the Association Celebrations

The Teresian Association family in Pune met to celebrate the start of the Centenary Year of the Association 2011 and ACIT India Day on 11th January at the TA house in Pune. With over 35 persons participating in this celebration, the evening began with the Holy Mass celebrated by Fr. Fernando Da Costa, a long time friend of the association in Pune. Fr. Fernando elaborated several aspects of the life of Fr. Poveda inspiring us to live our lives focused completely on God.

A powerpoint reflecting on the theme of grateful memory to renewed commitment followed highlighting ways in which this centennial year will be commemorated around the world and exhorting everyone with our focus for the year-For God nothing is impossible.

A fellowship meal brought everyone together in candor and laughter and ended the evening.

Meeting with Papal Nuncio

His Excellency Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, Papal Nuncio to India, visited the diocese of Poona at the start of December 2010 and we as members of the Teresian Association were invited to join him with the other religious for breakfast on the morning of Sunday 5th December.

The encounter was an enriching experience and Goretti and Savitha represented the Association.

Advent Recollection

We were all glad to spend the first Sunday of Advent in prayer at the Sanjeevan Ashram at Dhole Patil Road on November 28, 2010. Our extended Teresian family and friends were all there to spend time together thanking the Lord for having brought us together to share the deeper meaning of this season.

The day began with a prayer by Verenne where we contemplated the mystery of the incarnation, the anticipated birth of the child Jesus. This was followed by a powerpoint presentation by the Fr. Edison Fernandes s.d.b. Vice Rector at the Don Bosco Youth Centre. He highlighted how advances in technology were meant to save time and yet we only seem to have less of it. We don’t know how to spend time. Advent is a time where we should learn to submit ourselves to the flow of God’s time, learn the spirituality of waiting. He also likened Advent to the waiting of the birth of a child by the parents. There were innumerable lessons to be learnt at each stage of the child’s development within the mother’s womb until birth. Birth then begets a new form of waiting.

Advent is the coming anew of the one who is already with us. He comes to our mundane lives bringing His blessing. Let us welcome the Christ child with homes, arms and hearts wide open.

The session was followed by the sacraments of reconciliation and Holy Eucharist and a hearty fellowship lunch.

Now we await the birth of the child.

-Savitha Pais

YEM and TAYMI Camp- Diwali 2010

Youth from the TAYMI animated by Agosh and YEM animated by Joanna came to celebrate Diwali in a camp themed, Shine Jesus Shine. The ACIT from Pune collaborated with the organizers.

Savitha Pais led the youth into a session on the Talent You Have Received. She exposed the background of the gospel parable of the talents and instigated the youth to think of the talents they have and how they use them. Later she got them to creatively represent this through clay on earthen glasses.

Reeves Rodrigues on the first day of the camp, led the youth into team building games and did a debrief thereafter helpinf the youth to find values such as communication, responsibility, equal opportunity and participation etc.

On the second day, the youth were introduced to the Poveda Foundation run by him and then spent an afternoon in the slum community the foundation works with. This experience, for many, their first was an eye opener and helped the youth become aware and more sensitive to the social realities that surround them. Later that evening they presented their learnings and interacted with the kids from Poveda through songs and dance.

On the last day of the camp, Reeves led another session of outdoor games.

The youth are not merely our future, they are our present and they need the discerning guidance and companionship of genuine adults

The year 2010

The ACIT sub group in Pune began its academic year with the Voto in May at Sanjeevan Ashram. A meaningful Rosary followed by a participative and unique Litany followed.

The Feast of Father Poveda was celebrated on 28th July with much gusto and spirituality. The youth led the choir during the Mass at Sacred Heart's church, Yerwada. After the Mass, a presentation on the life of Fr. Poveda and the importance of laity as foreseen by him was interspersed with Goretti, Savitha and Juliet sharing their own experiences of being laity and their vocation in the association. The youth also sang us a song composed by them.

Victoria Diez was remembered on her feast on the 12th of August. Multiple groups met at the TA house and participated in prayer and a powerpoint on her. Videos on her life too inspired everyone gathered.

A commemoration of the feast of St. Teresa of Avila after whom the association is named was celebrated on 15th October. A powerpoint on the life of St. Teresa was followed by prayer based on reflections on St. Teresa by Josefa Segovia.

All celebrations this year are organized in conjunction with the youth, ACIT and Core and each celebration is an opportunity to invite more people to 'Come and see.'