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NEWS UPDATE PUNE 2012 Enlarged General Council 2nd February - 2nd March 2012
Embracing Change with Francis and Mary of the Passion towards freedom of heart and hope for our world. February 3rd Welcome to Villa Teresa's School Cultural Display in honour of Sr. Sue Philips 'our' Superior General
The Parent Teachers Association of Vila Teresa organised this amazing display of Indian dance, one hour non stop from start to finish, 200 children teachers, parents, helpers, 5 bus loads, almost 4 hours journey from Bombay to Pune and we talk about marathons!!!!
Welcome, sparkling costume jewellery pinned on, then we receive the gift bag all recycled paper!
Programmes in three languges! Pothu, sandal ......
Now we sit back and enjoy this dance tour of India......
Then the Finale!
Such a beautiful sight, Entered into my life .......Oh I'm thankin', Blessed Mary of the Passion!! February 2nd Presentation in the Temple
We opened the EGC 2012 on the feast of 'Christ the Light of the World' and the day when Religious all over the world celebrate their Consecration to God. At the opening Mass the Rector of De Nobili reminded us that we are called to make a difference, to see 'outside the box', to respond to the call to be Christ for one another.
We gathered to process into the Conference Hall where once again Sue reminded us that we are not alone in our task and responsibility; 'we have thousands of sisters, like those portrayed in the figures of Anna and Simeon, watching, waiting and praying. So may we too, like Anna and Simeon, be graced with recognising the Presence of the Lord among us during this time.' February 1st Departure from Maria Assunta Convent
By 10a.m. the first batch were saying their last farewells and packing their things into the bus for the 30mn trip to the Papal Seminary
Just checking for missing persons; already our numbers are increasing Francoise Massey seen here with Jolanda has just arrived from France, 15 are expected by train from Bombay and another group flying in from Chennai for lunch at 1p.m.!
Papal seminary to the right Jesuit Residence and Post Graduate Centre take left. Welcome awaits you......
Just enough time to meet up with all the new arrivals before enjoying lunch! Meeting of New Provincials January 6th - 30th 2012 January 30th Death Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi
We began with 2 minutes silence to pray for peace on this day which India dedicates to Peace in memory of the great Mahatma. Closure of our New Provincials Meeting
Rose Grace introduces the programme for to-day, Rose with Maria Eugenia and Jolanda have planned, moderated and facilitated us through the past month. Time now to express our gratitude for all received. One way was through our evaluations colourfully posted around the hall.
The addresses seen on the board remind us that not only is this the last day but we also have to move to a new location.... more on that later!!
Morning break... tender coconut under the 'rain tree'
Sue's Closing Address.... 'Amidst the complexities of our changing world and Institute, this service is not simple, yet this is the moment in history that has been given to us, may we move forward together in trust and hope leading from the Spirit within'. Eucharistic Thanksgiving
The theme for the Mass was Moses' encounter with God in the burning bush. In the homily Father referred this to the encounter we have to seek to-day through 'burning issues' and the new calls in our sending. Towards the end of Mass Sue called each of the new Provincials by name sending us to our respective Provinces in God's name under the power of the Spirit..... . Va, va avec la force qui t'anime. C'est mon Esprit en toi, mon Esprit en toi
Sue with the new Provincials of Asia and Africa. As Sue called out the names we were aware of the amazing presence of fmm in the world inserted across the five continents and the enormous challenge for all of us to respond to this given moment in history...... January 29th Inculturation
'Even to the Indies' ..... Life of Roberto De Nobili SJ by Fr. Cyril Desbruslais SJ Many will remember Vincent Cronin's 'Pearl to India', the amazing story of the young Italian Jesuit who was missioned to India in 1604 and felt deeply the call to identify with the people, the richness of their culture, and the mysteries of Hinduism. He became the first European to learn Sanskrit and to study the Vedas and non-dualist Vedanta. In his play Fr.Cyril retells the story of De Nobili's struggle with his Superiors and other authorities as he pursued his passion for mission through a real dialogue. Cronin relates that : 'Just before he died he dictated this declaration, 'It is my wish that all I have written in Tamil, Telegu and Sanskrit should be in conformity with the mind of Our Holy Mother the Roman Catholic Church. I beg that she deign to correct anything erroneous or objectionable or likely to give offence, which may have escaped me.' With the help of one of his disciples he cut into the fibre the Tamil version of his Sanskrit name: Tattuva Bodhakar'.
The Jesuit seminarians brought it all to life in drama, in dance both on the traditional stage and in a very lively involvement of the audience which for a while was converted into the port at Cochin where De Nobili first set foot on Indian soil.
But it just had to be 'multi media', there is so much to tell.... so power points took us through some of the amazing details, the enormous sense of dedication, hard work and the deep relationships he made with the people, crossing incredible barriers in the Madurai mission, the heart of Tamil Nadu. Roberto De Nobili died in Mylapore Chennai on January 16th 1656. Vincent Cronin says, 'No monument, no inscription marked his grave, he would need none, for every Christian in India would be a living memorial to the Teacher of Reality'.
The cast, production team and everyone involved received warm appreciation. Just a word for Fr. Cyril Desbruslais seen on stage in the breeches having played Pier Francesco, D'Nobili's father! Apart from his teaching in the seminary Fr.Cyril regularly writes plays not only for seminarians but used in his apostolate with local youth groups. In addition we have to thank him for providing us with the possibility of having the Eucharistic Liturgy in French! D'Nobilis spirit and inspiration live on. January 26th India's Republic Day
'Into that heaven of freedom my Father let my country awake.....' R. Tagore This was the Entrance Hymn for our Eucharistic celebration for Republic Day. In many ways this celebration in India is more important that Independence Day... It was on this day that the Indian Constitution was approved and the Government of the world's largest Democracy firmly established.
After Mass we gathered outside for the flag hoisting and singing of the National Anthem. Pushpa Joseph, Provincial of Bangalore seen above explaining the significance of this special day.
Public holiday or not we had to get back to work and here Benedicta , Helena and Antoinette Provincials of Ghana, Liberia, Korea and Sri Lanka resp. assure us its not all hard grind!
Above from left Bibiana and Andrina General Councillors from Korea and Taiwan respectively illustrate the network of 'Offices' at the Centre which now require our immediate collaboration and attention!!
Indeed a lot of listening ...... Rosa, Benedicta and Helena, Provincials Taiwan, Ghana Liberia, Korea and much talking! Celestine General Councillor from Congo takes all the Oscars for best talker!!! To end the Republic Day celebrations we were invited to a South India Restaurant in the garden..... so just sit and enjoy watching the Masala Dosai being cooked before your very eyes and savour the chutney, sambar, .....
Ana Ines Provincial Argentina receives her Paper Dosai while Angeline and Rosa, Provincials Burma and Taiwan enjoy together.
January 23rd
Happy New Year To-day we celebrated the Chinese New Year. The Beautiful Altar Piece seen above was just one symbol uniting us to the Chinese people around the world gathering in their families to call in this New Year of the Dragon.... Kongsi, Kongsi, Kongsi !!!!
Above we see Mary Soh, Provincial of Singapore bringing in the Dragon and Rosa Provincial of Taiwan greeting Anna Maria Campos, General Councillor.
Above, Sue ,Superior General distributing the 'lucky money packets' to Celine Monteiro, Isabel Arbide Provincial Kenya Ethiopia and finally the group with Sue from left, Rosa Provincial Mozambique, Adriana, General Councillor, Rosa, Mary Soh, Bibiana Korean General Councillor, Maria from Vietnam, Helen Provincial of Korea January 21st Featuring Maria Assunta Convent
The FMM first came to Pune on 8th December 1955. With the help of the Jesuits they moved into a smallish property near the seminary and opened the novitiate. With the increasing number of novices a larger premises was required and in 1960 the present compound was bought. The 51 novices and 9 postulants moved into a large property with many outhouses that had once belonged to a maharaja but was in poor condition! The new novitiate and convent were built in the 1970's and the only part of the original property, one of the outhouses is attached to the new novitiate, seen in the pictures below.
Looking at this magnificent stone work from the original building we can step back and magine the beautiful palace. More recently the Jesuits built their Provincial house at the north end of the compound while the Holy Cross Sisters have their regional House at the south, close to the entrance from Sasoon Road whose old name has never been changed officially.
It is surely providential that the Jesuits, who helped us when we first came to Pune now share our compound.
The Regional House of the Sisters of the Cross January 20th Animation and Government
Merlyn D'Sa General Secretary Sue Philips Superior General Now moving through the next phase studying more carefully the technicalities of Animation and Government. Merlyn opened this phase with a study of Government in the Institute Pre and Post Vatican 11, leading us into an awareness of how animation is at the service of life and structures at the service of participation and communion. Sue took to-day to carefully illustrate the importance of relationships at every level. it is the relationships between the provincial and general level that create communion and encourage free exchange of information accountability etc.
The attention and applause demonstrate our unanimous appreciation On the Terrace Our Very Own 'Strictly Come Dancing'
Georgette, Laetitia and Barbara in background Georgette with Rosa & Elizabeth January 18th Time for Integration
Another beautiful morning, the long shadows inviting us to take time to integrate all that we have experienced during the first half of our programme. Looking back over our journey of accompaniment with Mary of the Passion and Fr. Raphael Delarbre OFM aware as Jolande Delleman reminded us 'this could bring us an openness to what we are living at present as women and as fmm called to a new responsibility'. Some Distractions....
Sr. Rose Fernando, seen here with Angeline, Provincial of Burma and Ana Ines (behind) Provincial of Argentina flew in late last night to complete the preparations for moderating the EGC.
Some of the children from the Nursery School, situated at the back of our compound came to tell the sisters they were celebrating a birthday party. Here in India the person who is celebrating the birthday provides sweets for the others! Evening Prayer on the Terrace
Time to bring the fruit of the day's reflection together in deep gratitude for one another, the support we experience in our journey to find ways 'to Lead from the Spirit Within' discovering freedom in encounters with the Spirit alive in each one of our sisters. We used colours to express the significance of this moment placing them in the kolam of our fmm symbol. January 17th 'At your service'
During the planning phase for this meeting the four out-going provincials of India offered to be in Pune from the time they handed over at the end of October last year offering their services, ensuring everything goes smoothly. Food is always an important component in the organisation of conferences.... here we see in charge of catering, Cecilia Joachim (right) and Florine Lobo (left) previously provincials of Chennai and Bangalore resp. with Lena D'Souza the Provincial of Chennai
The caterers finally having their lunch. Mr Aubrey Menzies a local caterer supplies some of the main dishes bringing them along in his small saloon car.
Every possible care is taken to ensure everyone is catered for..... Master Chef has nothing on this !! January 14th - 15th Harvest Festival Pongal
To-day in Tamil Nadu the farmers celebrate the Harvest Feast of Pongal in thanksgiving for all that they have received from the land, the fruit of their labours, God's gift to them. Early morning, having fasted the previous day they purify themselves then gather round the fire where a pot of milk is being heated, more and more wood is added to the fire until the milk boils over and the festival of rejoicing and celebration begins. So in union with the farmers of Tamil Nadu and the world, before dawn we gathered around our fire just outside the front door waiting for the milk to boil over a sign to begin our Entrance Hymn of rejoicing for our Eucharistic Thanksgiving 'Evolving the Leader Within You' For the next three days Fr. Eliyas M. OFM will lead us in a discovery of how we can touch the leader within us and develop more creative leadership in the future.
To begin with we had to find a more creative way of arranging ourselves in the Conference Hall!
Fr. Eliyas seen above facilitating our journey through a situational approach to the challenges of leadership. January 13th Day Off - Outing
Getting organised into groups to visit interesting historical sites in Pune
The Fort a peaceful reminder of India's great Heritage
This temple of Ganesh is situated in the heart of the 'Swan Park' outside vendors sell flowers, coconuts etc which are bought and taken to the temple as offerings.
Pushpa (2nd from right) explains the background, history etc as the traffic rushes by.
Following the beautiful celebrations of 135 years since our foundation in Ootacamund we needed to take time to get to know each other better, reflecting alone and together on our new role. Altogether 30 new Provincials gathered from different corners of the globe starting a new journey for the Institute in this new year.
The Novitiate House where we have our conference hall.
Celestine Lambo and Adriana (centre and right) General Councillors, talking to Rosa Shu ing Provncial of Taiwan.
A quiet garden in the heart of Pune yet away from the noise and rush of the city and courtesy of the beautiful weather offering ample space for personal and group reflections.
Friday December 9th
We Celebrated the life of Sr. Pamela Dowdell Sisters from all the London houses and from March joined Pamela's family and friends at the Requiem Mass in Canning Town.
Sr. Joe Langley and Pamela's younger brother David spoke of Pamela's amazing missionary journey. An Anglican convert educated by the Ursulines inspired by the life of our Sr. Maria Assunta whose statue can be seen far left. Pamela was 14 years older than her brother David and she taught him the Greek alphabet before he went to Primary School!! She was of course well qualified to become a missionary! joining the the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary in her mid twenties. She was missioned to South Africa where she was elected Provincial, then to Ghana to work for the Bishops Conference, Rome with the Union of Superior Generals and finally back in England, starting the 'Friends of FMM in Wimbledon, working with asylum seekers, accompanying people with Dementia, working in the Parish in March......All this activity made real with Pamela's deeply contemplative peace filled presence.
'Father I want those you have given me to be with me where I am and to see my glory'. John 17: 24. Monday October 31st Handing over to the new Provincial Superior
Rev. Fr. John Armitage celebrates the Eucharist Many sisters in the Province came to Canning Town to participate in the handing over ceremony. Sr. Joan Doyle having completed her mandate handed over the responsibility for the Province to the newly elected Provincial Sr. Marie Therese Chambers. There was enormous significance in this return to Canning Town the 'oldest' house in the Province. Inserted in London's East End since before the 2nd World War, survived the bombing, offering a continuous presence among the people till to-day. The old Convent has been demolished replaced by a purpose built Convent suitable for the more elderly sisters. The Chapel remains and has been gifted by the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary to the Diocese. It was surely significant that Fr. John Armitage celebrated the Eucharist, returning to his old home in Canning Town now Vicar General of the Diocese and forever a very close friend of the FMM's
Sr. Joan hands over to the new leadership team, Sr. Marie Therese (rear), Srs.Philomena Wright, Lillian Hunt, Helen Fennel
Province offers 'thanks to Joan
Joan and Marie Therese cut the beautiful cake made and decorated by our Wimbledon Community!
Over the past few months...... October 30th 2011
The tents are still up outside St. Pauls. To-day as the bells peeled out Sunday Worshipers walked through the 'Occupation' into the Cathedral. Outside you can find free tea and coffee, information about Occupy and some thought provoking discussions about alternatives to the accepted economic system.
August 15th 2011 Ceremony of First Vows Sr. Rosalie n'Deh made her first commitment as a professed Franciscan Missionary. The Mass was celebrated by Fr. Danny Convery OFM joined in concelebration by Frs. Christopher Colven, Eddy Duff and Maxime Dogbo who had all played an important part in Rosalie's journey from Cote D'Ivoire to London to the FMM novitiate in Brixton.
Sr. Rosalie and Sr. Joan Doyle (Provincial) signing the documents of Profession
Sr. Yanina (Novice Directress) Fr. Danny Convery OFM
Sr. Rosalie and friends
A truly joyous celebration lead by the Ivoirean Community in London Reopening of St. Andrew's Cathedral Glasgow April 10th 2011
St Andrews Cathedral in the heart of Glasgow on the banks of the Clyde where we fmm have been missioning for well over 60 years
When Archbishop Mario Conti took charge of the Glasgow Archdiocese he expressed his desire to give Glasgow a Cathedral worthy of the city and a tribute to the centuries of fidelity shown by her people. So lets have a quick look inside and see the amazing changes; from a dark uninspiring interior to light, colour, history alive transforming Glasgow Catholic Cathedral into a source of new life for the 21st century.
The Main Altar designed by Archbishop Conti 'on the back of an envelope, to save money!'
Peter Howson's depiction of St. John Ogilvie martyred at Glasgow Cross calls us to silent contemplation of Christ in the Eucharist.
You must come and see for yourselves !!! Communications Team Meeting March 1st - 3rd.
Sr. Kay Brennan (front right) facilitated the meeting of representatives from the various regions of the Province. One of the main topics was 'The Social Network', using the film as a basis for our discussion on how we should rethink communications in the light of the constantly advancing technology and the significance of Facebook, Twitter etc. The Vatican has joined in enthusiastically.... Pope Benedict sees possibilities for electronic evangelisation and a Facebook page will be dedicated to the beatification of John Paul 11 on May 1st. February 9th - 14th 2011 Provincial Council Meeting As the end of the Financial year Approaches time to finalise the 2010 accounts and review the auditors reports. Once again we are indebted to our own Financial Team and our auditors.
Sr. Mary and Amanda There are continuing changes in the schedules and programmes of the Fuiancial Study Centre in Canterbury. Fr. Phillippe Yates OFM and Sr. Kathleen Kopps spent a morning with us sharing their programmes, hopes and visions for the future.
Fr. Philippe Yates and Sr. Joan Doyle
Srs Kathleen Kopps and Helen Fennel |
