FORMATION SECTOR MEET @ INM
Province of St. Thomas the Apostle, INM FMA – CHENNAI, INDIA
23.02.2019
“Sunshine is welcome that brings a lot of brightness.” As we entered another new day of our lives, at Mazzarello convent, Provincial House, Kodambakkam, Chennai – INM Province gladly welcomed the day and the Formation Meet members with delight to make our lives a bright one.
The day was welcomed by all with an attitude of gratitude by the community of Our Lady’s Centre, Chetpet, Chennai. The guests were welcomed by placing the sandle paste and Kumkum and garlands. Plan of formation is explained through symbolic gestures like varieties of seeds, empty pots, types of soil and finally accompanied by sisters and the main celebrant Rev. Fr. Kanaga Maria Arockiam Sdb, Regional Councillor – SPCSA, Rev. Sr. Reboso Maria Nieves FMA, General Councillor for Formation, Rev. Sr. Fisichella Maria, Rev. Sr. Miranda Anelfreda – Formation Sector Team and Sr. Lazar Maria Nirmala Provincial INM by classical dance to celebrate the Holy Eucharist.
The theme for the day is Wedding Feast at Cana. The celebrant highlighted that Mother Mary was the First Formator of Jesus, She facilitated her Son Jesus to realize God’s plan in Jesus’ life. She accompanied Jesus in his vocational journey. Jesus was a late vocation.
The morning session began with an introduction that human being is a composite of five elements such as: Air, Water, Fire, Earth and Space. Prayer before session lead us to experience the presence of God in five elements of the cosmos. Rev. Sr. Reboso Maria Nieves and her team were given a warm and affectionate welcome by Rev. Sr. Kanickaraj Tamizharasi, Provincial Secretary and Sr. Samala Rayappan Elisa, Provincial Councillor. Rev. Sr. Lazar Maria Nirmala who after the welcome address dawned them with shawl and Rev. Sr. Fernando Mary Ann – Formator, Sri Lanka garlanded them to show our joy that their presence is much valued and welcomed by every member of the Province. We are immensely grateful to the Institute for providing us this opportunity to rethink about the formation of the Sisters initial and ongoing formation.
Introductory talk was delivered by Sr. Reboso Maria Nieves, emphasised that Mother Mary’s last word in the Gospel is: “Do whatever He tells you.”
- Each sister and as a group is asked to share about her joys and hardships that was experienced when we were in the initial formation
- Each group introduced themselves with their meaningful gestures of what is our gift and what is our expectations of these days of encounter.
All the sisters actively participated and asked for few clarifications too…
The book “Guideline lines for the formation period of Temporary vows” is handed over to each sister by Rev. Sr. Reboso Maria Nieves and in the afternoon, sisters assimilated the first chapter: “Challenges in today’s context that need to be faced in the formation process during the stage of temporary Profession” from the book Guidelines and as individuals presented the challenges that they face in the formation process.
And in the second chapter of the book was presented in the evening session The first day of the animation concluded with the good night during which Sr.Nieves communicated the good news about the new missionaries of our institute. All the sisters rejoiced seeing the two new missionaries to Sri Lanka in particular who are the precious gift to our province. The participants are convinced that today, more than ever, formation requires planning, identifying clear objectives and conditions for adequate accompaniment.