PROVINCIAL TEAM MEET WITH THE PROVINCIAL COUNCIL
Kodambakkam, Chennai, 12.06.2016
“One who serves is not a slave to his own agenda, but ever ready to deal with the unexpected, ever available to his brothers and sisters and ever open to God’s constant surprises. One who serves is open to surprises, to God’s constant surprises,” Pope Francis said to the Deacons on 29th May 2016, Rome.
We, as members of the Provincial Team, entrusted with the task of rendering service to the Province in various capacities, towards coordination ‘in’ and ‘for’ the communion supporting the Provincial Council, gathered together for the initial meet at the beginning of the academic year 2016-17 at Mazzarello Convent, Kodambakkam, Chennai, on 12.06.2016, Sunday. Our dear Mother Provincial presided over the meeting. Along with the Provincial Council and the lay team members, we were 26 of us altogether. Being Sunday the meeting commenced at 9.30 a.m. with the prayer moment lead by Sr.Suganthi. The visual shown to us helped us to reflect on Jesus as one who accompanies us every day of our life, he makes his presence felt in those moments we need him the most. Sr. Josephine Rani Susai, the General coordinator, welcomed our beloved Mother Provincial appreciating her for her enabling presence and guiding support extended to all the team members throughout the past 5 years. Sr.Magdalene Rodriguez, the Provincial Councillor, and a Team member honoured our Mother Provincial with Ponnadai. Sr.Josephine Rani welcomed the Provincial concillors, the old and the new Team members and the lay team members and at the end motivated them with an anecdote from the life of a good teacher. In a survey done by the university students of the young people from the slum it was predicted that 90 percent of the boys would spend some time in jail. After twenty years it was found that only four of them had been sent to jail. 75 percent of them were influenced by a teacher who only loved them. If we love those in the periphery we can transform the life of the young and the women and become for them missionaries of hope and joy. Sr.Josephine Rani, then invited our Mother Provincial to enlighten the gathering with her introductory talk. Mother Provincial Sr.Soosai Magnificat, at the very start welcomed the new team members Mrs.Shoba, Sr.Silvia and Sr.Amaladoss. She appreciated the work done by the Team and then she presented in a systematic way the teachings of Pope Francis as in ‘Laudatosi’ through multimedia applications. It was beautiful, inspiring and it enabled us to launch into action so as to actualize change in thinking, policies, educational programme, life style and spirituality. She urged us to have ecological conversion, to live wisely, to think deeply and to love generously.
After the introductory talk we the team members share briefly about their sector, the general objective and action plan in reference to the revised Constitutions and Regulations-2015 pertaining to the specific sector, so that the new and all the members came to know about the functioning of different sector vibrant in our Province. We then went into smaller groups along with the councilor and dwelt deeply on the constitutions and regulations that speak of the specific sectors in the province, the nature and the functioning of the same. At 11.00 a.m. we had photo session and we gathered again for the group study. Sr.Josephine Rani offered to each group the extract of the article “To be Prophetic in a new way” written by Most.Rev.Thomas Menamparampil, sdb, DD. In the afternoon session we had the sharing of the group work followed by some reminders and suggestions by the General Coordinator for the better functioning of the Team ensuring documentation, reliability and continuity as it contributes to the vitality of the Province life and mission. Everyone felt the group study and the sharing was enriching and we were motivated to find new ways to deal with those young people who are at the existential margins away from sound values and safe human, ethical and spiritual environment. We unanimously accepted that it is better to invite people to intelligent reflection, draw them to responsible self- criticism, elicit a change of mind and help them towards reorientation of their strategies. Mother Provincial then gave us the concluding message exhorting us to work with unwavering zeal for the cause of the Kingdom with new possibilities and creativities. Together in exuberant voice sang the mercies of the Lord and departed to our destinations.
May the Lord who works in History enable us to be Prophets in a new way bringing hope and joy all around!
Sr.Josephine Rani Susai
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