NEWS LETTER of INDIA NORTH EAST PROVINCE Vision: to Keep Alive the Dream of Euphrasie Barbier
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NEWS LETTER OF INDIA NORTH EAST PROVINCE Vision: To keep alive the dream of Euphrasie Barbier. Province Leaders Embarking on the journey chalked out by the Congregation, the New PLT set sailed from the 1st of May, 2015, the beautiful month dedicated to Our Lady. Facilitating the golden Jubilarians Sisters Xavier Chirayil & Julian Eymard Dkhar the Silver Jubilarian Sister Victoria Kurbah on 16th May, 2015 became the first and maiden task. 1 The month of May has been also a month of universality results followed by full swing admissions. We congratulate the Sisters who had cleared their respective examinations. Mission Expansion Focussed by the mandate the Assembly held in February, on the 27th May the new PLT paid a visit to Diocese of Aizawl. Rt. Rev. Bishop Stephen Rotluanga CSC gave a warm reception and organised a high level meeting on the following day. We visited Serchhip and on the way back met Rev. Fr. Santiago, the Administrator of the Barak Valley, Assam. It is the wish of the Bishop that we open more than one mission, one in Mizoram and one in the Barak Valley, Assam. Though the Valley falls under the Diocese of Aizawl, the majority of population of this extensive area belong to other tribes. The catholic density is among the Khasis (Pnars). Most of the Pnars are cultivators. Deprived of education, most of them are illiterate. Only a handful gets the opportunity to attend Bengali medium schools. This is the target community of our proposed pastoral and educational ministry. INE Province move to set foot in other North-Eastern States has been rather very slow. Haflong is the closest RNDM community to Silchar. In spite of the decades’ request of late Bishop Denzil D’Souza. The RNDM absence is very conspicuous. His dream is being renewed by his successor, Bishop Stephen CSC. Enthused by the invitation and supported by the Province, the process to begin our work in Karimganj or Hailakandy District has been highlighted in our Mission Plan. The Members of the CLT have given us green signals to go ahead. Please continue to pray that God remove all the obstacles. The same had been discussed at the EGC held in Bengaluru August 30th - 18th September 2015. 2 . The two retreats organized by the Province in July and October crowned by the Joint PLT meeting had been soul uplifting. th Centenary Celebration held on the 25 September, 2015 3 The august century of the RNDM Sisters’ service in India 1915-2015 was celebrated with pomp on 25th September, 2015. Autumn September lends itself to the mood because most prominent festivals and scholastic hectic activities are well interspersed during other months. The actual date of the arrival of the pioneers to the Shillong hill station was 15th Nov ember 1915 will not be appropriate o n account of the schools’ annual promotion examinations. The coincidence of having the members of the CLT, Provincials, Bursars and delegates to the EGC in India just around the same time, (30th August -18th September) proved to be timely. Josephine, Ly Bich Quyen, Sisters from Kenya, Bangladesh and Vietnam boosted the merriment. The presence of the three provincials of India and the troupes from Bangalore and Haflong lit up face of the Congregation. 4 One eminent devotee of Euphrasie Barbier, Mr. Cornelius Passah spent virtually three months to supervise the work of installing her life-sized statue in front of the St. Mary’s Convent. In spite of the lashing torrential rain for about a fortnight, the sun with its array arrived on 24th evening and remained as the chief guest for the entire day on the 25th. As a result everything went off smoothly. The unveiling of the statue of Euphrasie Barbier preceded the solemn Eucharistic celebration. As the Most Reverend Dominic Jala SDB.DD had to attend the CBCI in Bangalore, Reverend Father John Madur, V.G. and Chancellor, Archdiocese of Shillong replaced him as the main celebrant. One hundred white and blue balloons were released to the azure sky. It was so remarkable that one balloon broke off and led the others to the sky. Many attributed to the symbolic leadership of Euphrasie Barbier. 5 During homily, Father Madur echoed the church’s appreciation of the legendary yeomen contribution of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Missions (Ladies in Blue). Out of 125 years of the coming of the Church to North East India, the RNDMs have the distinction of helping brick by brick to building the magnificent edifice. We salute our pioneers and missionaries from New Zealand, Australia, England, Ireland, France, and Canada. Our tribute also goes to the Sisters from Kerala Bangladesh and the indigenous Sisters of the soil who kept the flame alive for one hundred years. On the 25th September all roads led to Laitumkhrah, Shillong. In fact the arrival of guests started from the 20th September. 6 The grandeur of the afternoon programme was solemnized by the presence of Rt. Reverend Victor Lyngdoh, Bishop of Nongstoiñ Diocese as Chief Guest and Shri Peter S. Dkhar, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, East Khasi Hills as Guest of Honour. Students and staff, alumni and member of the OLMA admirably worked so cohesively that everyone seems to say, “It is good for us to be here.” Cheryl Rumnong and Lucetta Syiem were fantastic in announcement and witty accompaniment. We like to place on record the lion’s contribution the St. Mary’s Community and St. Mary’s Higher Secondary School staff. With the profuse blessings from on high, all sent back home with a basket of joy and contentment. 7 The EGC message was meticulously delivered by Sister Mildred Khongngaiñ. The day was kicked off by the erudite and inspiring deliberations on the Contribution of Women religious in the Church and in the world by Fr. (Dr) Johnson Joseph CMF. Fr. Johnson stressed on the missionary dimension of religious. He could not help but admire the perception of Euphrasie to name her Congregation “Sisters of Our Lady of the divine Missions”. We could not thank God enough for such a legacy. The long awaited Child Protection Policy is in place, through the committed and selfless service of the core group of the province who left no stone unturned each Sister receives a copy each. Sr. Justina graciously accepted to be the Child Protection Officer (CPO) of our Province. We thank you Sr. Justina for your big heartedness. We know we can count on you. Sister Philomena & Romeo Myrchiang met the teaching staff of our schools so that they can go through the Policy during the winter holidays. Orientation will be given to teachers and students in the coming academic year. The Province is chalking the dates so that everyone gets the in-depth informations of the Child Protection Policy. 8 Management Meetings The members of the PLT especially the Province Leader were kept on their toes to hold meetings updating Schools/Colleges/NGOs Managing and Governing Bodies. To mark the eventful visit of the Nuncio to Silchar on 6th November2015, a big gathering of the faithful of Barak Valley was organised. Silchar is the second biggest city in the North East India. For many decades, it was the head quarter of the erstwhile undivided diocese of Silchar. Sister Philomena Kharakor and Mildred Khongngaiñ went a day ahead to witness and be a part of celebration. Captivated by the synchronised cultural displays of the faithful, and impressed by the zeal of the missionaries, as an ambassador of the Holy Father, the Nuncio promised to move the cause of the new church ahead. Cancer Awareness Programme Being aware of the high percentage of the current sickness (Cancer) in the planet, an awareness Programme on Breast Self examination was held with the generous efforts and cooperation of Dr. Judita Syiemlieh; We arranged this Programme for two group of sisters and Postulant which were held at 3 pm to 5pm on 11th Nov.2015 at St. Joseph’s Convent, Jaiaw Laitdom and at 11 am to 1.00 pm on 13th November 2015 at St. Mary’s Convent, Laitumkhrah. Dr. Judita Syiemlieh also gave time for the sisters who wanted to go for personal consultation with her. We Thank Dr. Judita Syiemlieh for her availability and generosity. 9 On the 15th Nov 2015 being the real day of our Pioneer sisters’ arrival to our Beloved land we had a small gathering of the two neighbouring communities ( St. Joseph’s and St. Mary’s). It was a beautiful day of small celebration which began with Eucharistic celebration at 11 am followed by delicious lunch prepared by our sisters in St. Mary’s. 17th Nov was the day of Celebration for the province especially for St. Joseph’s community, since it was the feast day of Sr. Mildred, Provincial. We had special mass for sister and the sisters from other communities too, came to greet sister on that day. The next day on 18th Sr. Mildred along with Sr. Sonia left for Kolkata to see Sr. Mary Xavier who is gone for her check up and treatment in Kolkata. 10 Formees’ Day On 21st being RNDM Formees’ day, we began this day with the mass and prayer prepared by the sisters for the Novices, the postulants, Aspirants and TPs throughout the Congregation especially for the Aspirants, postulants and TPs who are in the Province. Our 24 Aspirants from Umsning came to join us in the celebration. We had midday prayer followed by family meal together with St. Joseph’s community in the Assembly court of the English School. The sisters conducted some games for the formees and the TP sisters.