Editorial a Call to Be Risen People, Towards a New Life
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Editorial A Call to be Risen People, Towards a New Life “The message of Easter is that God's new world has been unveiled in Jesus Christ and that you're now invited to belong to it” – N.T. Wright. Yes, the new life in Christ signifies living in hope. The saying of Martin Luther further illustrates it; “Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone but in every leaf of springtime.” All those who met the Risen Lord were filled with new hope, courage and strength. They were renewed and transformed creating a great impact in the society by their very life. The articles on ‘Easter Special’ describe the invitation to live life courageously by permitting the will of God to realize in ones life. The proclamation of God’s kingdom takes place by the way we live and share our life with one another. The province was privileged to celebrate the mega events – the induction of the new provincial leadership team (PLT) and the journey of golden miles of Aulia and Rajkot mission. We are truly grateful to the outgoing PLT for their committed and dedicated service in the growth and development of the province. At the same time we warmly welcome the new PLT and wish God’s blessings on their new task. The twin jubilee of our mission stations marked the golden journey taken by our sisters and opened the pages of the history. The articles on ministry visibly display the outcome of our sisters’ selfless service in the mission stations. They further speak about the importance given in uplifting the women and downtrodden both in the city as well as interior villages. We acknowledge the devoted service rendered by our sisters in accomplishing the God given task. God bless you dear sisters. May the festivity of the ‘Easter’ help us to trust that there is life beyond hope! Let every heart experience the new life in Christ who conquered death. Wishing you a Blessed and Joyful ‘Easter’!!! Sr. Ganga Rawat SSpS RAYS 1 Our Provincial Speaks... I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die (John 11:25- 26). The message of Easter is all about New Life in Christ. As St. Paul writes in his Letter to the Romans (6:4), We have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. New life in Christ calls for a radical change in our way of life, and it implies a new beginning. This is exactly what happened to the disciples who met Jesus after his Resurrection. The disciples who ran away when Jesus was arrested as well as Peter who was so frightened and denied Jesus three times, were filled with the power of the Holy Spirit after their encounter with the Risen Lord. The disciples were totally transformed and empowered by the power of the Risen Lord and they began to announce the Good News with courage and hope. Therefore, the new life in Christ also signifies living in hope and joy. All those who encountered the Risen Lord were filled with a new hope and dynamism to meet the challenges of their new mission of evangelization. The Easter celebrates this new life in Christ which makes Gods immense love visible in the world. May the Risen Lord bless us and give us this new life in fullness! May we personally encounter Jesus and experience his accompanying presence in our lifes journey. Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful and renew a right spirit within us so that we can become again a new people consecrated to God. I Wish you all a meaningful and joyful Easter celebration!!! The budding trees, the new flowers, And birds that sweetly sing, Whisper to me that its Easter. Sr Geeta Joseph SSpS Provincial Leader - INC 2 RAYS Province Events In Trust and Gratitude!!! The 16th March, 2013 was marked with a new chapter in the history of the province India Central as Sr. Geeta Joseph the newly elected provincial leader and the team for the term of 2013 to 2016; walked towards the altar seeking Gods blessings for their new mission. The induction ceremony began with the invoking of the Holy Spirit by singing the solemn Veni- Creator. The meaningful prayer service was led by Sr. Elsie K. Varghese the provincial, Sr. Lissy Jose the community the entrusting of the province to the new leader, Sr. Jessy Mary Paul with the leadership team. It was a moving moment assistance of Srs. Sukanthi Tirkey and for all when the outgoing provincial Shobha Ekka. The whole service was leadership team walked towards the focused on the theme In Trust and sanctuary carrying the lighted lamps in the Gratitude..- for all that has been thanks and half opened coconut representing the for all that will be yes. Sr. Elsie K. Varghese, fullness of life and handed it over to the in her introduction, welcomed the new new PLT who came to the sanctuary provincial leadership team, Srs. Geeta walking over the Sal leaves (Adapted from Joseph and her councillors, Srs. Deepa one of the north Indian cultures used as a Thomas, Grace Abraham, Manju Lakra gesture of welcome). The new PLT then and Gracy Ruban. She briefed her placed the lamps on the altar in a gesture experience of leading the province for the of surrendering their lives to be led and past six years and thanked the directed by the Spirit of God. congregational leadership team, her team The induction ceremony reached its members, sisters and co-partners of the culmination with a solemn Holy Eucharist mission in realizing the vision of the presided over by Fr. Nicholas Martis SVD province. the provincial, India Central. In his homily The reading of the appointment letter of he threw light on leadership, emphasising new PLT and handing over the the aspect of Gods intervention in choosing Constitutions to Sr. Geeta by Sr. Elsie and persons and sustaining them with the Bible by Sr. Rajni symbolically expressed needed strength. Followed by the Eucharist, RAYS 3 Province Events Sr. Geeta and her team were solemnly The presence of the community leaders taken to the provincials office and and the communities in Indore added joy felicitated. With the accompaniment of and solemnity to the occasion. We thank Sailo dance the new PLT was merrily taken the outgoing PLT and warmly welcome the to the dining room for the further new PLT to lead us. celebration. Sr. Jessy Mary Paul SSpS, Indore Big Thanks and Warm Welcome... The essence of all beautiful flame within us. - Albert art, all great art, is gratitude Schweitzer. The - Friedrich Nietzsche. Life responsibility of leading the that stems from gratitude province and to keep the blossoms wonderfully and original fire burning isnt an obviously, you are the artist easy task. The outgoing of your life. When we PLT has played a great role warmly and joyfully in keeping the spark of welcome the new mission burning by their provincial leadership team loving support to each for the years 2013 2016 member and community of we cannot overlook the the province in hard work and selfless service rendered by accomplishing Gods will. They have the outgoing PLT. Their dedication and discerned and have taken right decisions commitment in designing the life of the for the good of the province and its mission. province is definitely praise worthy. We are grateful to Sr. Elsie K. Varghese the Indeed we the members of the province are provincial leader for the past six years of indebted to you dear sisters for your her dynamic and devoted leadership (and valuable and unreserved animation of the six years as provincial councillor) together province in its welfare. You have made with her team members Srs. Geeta Joseph deliberate steps in realizing its vision with (three years), Rajni Ekka (three plus six enthusiasm and vigour. God bless you and years), Anjali John (six years) and Jaisa may you continue to experience the Antony (three years). unfathomable love of God directing and guiding your life in materializing the At times our own light goes out and is kingdom of God. rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep Rays in particular take this opportunity to gratitude of those who have lighted the thank you Sr. Elsie K. Varghese for your 4 RAYS Province Events constant support and encouragement in all new leadership team, Sr. Geeta Joseph the of her publications. It was your initiative and provincial leader and her team members, genuine effort that further strengthened her Srs. Deepa Thomas, Grace Abraham, life in multicolour. A big thanks to you dear Manju Lakra and Gracy Ruban. Sr. Elsie. She also cordially welcome the Sr. Ganga Rawat SSpS, Indore The Golden Moments!!! In the Life of Nirmala Convent School, Rajkot Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It beautifully as tomorrows mature citizens. turns what we have into enough and In prior preparations to the jubilee the more... - Melody Beattie. The 18th school conducted number of competitions December, 2012 was a golden-day of such as quiz on general knowledge, gratitude celebrated by the NCS (Nirmala elocution, book worm, story writing and Convent School) family, Rajkot. And I take essay writing for the students and teachers this as my great privilege to share and the winners of 1st and 2nd prizes were concerning the commemoration of these awarded.