The Catholic Church celebrates this year as the year of Consecrated life. The Liguori Province of the Redemptorist Congregation decided to honor and do something for the renewal of the Religious life and with this aim in mind they organized the Sanyastha Jeevitha Shibiram – a renewal programme for sisters from 13th to 24th April 2015, at St. Clement’s Study house, Vadavathoor.
Just like the name, the programme also was very attractive and effective. The first five days were spent in retreat, which made us to go deep into ourselves. Our retreat preacher Fr. Biju Kunnumpuram made us to realize that we are called to be the prophets. We have to go through the desert of sufferings and temptations which are inevitable for us to grow in spiritually and we must be the persons who have the heart of Christ. He inspired us to keep the Holy Eucharist in our eyes, Word of God on our tongue, and the Rosary in our hands always. The praise and worship conducted by Fr. Anoop Mundackal at the early hours of the day, were very touching to raise our hearts to the experience of God. The sharing of the experience of forgiveness by Bro. Rajan was really an inspiration to practice the forgiving love in our day today life. On 19th April, with a renewed spirit we began the seminar. The seminar too highlighted the prophetic role and the need to be rejoicing persons in our religious life. The themes for each day, namely: Faithfulness to the Master, Joyful Religious Life, Communion in Community, Go beyond the Frontiers, and Know your Identity – were well presented with powerful words and power points. Rev. Frs. Michael, Joseph V.J, Baby Cherian, Poly, Shiju, Jaison, Sr. Vimala SCJG and Dr. (Mrs.) Beena Sabu were the resource persons who took us to look through all the aspects of the Religious life. The workshops and the presentations were occasions to know each other and to get more views of the Religious life in the modern world. From the moment we entered till we got out of the house we felt at home there. In fact, we felt as if we were in the Early Christian community, because we were with one heart and mind in spite of the diversity of the Congregations.We could experience the fraternal as well as motherly love and care from the Fathers. We could see the demonstration of the classes in their life. We all were amazed at their love and unity in their community. This renewal programme helped us to Recall and Return to the moment when we received our vocation, Revive the lost zeal, Refresh ourselves and Relax our minds – on the whole to Renew our Consecrated life. As we go forward with the vision – “Wake up in Christ, Wake up the World,” may God bless each of us to be the sign of hope and joy in this world.
Sr. Maria Jwala, AC
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