MISSION EXPERIMENT - 2018

THE REAL VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY CONSISTS NOT IN SEEING NEW LANDSCAPES BUT IN HAVING NEW EYES

The spiritual exercises is a solid foundation where a Jesuit becomes Christo-centric.  It is here that one looks deeply into the eyes of Christ and gets rooted and grounded in his love, to think, to act, and speak like Christ in the contemporary world.

Fr. PETER HANS kolvenbach says in his letter spiritual formation in Novitiate, the aim is not to do something extraordinary, but to make the novices gain firsthand knowledge of the life that awaits them as a JESUIT. After the spiritual exercises we were like saplings growing beside an ever flowing stream. Now, as a sapling deepens on its roots for growth, so we too are rooted our faith in God and build our trust on him.

‘HERE I AM SEND ME’ was the immediate response of the second year novices, as we showed our missionary zeal to serve  Christ’s people. We were spread out in the different villages of BIJAPUR, MUNGOD and MANVI-PANUR. In every struggle we underwent, each of us were able to say “BEHOLD THE HANDMAID OF THE LORD, LET IT DONE TO ME ACCORDING TO YOUR WILL”.

Mission experiment was a good opportunity for us to fulfill our desire and to taste our future mission.

INNER HEALING WORK SHOP

ONCE ONE BECOMES A FALSE SELF, ONE CEASES TO EXIST PSYCHOLOGYCALLY.

I believe that this is one of my greatest learning’s and more than that understanding till this very day of my life. This healing the inner child workshop  was  taken by Fr. Joy Puducherry which was interesting and enlightening. I was very much entreated to go through these classes. It was change of guidance for me I felt very much open and moreover an interesting one as it was with our neighboring novices. I have often heard many agonizing  experiences of my companion but it was a chance to have deep  impact on women and I was able to understand the troubles faced by women. I to had dealt with this topic  earlier, but this time i rediscovered  myself in more deeper and with a holistic content. At last we surrendered everything at the feet of the Lord by having a fruitful recollection and concluded our course 

Lenten Pilgrimage to the Tomb of Fr Rajendra Swami, SJ (1672-1719)

It was indeed an exciting and inspiring as we went on a pilgrimage to Fr. Rajendra Swami Shrine.  We as one Mount St. Joseph community went to the tomb turned shrine of Jesuit Fr. Rajendra Swami. It is located in a place called Chickkaarasenakere in Maddur.  As it was a pilgrimage we maintained silence and went in a recollection mood.  We were very delighted and inspired to hear from the parish priest Fr William Pinto of Mysore Diocese about the life history of Fr. Rajendra Swami, SJ and also many miracles taken place in his name.  We took part in the Mass at the shrine thanking God for Fr. Rajendra Swami and all his good deeds as a missionary.  Thus, nourished by the Body of Christ and also praying at his tomb, we returned from our pilgrimage.

INTER- NOVITIATE DAY 2018

We don’t forget anybody in this world, especially those who played vital role in our life.  Our parents, freedom fighters, actors, friends, near and dear ones. So as we keep in our memory their birthdays, other dates, likes and dislikes and so on.  In the same way as we are  in the novitiate  we do remember our days in the novitiate; our superiors  arrange every year – inter-novitiate day. Here all the Bannerghatta zone novitiates come to gather as one community to celebrate this day. This year it was on 2/3/18.  "Accompanying the youth in faith and discernment of vocations".  This was the theme for our day. There was a lot of input given by Fr. Tommai Rajan, SDB, the resource person. In the afternoon, there was fun filled games and to enrich our knowledge quiz was conducted on the Gospel of Matthew.  At the end of the programme, with lots of memories, we carried in hearts to praise.  

General’s Visit

It was an important event which took place in this year of 2017-18.  We were delighted to see Father General and to listen to his gracious words of wisdom.  We were privileged to break the bread with him at the Eucharistic table.  He was kind enough to spare his time to take a group cassock photo and a personal snap with Him.  Fr. Victor Assouad, one of the Assistants of General was glad to have a small campus darshan to admire the beauty of our campus guided by novices.  A great lunch was prepared by Fr. Minister.  A special diet for Fr. General was prepared by Sisters of Alverna Bhavan.  It was really a blissful and a memorable day.

Cassock Day 2018

Cassock which once a symbol of shame and persecution now a symbol of  surrender to our future. Cassock day is the one of the most important  days for us on which we realize our vocation as Jesuits  and the labour for which we are called by the Lord in his Vineyard.  We celebrated this day on 12th February 2018.  We had been spiritually preparing for this day form a long time especially through the month retreat.  Our desire to put on pure, stainless garments of Christ finally turned out into an euphoric reality on cassock day which was witnessed by a large congregation of priests, nuns, and our provincial who celebrated Mass and conferred the ministries shared a part in our ecstasy.

Each of us had unique experience  when we wore our cassock for the 1st time though we were sinners and felt unworthy  for such a great  privilege.  We realized that God has  called us to fulfil His plan in us and through constant encouragement of our Master and Socius, we were ready to put on Christ symbolically through our cassock.

Cassock day was a very successful one. Thanks to all who have toiled for it especially our superiors and  second year brothers.  This day was the beginning of our future lives as Jesuits and realization of our mission.