METANOIA - 2024

Lent is a time of inward journey where one finds God in the silence of one’s heart. With this same spirit, we commenced our Inter-Novitiate recollection day, Metanoia. 

Novices from different congregations gathered together under one roof, with one heart, and one intention: to learn to live their lives with that profound change or Metanoia, which allows us to live fully and die empty in the service of our Lord and God, Jesus Christ. 

There were 42 novices belonging to 6 different novitiates who actively participated during the entire day. We had two insightful sessions by Fr. John Pradeep, SJ, the Novice Director, who spoke on the theme of the day, ‘Live Fully; Die empty.’ 

Additionally, Sr. Navamani, SSpS, shared a testimony that was bone-chilling. The novices were divided into groups and in group they shared their reflections on the day's theme, enriching each other's faith. 

It was a good day to come together and share the active work of God's hand in our lives. The recollection day reached its climax with the thanksgiving Eucharist celebrated by Fr. Edward Rodrigues, which focused on the topic of emptying oneself fully in the service of God and His people in order to live fully.

 This was a day to remember because we learned a lot about giving ourselves fully for the service, reverence and praise of God.

Investiture (Cassock) Day - 2024

The seven high-spirited novices, with a pious glow on their faces, received the armor of God on March 6th. The theme "Abide in Love" unified the first-year brothers to bear witness to Christ's unfathomable love. The day unfolded in a symphony of revelation and eagerness, as the novices engaged in introspection alongside Fr. Provincial, marking a remarkable milestone in their journey. The Novitiate community rejoiced, embracing these newcomers into the sacred fold of lector and acolyte with open arms.

Fr. Dionysius Vas, the Provincial of Karnataka, celebrated the Eucharist. He echoed a call to spread the Gospel and embody the true essence of the Cassock. The harmonious choir lent celestial notes to the rite of conferring the ministries of Lector and Acolyte, elevating prayer to new heights. 

The novices, being on their knees, surrendered themselves in solitude to the hands of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the novitiate chapel, just as Ignatius did in Montserrat. Fr. John Pradeep, the Novice Director, blessed the Cassocks and helped us reflect on our vocation story. 

The second-year novices wished them well with a composed song in the refectory. The delectable food prepared by Fr. Minister and the kitchen team added a feather of ecstasy to the celebration.

Ashram experiment

"When an atom is broken, great energy is released; then what should happen when the creator of that atom is broken?" With this profound question echoing in our minds, we embarked on our three-day ashram experiment, eager to experience the power of that same creator. Upon our arrival at Vidhyanavanam Ashram, our timetable overflowed with various classes, prayers, and devotions, all designed to deepen our understanding and experience of the power of our creator, allowing us to profoundly feel His mercy, deliverance, and above all, His boundless love. 

Throughout our time there, we encountered many unique experiences during meditation, including gazing at the lotus pond and engaging in stone meditation, both of which provided insights into our inner beings. Confession sessions facilitated reconciliation with God, our neighbors, nature, and ourselves. The Eucharistic procession, combined with praise, worship, and deliverance prayers, infused us with the graces of the Holy Spirit and renewed our zeal for spiritual activities, particularly prayer. The serene beauty of the garden, with its smiling flowers and comforting canopy, provided a peaceful atmosphere conducive to hearing the voice of God in nature. 

The chapel, resembling a termite mound and drawing inspiration from rich Indian culture, helped us enter the cave of our hearts and experience the presence of the Lord dwelling within. By the end of our time in the ashram, we emerged transformed, no longer the same individuals. The creator of the atom, who allowed Himself to be broken for our sake, revealed to us His boundless power and love, transforming us into reformed warriors of Christ. We express our heartfelt gratitude to Fr. Johnson CMI and Fr. Seijo CMI for their guidance throughout our stay in the ashram, helping us to deepen our connection with our creator and experience true oneness with Him.

HORIZON 2K23

In October, the corridors of the novitiate resounded with the voices of novices singing, "Hurray! It's a joyful day as we embark on this Horizon today." Indeed, the novices were elated and brimming with joy to participate in the activities. The coordinators began selecting various activities and events for Horizon 2k23, themed "Youth – Hope-filled Resilience."

The inaugural ceremony was graced by our MSJ coworkers as special guests, with Fr. Clarence extending his best wishes to the novices. MSJ coworkers unveiled the Horizon flag, officially opening Horizon 2k23. The novitiate transformed into a hive of activity, with the novices buzzing with enthusiasm. A diverse array of activities awaited, including outdoor games such as bum salad, French cricket, Bakasura-style eating, volleyball with tied hands, marathon, treasure hunt, blind basketball, and more. These activities tested the novices' physical strength, while indoor games like spontaneous dancing, singing rhymes, composing Glorias, enacting parables, and engaging in intentionally bad singing challenged their intellectual prowess.

During the event, the jury witnessed a talented ensemble of musicians during the orchestra, a dynamic board of directors and actors performing skits, and a spirited group of dancers taking the stage. Shared prayers and the recitation of the Rosary fostered a sense of unity among the novices, encouraging them to pray for one another and cultivate altruism. Through these shared experiences, the novices forged bonds of companionship and emerged from Horizon with a wealth of diverse experiences.

Pilgrimage Experiment 2023

“Spirit is willing but the body is weak”

We reached Harihar on September 5, 2023.  As it was the feast day of Mother Teresa of Kolkata, Bishop Francis Serrao of Shimoga diocese was invited to preside over the Mass. During this occasion, the novices had the opportunity to visit the Missionaries of Charity Sisters'. They also conversed with the residents of that ashram which helped them realize the true purpose of their vocations. 

The aforementioned Bible slogan, “Spirit is willing but the body is weak,” became very familiar to all of us throughout the entire journey. Our 'Paada Yatra' commenced at 3 a.m. from Davangere railway station to the Minor Basilica at Harihar. The novices were full of energy throughout the journey, reciting the Rosary on the streets, which infused them with spiritual energy to continue their pilgrimage experiment.

 The novices stayed at Harihar for a few days, bearing witness to the faith of the people, interacting with them, assisting in the liturgy with their melodious voices in the choir, and spending time in intercession to our Mother for their future formation.

At the end of this pilgrimage experiment, the novices felt that the void within them had been filled by our Lady of Health, 'HARIHAR MATHE.’ We are indebted to our facilitators for this life-transforming opportunity in our life.  

Independence Day Celebrations at Mount St Joseph - 2023

Let our Country awake!

Novice Edmund shared the significance of the day with the message above during the flag-hoisting ceremony. He also emphasized how the current political leaders are bound by corruption. 

Mr. Srinivas, a co-worker of the MSJ community, served as the chief guest for the ceremony. A considerable number of religious individuals and faithful attendees joined the novices in singing the national anthem.

The commemoration commenced with the Eucharistic celebration, highlighting the solemnity of the Assumption of Mary, under the theme "Mary Bless Manipur!" 

This added a deeper meaning to the day, creating a prayerful atmosphere. Father Mohan Joseph, SJ, presided over the highest form of sacrifice. 

In the evening, Novice Jackson took the initiative to lead a creative rosary. The novices ascended the stairs in remembrance of Mother Mary's assumption. 

Throughout the day, all novices were immersed in an atmosphere of freedom, marked by responsibility, creativity, faithfulness, and prayerfulness. The sense of unity, or "we feeling," remained with us all day and never left us forlorn. We were filled with renewed vigor and zeal.

INTENSIVE ENGLISH COURSE - 2023

The Ignatian month is one among the vibrant months of the novitiate, packed with a plethora of activities. Amidst this whirlwind of engagements, we novices found ourselves fully engrossed in an intensive English course facilitated by the priests from our MSJ community - namely Fr Richard Sequeira, Fr Clarence D’Souza, Rector Fr Anthony Joseph, Fr Edward Rodrigues, and Socius Fr Nithin Machado. They imparted to us the art of mastering the English language, a mission, which was both intense and rewarding.

"Learn, unlearn, relearn" emerged as the resounding mantra of this transformative course. The novices stood in awe as they unearthed the age-old errors that had become ingrained in our linguistic endeavors. Gradually, consulting the dictionary became a daily ritual for us to march towards perfection.

This course, a wellspring of intellectual enrichment, had an impact which went beyond the boundaries of academics. It served as an awakening for us to prepare ourselves for the mission to come. This course has armed us also with tools to aid the young minds we encounter in our daily ministries.

FEAST OF ST IGNATIUS - 2023

The theme "Soldier, Sinner, Saint" resonated throughout the Ignatian month, setting the stage for a grand celebration. Bursting with enthusiasm, the novices made sure to celebrate the feast of St. Ignatius with boundless energy and vigour. As we approached the feast day, we novices deepened our Ignatian spirits through various activities during Fiesta-2023. It was a moment to sharpen our already existing abilities and talents and to explore areas unfamiliar to us.

Leading up to the festive culmination, Fr. Jimmy Dhabi addressed the entire community on the theme 'giving up'. He illuminated Ignatius's selfless sacrifice of worldly possessions, leaving us profoundly enlightened. 

We also prepared ourselves spiritually through meaningful novena prayers and confession. Moreover, we engaged intellectually in an invigorating community quiz. All these community activities offered a multifaceted tribute to the legacy of St. Ignatius.

The novitiate community also played a significant role in the Ignatius feast celebration at the Jesuit Parish, 'Immaculate Heart of Mary Church', Kalena Agrahara. As the curtains closed on the Ignatian month for this year, a grand gathering was arranged for the parish priests, religious priests and sisters, and well-wishers. The novices took center stage, delivering a performance that radiated excellence. The feast of St. Ignatius has left an indelible mark on the hearts and souls of all who partook in the jubilation, creating an impression that will forever resonate.