Entering into the Vision of Ecumenism

In preparation for the Unity Octave, a short course for the Novices on Ecumenism was given by the Socius, Fr Sunil Fernandes on January 4 & 5. The course was incorporated into the regular class time-table of the Novitiate as an interactive seminar. The course shed light on the history of the Catholic Church, the giants of the Reformation and also tat he present steps taken towards unity as expressed in the recent documents and encyclicals from the Vatican. In the light of the knowledge gained, we tried to comprehend the tensions of the Reformation period and saw the silver lining around the dark clouds which a sign of new hope of dialogue, mutual understanding and unity among Christians.

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is above all and through all and in all” Ephesians 4:4-6

Inter-Novitiate Seminar on Discernment

Fine tuning the heart to the voice of the Lord: “How would a grateful child respond to the selfless love of his/her dear mother?” Giving this down to earth example, Fr Frederick D’Silva endeavoured to bring the broad topic of Discernment to the understanding of the 53 novices of six congregations gathered for the Inter-Novitiate Seminar. The five-day course (10-14 January) packed with in-depth reflection and rib tickling humour was held in Alverna Bhavan Novitiate. The sessions were interesting and it fully involved the participants. Fr Freddie with his long-standing experience in the field of Spiritual Direction shared some of his own experiences and often sent the hall roaring with laughter. Cases that made us put on our thinking caps were given for analysis. During the sharing of the collective opinion of the groups, not a single point was left unexplored by Fr Freddie, thus giving more insight into the aspects of discernment.

“God’s ways are the ways that He himself walked and that we must now walk with Him.” - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Seeing the Active Presence of God within Creation!

Fr Dion engaged the Novices in classes on Ecology on 5 January. The class was mainly focused to address the need of the hour i.e., to develop right relationship with the nature, very much in-line with the decrees of GC35. Through slide shows, many ways to develop eco-friendly culture was shown. As a practical application and integration of what was being learnt, the Novices spent their “Long Manual Work” in mulching the plants of their gardens "to appreciate more deeply our covenant with creation as central to right relationships with God and one another”

Mulching - It means placing beneath the soil, material, for example, decaying leaves, around a plant, to protect its base and its roots, to improve the quality of the soil or to stop weeds growing. Mulching conserves the moisture in the soil. Try it out in your gardens this Summer!

RETREATS (January - June 2011)

RETREATS - DHYANASHRAMA (Mount St Joseph)

03-11 Jan: New Life Beginning (Fr Tom Quadros)

13-21 Jan: In Him we Live & Move & Have our Being (Fr John Baptist)

23-31 Jan: Searching for God’s Will (Fr Tom Quadros)

02-10 Feb: God is my Light and my Life (Fr Simon Furtado)

13-21 Feb: Walking with the Lord (Fr Denis Coelho)

24-04 Mar: Savouring His Presence (Fr Tom Quadros)

06-14 Mar: Call to Conversion (Fr Joseph D’Mello)

16-24 Mar: Road to Calvary (Fr. Simon Furtado)

27-04 Apr: God of Mercy, God of Compassion (Fr Tom Quadros)

06-14 Apr: Listening to Suffering Lord (Fr Francis Serrao)

17-24 Apr: Body Broken, Blood Shed (Fr William Sequeira)

26-04 May: ‘Walk to Emmaus’ (Fr Denis Coelho)

06-14 May: Walking with the Risen Lord (Fr Anthony Joseph)

16-24 May: Relishing His Presence (Fr Simon Furtado)

08-16 June: Walking with the Lord (Fr Simon Furtado)

22-30 June: Call to Intimacy (Fr John Baptist)

For further details, contact:
The Director
Mount St Joseph (Dhyanashrama)
IIMB PO, Kalena Agrahara,
Bannerghatta Road
Bangalore - 560 076.
Tel: 080-26580441, 26585464
E-mail: dhyanashrama@gmail.com
Blog: www.msjnov.blogspot.com

Prerana: Programmes 2011-2012

Prerana (Ignatian Spirituality Centre)

Programmes 2011-2012

For further details, contact:
The Programme Coordinator
Mount St Joseph (Prerana)
IIMB PO, Kalena Agrahara,
Bannerghatta Road
Bangalore - 560 076.
Tel: 080-26485778, 25979499, 32402408
E-mail: preranaisc@gmail.com
Blog: www.msjnov.blogspot.com

Dhyanashrama : Programmes 2011-2012

Dhyanashrama (Ignatian Retreat Centre)
Programmes 2011-2012

For further details, contact:
The Director
Mount St Joseph (Dhyanashrama)
IIMB PO, Kalena Agrahara,
Bannerghatta Road
Bangalore - 560 076.
Tel: 080-26580441, 26585464
E-mail: dhyanashrama@gmail.com
Blog: www.msjnov.blogspot.com

Ring out the Old and Ring in the New (New Year 2011)

It seems that 2010 was just whisked away by time. Ring out the Old and Ring in the New (New Year 2011): The arrival of the New Year spiced up the joy of Christmas season and brightened our hopes for the new experiences to come. We welcomed the year by gathering together with the congregation for the midnight Mass in the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish. Frs Francis Noronha, Sunil Fernandes, Dion Vaz and Francis Menezes led the celebration. The jubilant mood in the community the next day was very infectious. The arrival of guests, the warm wishes from the brethren, the community gatherings and the pleasant aroma of cakes added a unique flavour to this day which increased our gratitude to God and the love He has poured on us.

The Jesuit community (Mount St Joseph) wishes you a very happy, prosperous and joy-filled New Year.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011

The Jesuit community of Mount St Joseph wishes you a very happy, prosperous and joy-filled New Year.