SMI: Titular Feast, 77th Foundation Day, Perpetual Vows and First Profession of Vows
The solemnity of the Immaculate Conception (9 December), and the 77th Foundation Day (12 December) of our Congregation were memorable along with the grace-filled celebrations, namely, the Final Profession of Vows of our 17 Junior Sisters, the First Profession of Vows of 20 Novices, initiation of 27 postulants to their Novitiate, and 28 candidates to their Postulancy. These were joyful and Spirit-filled days in their Motherhouse, provincial houses in India and Africa, as the ceremonies were very solemn and inspiring for everyone. With sentiments of profound love and heartfelt gratitude, they remembered their Father Founder. His unwavering prayers, selfless sacrifices, silent sufferings, enduring hardships, and boundless self-donation have been the foundation upon which our SMI family has flourished.
85th Anniversary of the Episcopal Ordination of Bishop Louis LaRavoire Morrow sdb and the 6th Catechetical Day of the Catechist Sisters of Mary Immaculate
On 29 October 1939 Morrow was ordained as Bishop of Krishnagar with a mandate: Be a Father to All ! On the 85th anniversary of this significant event in his life, the day dawned with joyful praise to the Most Blessed Trinity rising from grateful hearts for the marvellous gift of Bishop Morrow - a magnanimous person, a Model Catechist, a revered Pastor who spent all that he had and himself for love of God and in loving service to everyone. He, being a man who lived for catechesis, founded the congregation of the Catechist Sisters of Mary Immaculate Help of Christians for Evangelization and Catechesis. This day is set apart to be celebrated as the Catechetical day of the congregation as a means to recapture the mind, vision and mission of their revered Founder and to revitalize their own unique charism.
On the same day was the 16th Catechetical day of SMI Novices and Graduation Ceremony of 17 second year novices, in Krishnagar
The theme of the day was “Mission of the church in the SMI Perspective”. Beginning with the Morning Prayer and meditation, the day’s programme was centered on this theme. The catechetical day was inaugurated by Sr. Jane, Superior General.
Sr Jancy Francis general councillor for prime apostolate, gave an enriching input session: the two pillars of the Mission - Evangelization and Catechesis.
The novices displayed the various aspects of faith in a very attractive catechetical exhibition and biblical and liturgical charts in a Newspaper style.
Sr Angela Sarkar shared her mission experience. The second-year novices displayed various catechetical skills, such as street play, puppet show, action song, chalk talk, and cartoon play based on religious values.
Then, Sr Jane handed over the Catechetical Diplomas to our second-year novices.
Celebration of the Little Flower League, Cathedral Parish, Krishnagar
The Little Flower League (LFL) is based on the Little Way of Spiritual Childhood of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, commonly known as the Little Flower. She is the Patron of the Missions together with Saint Francis Xavier.
To become Christlike, the members follow the Little Way of Spiritual Childhood. It is a state of awareness of God’s fatherhood and a consequent filial dependence on him. It ‘consists in feeling and acting under the discipline of virtue as a child feels and acts by nature.’ Therefore, Spiritual Childhood is an attitude of spirit, the basis of relationship with God. It is deeply rooted in the true meaning and purpose of Christianity as intended by Christ.
During the month of October, every year, the LFL group organize an important programme to enthuse their spirit and to motivate them to achieve the aim of the League. On 19 October 2024, in Krishnagar, West Bengal, India, where the congregation was founded, 138 participants gathered to celebrate the LFL Day with our sisters, catechism teachers of the Holy Redeemer Cathedral parish.
The day began with the registration of the children. St. Therese was honoured and the statue was taken in procession singing a hymn to the saint and garlanding her statue. The Eucharistic celebration in honour of St Therese, was presided over by Rev. Fr Rakesh Biswas, parish priest. Before the Mass the participants had the opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Sr Jancy Francis, general councillor for the prime apostolate, addressed the gathering drawing the children to grow in virtue imitating St Therse by doing little hidden acts of love. The children had quiz competition, enactment of the Bible stories and other games.
Diamond and Golden Jubilee Celebration at SMI Generalate
Sisters Audry Maliakal, Bernice Ponkathil, Cella Ollukaran, Gemma Marutholil, Jennie Valiamangalam, Linette Kalayathinal, Lorraine Varakukalail, Lourdes Chellamkott and Rosette Kalathingal are celebrating the Diamond and Sisters Dora Fernades, Lily Pushpam Pillai, Lily Fernandes, Therese Joseph, Carol Kuttiyanickal, Marceline Nedumpara, Matrona Kerketta and Noelle Pothanamala are celebrating the Golden Jubilee of their First Profession of Vows during this year.
To celebrate together the joy of God’s unfailing love and their joyful perseverance as SMI, they were invited to the Motherhouse. Thirteen of the jubilarians made a retreat animated by Rev. Sr Jesline MSMI which was a delightful spiritual experience prior to the celebration.
Thursday, 10 October 2024, the day of jubilation began with the chiming of the jubilee bells in leading the jubilarians to the altar of our Lord Jesus Christ solemnly exposed in the Most Blessed Sacrament. The large chapel echoed the hymns of praise and gratitude for the eternal faithfulness of Abba Father in the vocation journey of the jubilarians. The community of Sisters and Novices raised their voices to thank God for his constant presence and guidance and for the loving response of the jubilarians to the love and fidelity of God.
At 11 am Solemn Holy Eucharist was celebrated by Rev. Fr T J Abraham. After the Mass the Sisters were felicitated in their Motherhouse dining room and all shared the festive meal. The gathering in their Novitiate dining hall in the evening, acknowledged the contribution of the jubilarians for the past 50 and 60 years of their zealous and faithful service in the vineyard of the Lord. The jubilarians in brief shared some of their lived experiences as committed religious and passionate missionaries. The younger members were not only inspired but stirred to respond wholeheartedly to their vocation as SMI and to be vibrant Sister Apostles.
News Archives:
November 2010 | December 2010 | January 2011 | March 2011 | April 2011 | May 2011 | September 2011 | November 2011 |
January 2012 | April 2012 | June 2012 |September2012 |December2012 | October2013 | December 2013 | April2014 | June 2014 | October 2014 |December 2014 |May 2015|June 2015 |November 2015|December2015 |May2016| September 2016 ||December 2016 |February 2017 |March 2017 |May 2017|| ||