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New Delhi
Provincial Chapter - New Delhi Province Third Day
News written by: Fr. Joy Jacob
New Delhi, 10th February 2010, `Retrospect - Introspect - Prospect` - This was the leit motif for the Provincial Chapter 2010 suggested by Fr. Shilanand Kerketta, the Moderator. The first day of the Chapter saw the province retrospect on its life and mission as the Provincial presented the report on the state of the Province. Wednesday, 10th February, the third day of the Chapter was devoted more to introspect with a view to prospect, especially on two themes - `The Need for Vocation Ministry` and `New Frontiers`. The day began on a very joyful note for the Chapter members as Fr. Shilanand Kerketta, the Vice-Provincial and Moderator celebrated his birthday. During the morning prayers, the chapter members prayed for God`s blessings on the birthday celebrant.
It was very fitting that the discussion on the vocation ministry in the morning session coincided with the celebration of the New Priests` Day in the province. The members felt that the vocation ministry in the province need to focus on `witness` as the first vocation invitation. There is a need for positively inviting young people to follow our way of life. Our communities should become welcoming places for `Come and See` experiences for young men desirous of such a vocation. The Chapter members also felt that the elements of `nurturing` and `accompanying` need to be taken care of, if vocations are to grow and flourish. The need for giving more visibility to the vocation of the Salesian Brother was stressed by the members.
One of the themes stressed by the GC 26 was `New Frontiers`. In the province, this is still an area that has not been understood very clearly. The main point that came through the discussion was the need for paradigm shift in our outlook regarding the method, approach and target group in our mission.
As part of the discussion on New Frontiers, Fr. Jose Aikarachalil presented a history and report on the MoRD project that is being implemented in the province as part of DBTech India. This is to be later replicated in all the other provinces as well. The discussion that followed gave opportunities for the Chapter members to understand and clarify the issues concerning the same. They appreciated the efforts of Fr. AM Jose and DBTech in planning and implementing this project.
In the evening, the province gathered around the three new priests of the province - Frs. Sujit Augustine, Godentius Kandulna and Birender Tirkey - for a well-prepared Eucharistic celebration at DBTI chapel, presided over by Fr. Godentius Kandulna. Fr. Birender Tirkey preached a homily on the theme of gratitude, based on the incident of the Ten Lepers from the Gospels. The Eucharist was a beautiful moment for the province to thank the Lord for the gift of three new priests this year. After the Mass, there was a short felicitation programme for the new priests. A sumptuous meal in honour of the new priests and the birthday celebrant concluded the third day of the Chapter.
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