First profession at Bethany Novitiate Barasat, Kolkata

Sr ClareToppo 

16th May 2022 marked the golden day for our fifteen novices who made their first profession at Bethany Novitiate Barasat. They said a daring YES to the Lord and willingly accepted to be the handmaid of the Lord pronouncing their vows in the congregation of the sisters of the Little flower of Bethany. This was a grace filled event witnessed by many sisters and brothers. Rev Fr Dominic Gomes Vicar general of archdiocese of Kolkata along with the four other concelebrants officiated the Holy Eucharist. He appreciated the Novices for their courage to follow the Lord and their generosity to go out to proclaim the Gospel. 

He urged them to be the ambassador of Christ amidst the challenges and rejection from the world. Sr Benedicta Aranha the provincial Superior of Guwahati Province Felicitated the newly professed sisters and assured them that they are never alone on their journey God always walks with us. 

The presence of Sr Erasma the provincial Superior of Northern Province, Sr Lucious the provincial Superior of Silchar Province , Sr Jessy Maria the provincial superior of Eastern Province with their councilors Sr Ruth, Sr Surekha and Sr Helen D'Costa blessed and graced this event. The newly professed Sr Khone and Sr Roselin expressed their gratitude to God, To the Superior General Sr Rose Celine, her councilors, their provincials, Formators Sr Clare, Sr Jhansi, Sr Renita and Sr Jean Marie and to the entire Bethany family. Sr Jhansi the assistant Novice Directress compered the entire programme. Indeed this was a joyful event for the Novitiate community which rejuvenated our spirits and renewed or religious consecration. 

Couples Seminar held at Seva Kendra Calcutta.

 

Sabrina Mary and Pallavi Fernandez

Archdiocesan Family also helped the couples to set Commission Team organized a Couples Seminar at Seva Kendra Calcutta on Sunday, May 1, on the theme, "Family Life: Beautiful & Fragile". Some 40 couples from all the city parishes attended this renewal program for the married couples. Fr. Gnana Peppin, the Secretary of the Family Commission said, "There will be a series of such seminar will be conducted in all the four deaneries of the Archdiocese and be concluded with the Diocesan Family Day on 26th June 2022." Christopher and Sandra Godfrey spoke on the vocation to married life, its beauty and holiness in God's plan. 

They priorities in their married life while Pramodh and Stacy Fernandez demonstration through a game. "Couples who come with brokenness and emptiness received fullness of joy and spiritual nourishment through this program,"said a participant. Celebrating the Holy Eucharist for the Couples, Fr. Dominic Gomes, the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Calcutta exhorted them sayings, "Christ - centered families do a great service to the Church, because peace begins from home". Fr. Gomes gave examples from a Bible and the need to form families like them. 

Another couple was overwhelmed saying,"persons(God,Husband and Wife) make the marriage,’ was very interesting... Without the triangle there is nothing. We felt doing it even one day makes a lasting difference." One participant said, "The program helped us have fun while learning and aided to put fun back to life," and assured, "It gave me an opportunity to rediscover the love I have for my husband and the importance of our marriage as it brought us closer to God and each other. It helped us to clear the air on some issues and made us see that what we have is worth fighting for." The message passed on was beautiful, that husbands and wives love each other and to be in union with God. That they should spend time together, listen to each other, value each other, respect each other and treat each other as they want to be treated. We would definitely recommend others to invest a day to enjoy the benefits of a lifetime.