Report of the Annual Retreat 2011...

This year we began our Annual Retreat on 20 of June and ended on 24th in the Afternoon. Rev. Fr. Sony of the Congregation the Passion (CP) from Bhopal was the guide.

The previous day we had the introductory talk at 9 p.m.

What was special this year was that we were given more time our personal reflection. We had personal morning prayer and nature meditation. Everyday in the after noon we had the Mercy chaplet followed by a religious movie. First day i.e. on 20th of June we had a talk about the kind of God we believe in and the Movie was about the life of Blessed John Paul II. On the consecutive days we had Movies of Prophet Jeremiah, Movie on the Fatima Apparitions and on the last day a movie on the life of Blessed Mother Teresa of Kolkata. All the movies, talks and prayers were very much inspiring and reflective. All together one could say that this was a 'Different Retreat.'

In the evening of 24th we had the ceremony of conferring the Minor Orders or better known ministries of Lector and Acolytes by His excellency Dr. A.A.A Durairaj, the Bishop of Khandwa.

Welcome Back!!!

Hi friends!!! we are back and refreshed after our Summer Vacations....

We were back on 16th of June. This year we have 12 New students. A hearty Welcome to all of them to the Khrist Premalaya Family... Have Happy stay....!!!

... And Here are the Summer Vacations!!!

Hello Friends!!

We have successfully completed the academic year and are just moving out for summer vacations to our own respective places!

Its a great feeling of relief and relaxation after the classes and exams. Today (i.e 16-04-2011) we had a general evaluation of the year and discussed on various issues.

Fr. Rector in his message said that though we are going for holidays but that does not mean that we are on holidays from our real identity. We are the disciples of Christ and we have to live that life. We become the witness of Christ as well as the institute. At the same time he also emphasized on spending some time with books and reading material. That is a good means of being in contact with the theology.

At the end he wished all of us a wonderful time and all the best wishes!!!

... And here we go!!!

Monthly Recollection (March 11, 2011)

We had our monthly recollection as scheduled in the handbook, i.e. on March 12, 2011. Fr. Bruno from the Congregation of the Passion (CP) was requested to preach the recollection, but due to illness, he couldn't make it, and Fr. Sony from the same congregation substituted him.

We began the recollection on the previous night with an introductory talk in the main chapel. Fr. Sony said that Jesus died for us, to save us and complete the saving plan of God. In the success of this whole Christ-event, Judas Iscariot played and important role. We all are also given one each plan to be executed and for helping us to do that, we also have various Judases in our lives and amidst us. There are people who always pull our leg and try to put us down, criticize us and put hurdles on our way. We must thank God for such Judases and pray for them, not curse them or condemn them. They are the ones who help us to come closer to God and help us to complete God’s plan for us.

The next day’s talk was in the auditorium and Fr. Sony CP, took the parable of the prodigal son (or better, the parable of the compassionate father) for our reflection. He evaluated each character of the parable and told us their strengths and weaknesses. He also invited us to reflect whether in whose role we fit. Are we like the father who instead of guiding his younger son gave away the property, in spite of knowing what the son would do with it? Or do we focus on his compassion for the son and his giving more importance to freedom. Our heavenly Father is also like that, He gives us the choice to do what we want, but when we make mistake, He is ready with compassion to accept us back, provided we come back with a repentant heart.

Sometimes we, religious don’t realize that we become like the elder son. We work whole our lives like slaves, not actively taking part in relating with our Father or brothers and sisters. And when we don’t get proper reward for our service, we grumble. Sometimes we become or in fact we are very often like the younger son. We go away from our Father and come back repenting when we make mistakes and realize our foolishness. Our aim should be to become like our heavenly Father. Jesus said, “Whoever has seen me, has seen my Father.” Can we say like Jesus that we also reflect the image of our Heavenly Father in ourselves through our life and works? The recollection was concluded with Holy Eucharist in the afternoon.

Welcome Back!!

!!!A Hearty Welcome to All Deacon Brothers!!!

!!!A Hearty Welcome to all the Deacon Brothers!!!

Picnic in Pics

Community Picnic to Indore (19th Feb)

It was a NEW day with lot of enthusiasm and excitement. Since the rising was at 5 a.m., Most of us slept before the usual time. We had Holy Eucharist at 5:30 and breakfast at 6 in the morning!!! It was wonderful experience, for many of us perhaps this was the first breakfast of life so early in the morning. After the breakfast and little preparations, we set out to Indore at about 7 o’clock. It was thrilling; we sang songs and hymns on the way. With one break on the way, we reached around 9:30. Our first halt was the Lal Baag Palace (or Nehru Palace), in fact the palace of the Maharaja Tukoji Rao Holkar. It was interesting to see the architect and designs inside the palace. It is a huge palace with beautiful designs of east and west (i.e. Indian style and Western, especially Paris).

After spending some time there, we had short refreshment and moved to Kaanch Mandir (glass temple) which is a Jain temple. From there some brothers went for shopping and rest returned where the bus was parked. It was a crowded place so bus could not take us to the temple. From there we moved to the SVD provincialate house, where delicious meal was waiting. The food was ordered and the caterers themselves were present to serve us. Fr. Provincial and other fathers gave us a cordial welcome. After the lunch we had little free time to go around and the visit the neighboring communities as it was the area where many of the institutions situated. We met Fr. Michael (our former residential professor) and his ‘under construction’ college. Some of us also went to see Bishop’s house and cathedral.

Around 3:30 we moved form there to Meghdoot Garden. It was a beautiful park with lots of greenery and beauty. There were lots of young people having few moments of ‘peace and love!’ we enjoyed going around. Before the actual scene, we had our left over refreshment and spend some more time there. Around 6:15 p.m. there put on the fountain and lights, it gave a beautiful appearance when the glittering lights reflected on the glass-like flowing water. After feasting our eyes with beauty, we left Indore around 6:30. On the way, Bro. Martin and others made it interesting journey with their creative singing which consisted of their own readymade songs. On the way we had tea on one of the restaurants. We reached back to the seminary around 9:30 p.m. Next day was free rising, but Mass at 7:30. Tired, we slept, thanking God for the whole enjoyment –filled day.