We celebrated the Golden Jubilee of our Pioneer sisters Sr. Mercy Padayatty, Sr. Monica Mangalan, Sr. Elsy pathy paraban and Sr. Sr. Alphonsa manikathan. And we are so happy to celebrate the Silver jubilee of our Twin sisters Jessy and Lucy.
50 years of Gods faithfulness
The jubilee is an occasion of remembrance. The spirit of Jubilee is an occasion of gratefulness and the remembrance of the past events, of the rejoicing for the graces received, of the recognition of Gods faithfulness.
God did not see my ability, but He saw my availability for His will. He always accompanied with His Love and forgiveness, giving me the grace to live my call. Isaiah 54;10 says “the mountains may depart and the hills be moved but never will my love depart from you. This was my experience during all these years. God protected me with his everlasting Love and His faithfulness.
The book of Leviticus says –looking back and looking forward. I am grateful to my parents’ relatives, to all my superiors’ formatters and all those whom I met during these past 50 years. Heartfelt thanks to them for their acceptance, patience and all their help. During my mission I met many sick people who suffered body and soul, they taught me a lot how to live accepting daily life.
I am overwhelmed with the feelings of Joy and gratitude for my loving God and for the love of the people whom I met all these years. Jesus says “I chose you and appointed you to go out. Jeremiah says “I have loved you with an everlasting love. I have experienced His protection His guidance. Pope Francis says that consecrated life is the history of the passionate love for God and for the humanity. As I celebrate this Golden jubilee I can say that His generous love poured out during these past 50 years. I don’t complain to anyone instead I am grateful to God and those who contributed, loved ,supported in my life .This is the moment to check whether am I growing towards Him or going back.
Pope Francis says in slowing down as we grow older we should be able to discover perfect joy ..to rejoice in the knowledge that we are conformed to Him who out of love of us he did not refuse suffering of the cross. Our dark hidden failures and disappointment keep us rooted in humble acknowledgment of our dependence on Gods Mercy. It is the time to listen to God who speaks to me through everything like Mother Mary treasures all things in Her heart.
“This is the time to letting go, letting come and letting be. This is the time to come home to self, I am challenged to find meaning who am I. Regret about life choices about life failure. To have a grateful heart ,open heart and a forgiving heart ,Loneliness and solitude should reminds me of my burning desire to be united with my God who love me with His steadfast love.
Our real home is in Heaven, here on earth we are on pilgrimage’s St. Theresa of Avila has beautifully said: Let nothing Trouble you’ Let nothing frighten you All things are passing, God never changes, Patience obtains Everything He who possess God Lacks nothing God alone Suffices
Prayer: “ God grant me the serenity to change the things I can , to accept the things I cannot ,and the wisdom to know the difference.. ”
Vo of thanks by our Regional Superior Sr. Mary Thumbalan
Today we have converged in the regional house to honor you dear golden and sliver Jubilarians for the spectacular feat of 50 and 25 years of religious life which you have accomplished. I think no person in this world has been rewarded for what she has received but honored for what they have given to others. So, we thank the God almighty who accompanied our jubilarians all through these years and we celebrate the joys of today, the memories of every year that has gone by, and the wonderful hopes of tomorrow that awaits us.
Dear Jubilarians, when I see all of you today, with your years of toil etches on your faces, I remember the stories hidden behind the years. You sacrificed everything for the Lord and for His mission. We recall the energies of your youth, your success, joys, blessings, together with your struggles, disappointments and hurts that watered the life of our congregation, our Region. Your authentic religious life, your fidelity to the consecrated life, commitment in your service and above all your exemplary life attracted many of your family members, fathers, sisters and friends to join us in this joyful moment to congratulate you. We are really grateful to God for the gift of your parents who offered their daughters to work in His vineyard.
Our golden jubilarians are the first batch from Kerala to go to Italy for their formation without knowing language, culture, to a place which is so strange for them. Dear sisters, I know how difficult must have been for you in the initial days. You lived the simplest life possible; eating the food which you never used with, the tiresome days, shivering whether and new dress code. You hardly had any professional training, but you did great works. The sickness attacked you, strength failed you, limps and joints are aching, but you have never let go down your spirit to live for love. You were the first batch to come down to spread the FDP charism in Indian land, beginning from Andhra Pradesh, Palamaner. All of you held high the spirit of our institute with your dedicated service as superiors, delegate superiors, regional superior and General councillor. Looking at your faces beaming with smile, we can write records of your joy of satisfaction of reaching this milestone. Congratulations dear Golden Jubilarians.
Our Silver Jubilarians are the first fruits of the novitiate in India. They were gone for their further formation in Rome, had the different experiences in Italy and outside. But finally God has brought them safely to India to give education to many children in different states. Sr. Lucy is one of the first missionary in Assam. I am happy to say that both of them are holding a great responsibility in the schools; one in Kerala and the other in Andhra Pradesh. Their leadership quality is amazing. They are privileged to celebrate their silver Jubilee together with their formators Sr. Monica and Sr. Alphonsa while they are in Golden years of their religious life.
Most of us including myself, are the spiritual daughters of our golden jubilarians. I recall to mind the struggles which they went through to mould us, educate us and to put us in the religious track. Their conviction to do good for us never failed in front of our tears and resistance to change. Thank you dear sisters for all that you were, you are and will be. I am sure your parents who offered you to the Lord`s service and Mother Alberta who came to India to recruit you from Indian land is smiling from heaven for all of you.
I am happy that personally I know all my jubilarians. Sr. Mercy is known for her dedicated service and commitment. She is the one who toiled to begin our first school in Andhra Pradesh and took all the struggle to shape it. Great things she could get it done in every sector with her silent, humble and simple approach to the officials. Thank you Sr. Mercy. Sr. Monica is strict to herself to spent time with Lord, and she educated us too with her strict training. Her tolerance and forbearance in her leadership is worth mentioning. Her gentle smile and love for the nature attract not only the people, but the animals too. Thank you sr. Monica. I see in Sr. Elsy a great missionary spirit in her nursing profession. She is compassionate and empathetic towards others, especially the poor and the sick. She does not wait for the poor to come to her, but she goes to them. She breaths fresh in her Village ministry and medical care. Thank you Sr. Elsy. We all know the velocity of Sr. Alphonsa in walking, thinking and reasoning. I have seen her as a great motivator. Being the formator, she was an inspiration for all of us to embrace the religious life joyfully. Her creativity and intuition to carry the responsibilities made her reach in its success. After many years of service in India, last year she is transferred to Rome to continue her mission. Thank you Sr. Alphonsa.
I would like to speak of Sr. Lucy and Sr. Jessy our silver jubilarians together, because they came to this world together, to the congregation together, did the formation together. Being the identical twins, If one gets sick, the other sense it. Both of them are working in the educational field in two different states. Their dedication and selfless service to accomplish their responsibilities are awesome. Though they are short in structure, both stands out high in their leadership. Thank you Sr. Lucy and Sr. Jessy.
Today, we find our jubilarians happy, joyful, vibrant and alert because of their life in prayer. Dear sisters, together with you we are celebrating the golden and silver jubilee years of God`s graces and faithfulness to you and to us. We honor you what you gave, not what you got. We remember how much you have done; not how much you have won. We recall how much you sacrificed and served. Therefore, you deserve a big congratulation from all of us. Today from this jubilee celebration we would like to take the glimpse of that faith with which you said “Yes. We want to have a glow of that light which lighted your path. We want to imbibe that happy smiling to become loving caring and serving.
Finally, I would like to thank each and every one of you who have come to share our joy of celebration. May our provident Father and our heavenly Mother, Mary mother of divine Providence bless us from heaven. Thank you one and all.