EXPERIENCE IN SNEHANILAYAM

I would like to share and thank the Lord for the opportunity to have community experience in Kerala. For me it was first time to be in Snehanilayam community. I liked the place, children and the community. I enjoyed and I was happy being with the children in the workshop, for a short time with the school children and in the community, in their needs, being available in all that when there was need. The structure of the community is like novitiate life, where I lived and enjoyed 2 months being faithful to my prayer life and also in apostolic work.

Being with the children in the workshop I was happy and experienced the loving presence and gentle touch of God. Their innocence, love and care touched me a lot. In spite of the language I could able to communicate and understand the children and able to manage in the absence of Sister and teachers. I enjoyed making cards, stitching, helping children and going out with children I felt happy and loved and experienced the presence of the Lord being with children and in the community.

Finally I would like to thank Sr.Suvarna, Sr.Margaret and the Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus for giving me this opportunity to have community experience in Snehanilayam. With grateful heart I thank you all.

(Stella Kerkketta.Naci)

EXPERIENCE IN VYPIN

I would like to share about my 2 month’s community experience in Vypin. During these 2 months I had many different experiences. I used to go to play school where I enjoyed being with the children. Andin the tailoring class I learned some stitching. Sometime I used to go to the center. One day I got a chance to meet the girls and ladies from Odisha and I am happy to know that our Sisters are working with them.

I saw Sisters are very hardworking and available to the people whoever approached them in their needs. Sr.Lizzie guided me for my recollection and I had personal meeting with her. I am very grateful to her; even though she was busy she gave tie for me. And I saw Sisters are very friendly with the people, working with the youth in the Parish, visiting the families, working with the migrants and doing counseling. I saw our sisters are helping the people in different ways in their needs. In the community also I saw they take care of  each other very much. They are very generous, caring and loving.

I have attended Novena Mass and it was nice experience for me. First time saw the youth are praying with so much devotion and it touched e very much. I felt people are so generous and loving. Though I don’t know the language I used to talk with them in Hindi and English, and with old people I used to do  sign language.  Sometimes they laughed at me. But anyway enjoyed and I am happy to have all those experiences. I am very grateful and thank the congregation for giving me  this  opportunity to have the community experience.(Margaret Soreng.Naci)

My Experiences in Odisha

Community experience was one of the most awaited events in my second year novitiate life. By God’s grace and with the support of our Sisters in Snehadhara community I could enjoy these 2 months well. A lot of variety experiences I had during this period. I am very grateful to Sr.Sangita, the Superior of my community in Odisha, for giving me such variety of opportunities. I am happy to share my experiences here.

Our Sisters are very much involved in various apostolates in Snehadhara community. I enjoyed a lot with the play school children there. I was happy for the chances I got to share and talk with our hostel students. They all are very talented in singing, dancing etc. I could converse with them in Hindi. Stitching classes, English tuition, Spoken English classes, helping the rikshaw pullers, Acupressure therapy etc. like many apostolates are active there and our Sisters are very much dedicated to them.

I got many opportunities to participate in different feasts and occasions in the Parish Church. I enjoyed a lot the lively Eucharistic Celebration there with their traditional rituals and wonderful singing. In the month of October we conducted Rosary prayer in the houses of our zone. There I saw most of them were prayerful devotees and they liked to gather to pray. Another thing I noticed in them was their simplicity. The people are very simple and that simplicity I found even in their Bishop Kishor Kumar Kujur. I am really fortunate to attend the Mass celebrated by him 4 times in these 2 months.

There once I attended CRI zonal meeting which was an opportunity for me to meet religious from different congregations. Also Sr.Sangita and Sr.Celine took me to the nearby religious houses for a visit at different occasions. All these helped me to have an exposure to different apostolate. I had the opportunity to go for vocation work in Simdega with Sr.Aleena. Twice we visited the high school girls and the encounter with those girls was good. The climax of my experience was the trip to Kolkata with the hostel students and the community. It was really God’s great blessing I believe, and also the kindness of our Sisters. I could get a chance to visit Mother Teresa’s tomb and Our Lady’s Shrine in Bandel too.

I am very grateful to the Lord God and to our Congregation for providing us such an opportunity to live and to experience our communities during the novitiate period. I extend my gratitude to Sr.Sangita and all our Sisters in Shehadhara Community for their support, guidance, love, concern and kindness to me. I pray that the Lord may continue to bless them in all their apostolate. (Ayana B Mathew.Naci)

My Experience in Roha

I am very glad to share my experiences in Roha community. I really enjoyed 2 months in Roha. In the beginning I was little bit worried since I did not have the language. But I could manage very well. For me this experience was memorable and wonderful. I really learned many things about community life, how it varies in different places. Also this experience helped me to know more about Roha mission.

I did not feel out of place there, I felt I was at home. Sr.Monti was really a guide for me and she gave me different experiences of Roha. I enjoyed the presence of Sr.Kitty, Sr.Viji and Sr.Alma in the community. I really experienced their hospitality and sensitivity. They were very kind towards me and they treated me as a matured person which made me happy. Even though they were busy I could see the unity and dedication. I was very much taken up by the work of our Sisters there. They are very hard working and I saw their zeal and enthusiasm in working for the poorest of the poor. It inspired me a lot and also these experiences have strengthened my call.

My experience being with the children and in the hostel was very nice. I could able to manage with them. It was very interesting to be with the ‘Adivasi’ people there. Because of the language problem, I thought I would not be able to interact with them. But people were very good with me. Even with my broken Marati and Hindi I managed well. Somehow we both understood each other and that gave me lot of joy and satisfaction. I enjoyed the Balamela and the visits to the ‘vadis’.

I tried my best to be available wherever there was a need. For me this experience was very meaningful and enriching. I was very happy to be in Roha community and I take this opportunity to thank Srs.Monti, Kitty, Viji and Alma for all their support, guidance, love and care which I experienced during these 2 months. I also thank our Congregation for giving me this opportunity. I really enjoyed it a lot. (Ashna Joseph.Naci)