A 5-day mission experience was reduced to 3 days as there was a holiday and a hartal/ strike during those days. We were warmly welcomed by both the school and the workshop.
We were placed in the school and workshop for a hands-on experience of being with the children. Going down memory lane took me back to my novitiate days.
Looking back over the years to when I first visited Snehanilayam as a Regional Superior, I was delighted to see the development of Snehanilayam with respect to its infrastructure and equipment a sure road to the overall development and enhancement for children of special needs. I am sure the teachers are making maximum use and the children are benefitting. I was impressed to see the love, interest, patience, and dedication of the teachers.
A lively interaction with the hostel students helped us share about each other and more especially it created a forum for us to share about our missionary work in our different communities. 2 An awareness of the needs of the poorest of the poor whom we serve.
Our mission experience also included a visit and mass with the migrant workers. It was impressive to see so many young girls coming from the north of India to work in the south for a livelihood. We also visited our land at Mulavukad and the Vypin community. After a sumptuous meal at our Vypin community, we ferried to Fort Kochi to enjoy the evening and the beautiful sunset. Our mission experience concluded with a visit to the clergy home and the cloistered convent. We left out nothing. At the end of the week, we shared our impressions and experiences with the community and feedback for the betterment of the mission in Snehanilayam.
(Sr. Audry Andrade.aci)
“THE BEST AND MOST BEAUTIFUL THINGS IN THE WORLD CANNOT BE SEEN OR EVEN TOUCHED THEY MUST BE FELT WITH THE HEART” (Helen Keller)
I being in Snehanilayam community had a glimpse of many things in and around. Also being 2 days holidays in between we were able to visit Mulavuvkad, Migrants in Manjankad, visit to Vypin community and a short outing to Fort Cochin. We also met our hostel girls and had an interaction with them. I would say this opportunity was indeed a blessing for us.
What stayed with me is the helper Shiji has a daughter Anna Mol very handicapped in the school. When she is brought into the hall in the wheel chair the little girl Santa sit at her feet and she would speak to her few words with the so much care and love. I just loved watching her, her innocence in communicating her affection and that beautiful smile on her face. While Anna couldn’t even open the eyes and reciprocal to it but I am sure Anna has been able to feel this love of Santa and sense it. I captured Gods love in between these two children. Thanks to Snehanilayam community for this beautiful mission towards our special children.
(Aleena Rodrigues aci)
“Information is not knowledge. Only source of knowledge is experience. You need experience to gain wisdom”-Albert Einstein.
It’s a great privilege to have hand on experience of our own mission at Snehanilayam School and Vocational Unit. When I stepped in the school assembly Hall it reminded of my days spent in school with the children when I was a candidates and Novice and to see the same children now grown up not only in age but also with different skills, talents, knowledge and able to do so much more which couldn’t be imagine.
I was fully involved in school as well as in Vocational Unit and it helped me to realize how much each teacher works hard and put themselves completely in their teaching and skills so that each individual child benefits from it.
I also felt blessed to spend with the little ones and with the severe group of children with Autism and it once again brought the awareness that how much of love, patience and understanding we need to have to teach them. I feel very grateful to God that I got this beautiful opportunity and to be able to communicate to the children in the language of love without having the language.
I can cherish the moment which I had with the children, teachers and the sisters in our mission.
Aruna Kerketta.aci