Rooted in the spiritual vision of St. Alphonsus Liguori, who passionately urged the formation of conscience as a path to holiness and social transformation, the Pastoral Year Fathers of the Bangalore Province conducted a vibrant four-day skill development program titled “Inner Voice Matters” at St. Alphonsus Academy, Bangalore. This initiative was also inspired by the recent call of the General at the inauguration of the Confederation of India, which strongly emphasized the Redemptorist mission to actively form consciences in today’s complex and shifting world. The program was organised as a preparation for the celebration of the feast of St. Alphonsus Maria Liguori from 26th to 31st of July 2025.
This program was not just another retreat or orientation program. It was a workshop designed to awaken the inner compass of nearly 700 participants, including teachers, Catholic students, and non-Christian students across high school and PUC levels. The event was creatively structured to speak to both heart and intellect.
Theme and Approach: Listening to the Inner GPS
Drawing from the metaphor of a GPS, the sessions helped students discover their “God-Placed Sensor” the voice of conscience that quietly directs, corrects, and leads one toward truth and goodness. Just as a GPS re-routes us when we take a wrong turn, conscience invites us to listen, reflect, and return when we wander off course. The program encouraged participants to recognize that conscience is not about guilt, but about growth, responsibility, and relationship.
The Structure and Spiritual Depth
The first two days of retreat began and ended in sacred silence and prayer. The retreat began with the enthronement of our dearest mother of Perpetual Help. Special Eucharistic Adoration sessions were conducted for both teachers and students, helping them to anchor their reflections in the presence of God. The Adoration had the special time of healing, and the participants were led to chant the Jesus Prayer. Many of the teachers were in tears as the encounter and anointing of the spirit was felt. The day concluded with a Eucharistic celebration, fostering an atmosphere of thanksgiving and communion.
Each day of the program featured:
- Dynamic sessions with multimedia-rich presentations
- Testimonies and skits that addressed peer pressure, digital distractions, and ethical decision-making
- Interactive group activities that made learning fun and personal
- Moments of personal reflection and journaling to connect with one’s inner voice
Voices That Stirred History and Still Do
The sessions were rich with real-life examples, multimedia presentations, and insights drawn from great conscience-guided leaders and motivating examples. The students also reflected on the lives of holy figures like St. Thomas More, St. John Paul II, and Mother Teresa, whose unwavering conscience and moral clarity led them to become voices of justice and hope in their own time.
Creative Engagement
One of the major highlights was the inclusion of professional choreography sessions, where a trained choreographer engaged students through dance—a language of expression and freedom. Students also watched powerful short films and reflective videos, helping them to see the relevance of conscience in everyday moral dilemmas.
On the final day, students participated in creative workshops and group activities that allowed them to express their learning through drama, art, music, and spoken word. The students had hand in touch experience as they also had time to use the clay and present their understanding of how conscience actually looks like. They were guided to learn the steps of a decision-making through the decision wheel. As a lasting reminder of the inner voice, bookmarks with symbolic imagery and reflections were gifted to each participant as souvenirs.
The Team Behind the Mission
This enriching experience was made possible by the pastoral creativity and dedication of the Pastoral Year Fathers of the Bangalore Province and Vice Province of Majella:
- Ravi Teja, C.Ss.R.
- Nirmal Kumar C.Ss.R.
- Amrith Kevin C.Ss.R.
- Nishith Lobo C.Ss.R.
- Charles Sarveyar C.Ss.R.
- Prasantha Hembram C.Ss.R.
- Camil Dung Dung C.Ss.R.
Guided and mentored by Fr. Peter. B, C.Ss.R., this team crafted a formation journey that was pastoral, contemporary, and deeply Redemptorist. A special thanks to Fr. George Puthenpura C.Ss.R, the director of the pastoral years for his support and Fr. John Mathew C.Ss.R, the Manager and correspondent of the Alphonsus academy who planned the event and invited the Redemptorists to conduct this personality development and retreat program.
Conclusion
In a world filled with noise and external influences, this program helped students and educators alike to pause and listen to “The inner voice that matters” the voice of truth, goodness, and grace. St. Alphonsus Academy thus became, for four days, not just a place of learning, but a sacred space of awakening, discernment, and renewal.
Fr. Kevin, C.Ss.R.
