The Final Profession Preparation also known as ‘The Second Novitiate’ was inaugurated on 25th of April in the Divine Springs Retreat Centre, Goa. The Inaugural Eucharist was celebrated by Rev. Fr. Henry Fernandes C.Ss.R., the Vice-Provincial of the Vice-Province of Majella. Fr. Shane Varghese, the Council member of the OPC of the Vice-Province of Majella and the Coordinator of the Final Profession Preparation broke the word in the Eucharist with his powerful reflection on the importance of the preparation as we are surrendering our life totally to the Redeemer. With all the confreres gathered for the preparation and in the presence of Fr. Melroy Correa C.Ss.R., the Director of the program, Fr. Henry addressed the students and gave a short orientation with regard to ‘The Second Novitiate.’
The Confreres preparing for the Final Profession are as follows: Samson. R. C.Ss.R., Prabin Ekka C.Ss.R., Rohan Tete C.Ss.R., Paul Kharbani C.Ss.R., Jaison Fernandes C.Ss.R., Richard Rodrigues C.Ss.R., Don Matthew C.Ss.R., Manuvel Kottackal C.Ss.R., Arun George C.Ss.R.
Thanks to the Coordinator Fr. Shane and the Formation Council from the Vice-Province of Majella who took a lot of efforts and initiative to find a best place for us where we could spend our one month with reflection, meditation and silence. Our Second Novitiate was arranged in the Divine Springs Retreat Centre under the care of the Carmelite Fathers in Xellim, Goa. The place is surrounded with beautiful scenery, beach, birds, animals and nature filled with awe and breath-taking moments. This place enabled us to be in touch with God more closely, with ourselves in the silence of our hearts and with nature around helping us to reflect and interiorise. Thus, the place ‘Divine Springs Retreat Centre’ indeed rekindled the thirst in us for the Redeemer and his Mission.
Our one-month program was well organised with well-known resource persons from our Congregation who journeyed with us with beautiful reflections pertaining to the topics given. Our days were centred around the Celebration of the Eucharist, praying the Divine Office, the Holy-Hour Adoration, the Holy Rosary, the Input Sessions and Sufficient time for Reflection. Fr. Jomio Thomas C.Ss.R., the former Novice Master, who was the Novice Master even for most of us gave meaningful insights and sessions on ‘The Consecrated Life’ and ‘The Evangelical Counsel- Poverty.’ He emphasized on the Historical development of the Religious Life and reflected on the Divine providence with his Lived experience. Fr. Juventius Andrade C.Ss.R., the Rector of the Major Seminary Mt. St. Alphonsus, dealt with regard to ‘The Discipleship.’ He emphasized on the Redemptorist Saints, Blesseds and Martyrs who lived the life of Discipleship. He also helped us in leading through the Inner-Healing Session. Fr. Baby Verananyckal C.Ss.R., the Bursar of the Province of Liguori, reflected on a very important topic, ‘The Community Life.’ He examined the living of togetherness irrespective of our Background for the sake of the mission of the Redeemer and gave beautiful life giving witnesses of grace and gifts springing from Community Life. Fr. Melroy Correa C.Ss.R., the Prefect of the Students of Philosophy at Varca, Goa, reflected on ‘The Evangelical Counsel- Chastity.’ He helped us in having interaction sessions where he guided us to think, dialogue and reflect on the importance of Chastity. Fr. Poly Kunnumpuzha C.Ss.R., the Provincial Superior of the Province of Liguori, presented Modules pertaining to ‘The Evangelical Counsel- Obedience.’ Being one of the most difficult vows in Religious Life, he reflected on the voice of God through the leaders of the church and emphasized the aspect of Dialogue which helps in Discerning the Will of God. Fr. Shiju Mullasseril C.Ss.R., the Vicar Provincial of the Province of Liguori, reflected on the Challenges in the Religious Life and the Congregation. He brought us to mind the key Challenges the religious face today in the Consecrated Life through the Preparatory Document for the General Chapter.
The peak of our preparation reached in the Retreat preached by Fr. Sarath Maddineni C.Ss.R., the Council member of OPC of the Province of Bangalore. It was a time of tremendous experience filled with insights and time of grace. Fr. Sarath journeyed with us in preparing our hearts and minds to consecrate ourselves to God during the days of Retreat.
We concluded our Preparation Program with the Eucharistic Celebration celebrated by Fr. Shane and concelebrated by Fr. Sarath. As a concluding remark we had an Evaluation session headed by Fr. Shane. The last day was organised with an outing.
This one-month preparation (The Second Novitiate) was a time filled with grace and blessings. A time with a very good community living filled with joy and togetherness. A moment to relax with God, with the batch, with nature and with one’s self. A time that rekindled the first vocation each had. A time to reflect and ignite what we have learnt down through the years. A time filled with gratitude to Parents, Formators, Batchmates and friends, who helped to nurture our vocation. A time to prepare our minds, hearts, body and soul for the mission of the Redeemer. A time of Divine Springs.
Our special thanks to the Community of Carmelite Fathers at Divine Springs Retreat Centre for their hospitality, kind gesture, generosity, guidance and their availability for confessions whenever needed.
Our Special note of thanks to Fr. Melroy, the Director, who was there with us all throughout the program with his presence, valuable guidance, support and taking care of the needs that were required for the confreres and the program at large. His thoughtfulness to bring a good collection of books and documents related to Consecrated Life by profound authors for our personal reflection and study is well appreciated.
We are indeed grateful to the community at Varca for helping us with the necessary requirements needed for the program and supporting us through their availability. We express our sincere gratitude to Fr. Eugene D’Silva C.Ss.R., the Rector of the Philosophate, St. Gerard’s Study House at Varca. Despite his busy schedule he was available to cater to the needs of the Resource Persons, their travels, logistics required and for his kind gesture of hospitality to the confreres in preparation. Thanks to Fr. Ritesh Rosario C.Ss.R., for taking care of our safe journey and organising a day of outing to relax and refresh.
Above all our sincere note of thanks to the Theology Board headed by Fr. Edward Joseph C.Ss.R., the Provincial Superior of the Province of Bangalore, Fr. Poly Kunnumpuzha C.Ss.R., the Provincial Superior of the Province of Liguori and Fr. Henry Fernandes C.Ss.R., the Vice-Provincial Superior of the Vice-Province of Majella for their initiatives, guidance, support and prayers.
Requesting your Valuable Prayers as we commit ourselves to the Redeemer and his Mission in the Church.
Yours in Christ the Redeemer,
Br. Samson R., C.Ss.R.
