The second Inter-Provincial Workshop took place from 24 to 26 July 2024 at Nava Spoorthi Kendra, and the Retreat from 26 to 31 July 2024 at Camillus Pastoral Health Center in Bangalore (India). About 70 Conferees from Bangalore, Liguori, and Majella Units attended the Workshop and Retreat.
Workshop on Consecrated Life
The workshop began on the 24th Morning, with the Eucharist, Presided by Fr. Edward Joseph C.Ss.R. (Provincial Superior of Bangalore Province). Fr. Seamus Enright C.Ss.R from Ireland was the Resource person. He animated workshops and retreats with his vast knowledge and experience of the Congregation. He enlightened us on how to live out our call to be a Redemptorist and be rooted in our Charism. He took us back to the founding history of the Congregation and the missionary zeal of the founder, St. Alphonsus, responding to the signs of his times. He also shared about the Redemptorist spirituality, Saints, Blessed, Martyrs, and a few extraordinary life stories of a few Confreres in the Congregation, which are inspirational. He also shared with us his experience and guided us on how to be the missionaries of hope in our context in India, responding to the signs of the times. He challenged us to hear the cries of the poor, abandoned, marginalized, neglected, and in the peripheries of society and reach out to them with compassion and missionary zeal for their salvation and redemption through communities.
Retreat on Missionaries of Hope
Fr. Seamus Enright C.Ss.R. began the retreat with the story of the Emmaus and reminded us that Jesus is a part of our life journey. He focused on the life and ministry of Jesus as the Redeemer of the world. He also shared his thoughts on the biblical characters who were in connection with Jesus’ life and mission, especially Mother Mary, Joseph, Joachim and Anna, Zachariah and Elizabeth, Martha, and John the Baptist. In dealing with these biblical personalities, he reflected on biblical passages such as Benedictus, annunciation, visitation, Magnificat, the birth of Jesus, the flight into Egypt, etc. Special attention was given to Mary as a disciple of Christ.
An intense experience of Bonding and togetherness
Eight days of being together was an enriching and memorable experience for the members of the three Units as we shared our brotherhood of bonding as members of a Redemptorist Family. Some of us were new to one another, and some of us met after many years. We shall cherish this experience of celebrating brotherhood. We sincerely thank Fr. Seamus Enright C.Ss.R. for his contribution by way of the spiritual nourishment that was offered to us. We are grateful to all the (V) Provincials and their teams for arranging this particular event this year. Special thanks to Fr. Sarath and Fr. Sanjay for organizing all that was necessary for the workshop and the retreat in Bangalore.
Fr. Prakash Kumar Lakra C.Ss.R.
Province of Bangalore.
