Friday 4 September 2015

PRAYER BRINGS VICTORY



        PRAYER BRINGS VICTORY



My husband and I eagerly planned to visit Hyderabad for a workshop on marital life.  Our previous workshop  marriage had been a game changer and we quite looked forward to it.  Our marriage had transformed after the first workshop from an average marriage to a deeply satisfying experience. There was much expectation because this workshop was to help us with a deeper connect and greater level of intimacy.    
When you are headed to such a great game changing event purchasing railway tickets and packing do not burden. It was just a part of the joy.   
My husband being a journalist told me that Cantonment was the nearest point from where we could board the train considering that we stayed in Ulsoor and Majestic was nearly 30 minutes by autorickshaw while Cantonment was a mere 15 minutes.
I recall when we went to the follow up sessions after the first workshop on marriage there would be sudden obstacles that would prevent us from participating. It was like someone did not want our marriage to be more intimate.
When my husband and myself started we prayed for the autorickshaw that it might ferry us safely and when going we expected some obstacle like a traffic jam which was the reason we left early. We prayed that there be no traffic jam and sure enough there was none. The ride was smooth and we reached Cantonment station early, well within time.  Surprise the autorickshaw driver was a kind man and did not overcharge us. Great!   
But there was a nasty surprise waiting for us.  When we asked someone where the train would arrive they exclaimed that the Rajdhani Express does not stop here. We looked at the time and there was less than 30minutes left to reach Majestic. It was rush hour. Quickly we jumped into an autorickshaw and pleaded with the driver that we had to rush to Majestic. After what seemed like an eternity the autorickshaw  drew near Majestic and we were stuck in a signal. We calculated the time and there were just a few minutes left. We paid the autorickshaw at the signal even as he waited for the signal to turn green and started to run.
As we ran on the road carrying our luggage, I reminded myself that I need to exercise because I just couldn’t  run with my husband who outran me and went to the station and to my horror we had missed each other. I took another route and he was not anywhere around. I just kept going and ran to the train. What good would it be if I missed the train and he managed to board it   Pulling the chain was no option because it would mean punishment or fine for us.  I just rushed to the train and there I found it and boarded it. And what a great surprise was waiting for me. I found my husband in the train. As we heaved a sigh of relief the train moved. It was one of the sweetest train journeys of our life.

BY

Mrs. ARATHI

Monday 31 August 2015

Destiny waits in the hand of God





Destiny waits in the hand of God


 “Your eyes beheld my unformed substance. In your book were written all the days that were formed for me when none of them has as yet existed (Ps.139:17).
(A Self Disclosure)

I grew up in a traditional and middle class Catholic family, in a small beautiful village. My beloved parents are blessed with eight healthy and gifted children. Now parents are reaching their ripe age (Early Eighty’s). We are three boys and five girls and I am the youngest one. Three boys and two sisters got married and settled. With my loving parents and siblings, life at home is generally happy. When I was 12 years old, (1981) attended a retreat. The preacher explained his vocation story during his message, and then onwards I got an inspiration to become a missionary.  As I have completed my 10th class I told to my mother about my desire. But my parents willingly told first to apply for pre-degree course then you decide. I got admission in to a famous college; there I completed my pre-degree course in second group.
After my pre-degree course again I tried to join into a missionary congregation in United States.  My father told me that “You plan and decide after your studies.” All my family members together decided to send me for nursing. But my mind was not there! Mean while unexpectedly I joined in an Industrial Training Institute for stenography course.  There my friends and class mates used to discourage me to join for nursing or religious congregation. After the stenography course four of my best friends together with me joined for ‘Bachelor in Commerce’ in a private college. There also friends disheartened me not to join in a religious congregation.
In the family we the last three girls, are very close to each other and we shared and expressed all our dream projects together those days. We even together planned to become religious sisters, and we used to converse about life in a convent, though we didn’t have any idea about this sort of life. Because we neither had any contact with any sisters nor any convent in our parish to know about the religious life. During our childhood time usually we imitated sisters by wearing habit and all. Amidst of my studies my two elder sisters joined in different congregations by challenging all their struggles. 
After finishing my degree I expressed my ardent desire to become a missionary sister to parents for the third time. Father told me; “if your desire is to serve the people, study Special Education Teachers Training Course for the mentally and physically challenged” (That suggestion was from one of my parish priests). Though I have no idea about the course, I was really happy to join to the course. Because my first desire was to become a missionary and second to become a teacher both will accomplish by this course! I was indeed happy!
I joined for Diploma in Special Education course at Muvattupuzha. At first I felt so miserable and hard to digest the whole atmosphere. The misery was beyond my imagination. I could only see everywhere helpless people – Differently abled children and youth. Some are forgotten by the family members, some are forced to be in the Institution because of their parent’s helplessness.  Slowly I got into the normal rhythm of the course. The course helped me a lot to realize my personal life, the countless gifts of my life, get in touch with sisters, and also strengthen the desire to dedicate my whole life as a missionary etc. After the completion of the said course I got job as a special teacher at Thrissur.
In the meantime I was invited as a special teacher in abroad. Within no time passport got ready and at the same time my heart started to beat heavily because of my desire to become a missionary. I prayed earnestly and stopped processing for visa; continued my profession in the same school. When I was in that special school, at home, parents started seeking marriage proposals. They planned to fix my marriage during vacation when I reach home for holidays. Since I was the last one, it was their joy to make my marriage as grand as possible. They intended to fix my marriage with a scientist who was doing his research in New Delhi. He passed his exams in first rank and after two days of his result somebody brutally murdered him at New Delhi. Unfortunately my parent’s plan was gone to a tragic end (parents shared me this incident only after my profession).
But I spend regularly for long time in the school chapel to take a strong decision which should no way hurt my parents. I also got chances to be in touch with Nirmala Dasi Sisters and their apostolate. I was very curious to know about their life and the services. Providentially, without none of their knowledge, I dig up a chance to read and understand the constitution of Nirmala Dasi Sisters two three times. Their constitution says: “Nirmala Dasi Sisters are a community making themselves servants of God’s people, especially the afflicted and abandoned, render their service to those who are the weakest by means of a life of prayer, simplicity and hard work without expecting any reward in return”.  This clause influenced me a lot. There I apprehend that my service is necessary to this congregation. With this strong belief, my discernment became well-built.
But I had no courage to inform my parents about the decision to join in to a religious life again. I shared my decisions and oppositions of the family very confidentially to one of the general councillors of the SNDS congregation at first time. Never have I shared this decision to any one of the sisters before. She informed this matter to the Founding fathers of the society- Mar. Joseph Kundukulam and Msgr. Joseph Vilangadan. After the personal meeting Bishop Kundukulam allowed me to join in the community as a trial without parent’s prior permission. But he told me to write a letter to parents before joining the congregation.
Though I had no courage to disobey my parents I wrote openly to my parents and all my family members expressing my gratitude and discernment. Before reaching this letter to my parents I joined for formation. When the letter reached to my parents, mother became sick. The very next day my parents sent brother to the convent to see me and inform about my mother and turn back me to home. I not only did not go with him but also sent my ornaments through him to my parents. As she saw my ornaments and brother back without me, her blood pressure increased and admitted in the hospital (I came to know this after my profession). After one week I went home and met my parents.  When they heard my convinced decision parents and family members did not raise any more objections. Only one of my married sisters replied me very positively and appreciated my discernment. All these struggles I could not share with my other nun sisters, because they were in the Novitiate in each one’s congregation.  Finally by the providence of God after 10 years waiting in 1996 I became a member of the Society of Nirmala Dasi Sisters.

Ever since I joined in the congregation I felt that this is my home and this is the place God has planned for me before I planned. I had to wait and face many hardships and hurdles in order to bring my dream integrated to God’s will. But God had enabled me to be persistent in all these circumstances.  When I think of my two elder sisters, I feel happy because Sr. Anita is in Congregation of St. John the Baptist and Sr. Ans is in Sacred Heart Convent as we dreamt. Whenever we get an occasion to be together, we enjoy the company of one another in the same degree of love and fervour to this day! I would just love and thank God for all the gift of my family, parents, siblings and my congregation!

My conviction is that life is a gift of God and treasures it. God has a special plan for me and each one of us. It is my responsibility to seek the will of God.

BYE. Sr. Lissa Rose SNDS, Kerala


A THORN IN MY FLESH






                                                                                                                  made me to 

discover my

 precious life

Do not lose heart, even if you should discover that you lack qualities necessary for the work to which you are called. He who called you will not desert you, but the moment you are in need he will stretch out his saving hand.   -Saint Angela Merici
As all we know that India is surrounded by the sea and the land, I too had the gift of b

Do not lose heart, even if you should discover that you lack 

qualities necessary for the work to which you are called.

 He who called you will not desert you, but the moment you are in need 

He  will stretch out his saving hand.  

-Saint Angela Merici



           As all we know that India is surrounded by the sea and the land, I too had the gift of being born in a village where it is located amidst the green pastures and totally surrounded by the mountains and followed by the forest. Being with my family members I am very much excited and given much freedom in order to move throughout the village to enjoy the nature. So I used to walk miles a day to feel part with the nature but I was not at all worrying about anything about my future.  I am the eldest one in my family. I am very lean and thin in my family. We had lot of cattle’s and cows in the house. I used to wonder even in that place, I find many were going out of my village for quite long years and coming back as priests and nuns. I had a soft corner for these priests and nuns, as they were away from the family and being alone. I did not understand at all. I felt strange and started to think why they are away from the family. I am very keen to know the things so I asked my relative and She said that it is a call from God.

     To discover a call within myself is very difficult, because, I am small in age and I did not understand at that time, so I left it. Again I started to live my normal life and helped my parents to feed the cattle and the cow. It was my routine life soon after the school, going to the fields and helping my parents. Once my mother was sick, I have no other go than going for a forest to collect firewood.  It was in the evening, nobody was with me, I am scared so I rushed myself to collect and made it a bundle, carried on my head, I was moving towards my house.  That time as I was hurrying myself, without seeing down I stamped my leg on a thorn, which entered through the sandal into my foot. It was so painful and my leg is bleeding and I was left alone and nobody was there. Cried like anything because I was not able to remove the sandal from my leg since it was stabbed. Cried and cried for long time and I calmed down myself, started praying and I thought about God, Mother Mary and all the saints. Unknowingly, I said within my heart, God if you save me then I will give my life to you. I could not believe with my own eyes, there came a person whom I was not seen before, without asking anything, saw my leg, removed a thorn. Miraculously, I walked to my home back with a bundle of wood and I knelt down I prayed, thanked and discovered my precious life. I understood that God comes to us in every little ways possible. It is up to us to discover him. I believe it was God who came to me in the form of a human being. My heart is filled with attitude of gratitude to him now and forever to be with him in all throughout my life journey and to do his mission on this beautiful earth.



Sunday 30 August 2015

I chose you before I gave you life






I chose you before I gave you life…





When I was a small girl I used to see priests and nuns coming to my village in white dress and I really admired them a lot and I use to think that they were angels sent down directly from heaven. I had a great desire to become like them. As the days went by I expressed my desire to my parents that I too want to become a nun. In the beginning  they were not  willing to accept my wish but My daddy just told me, “let us see…” Till I reach class ten, I was the eldest and the only girl child in my family other than my six younger brothers. But my desire continued to grow deep within me each day and my only prayer and desire was to have one more girl child in my family so that my parents would allow me to become a religious nun. When I was in class 10th , the first miracle happened that my younger sister was born on June 12. God has blessed my family with one more girl child as I desired to follow Jesus. After that my parents gave me their consent to join the convent.

                               
   The beginning of my formation…

I was very happy and adjustable during my formation.  When I reached postulancy I was attacked by Malaria (13 times).  I was so discouraged to go ahead in my formation but my provincial and batch mates were so supportive and encouraged me to go forward. So I remained back. I believe that God comes to our help through different persons at the right time. After the Petulancy and before entering to Novitiate we were sent for community experience for 4 months. I too went for community experience to one of the communities. The first two months I was suffering from Malaria. I thought to myself, “I have no vocation, I better go back.” After the recovering from Malaria, I went and told my superior that I would better go home, since I am getting sick often. But my superior was so good and I can never forget her kind words. She looked at me and told gently “my dear child, this is your house; we all are your sisters. We don’t want to send you back. We will take care of you and you will be alright.” Though she told me many good things, deep within me I was sad and confused. Whenever I visited the chapel I looked at the crucifix and uttered these words “Lord if you really have called me to this life, please heal me completely; otherwise I would go back home.”  Believe me or not, from that day onwards I never suffered from malaria. Praise the Lord!
Another miracle in the Novitiate

We had a field near our convent. During plantation my right leg was pricked by a thorn. My friends tried to take out the thorn from my leg but could not succeed. Next day my leg was a bit swollen and was filled with pus. I tried different medicines but instead of getting better the wound was becoming worst. I suffered for three months. One day while I was cleaning the library I saw on the table a booklet about Rose of Carmel (St Euphrasia). I just opened it and I saw on the back side of the book, a small prayer and the favours received through her intercession. I was so inspired as I read through. Then I just got a thought, “people are getting healed by praying the novena. Why can’t I try?” From that day I began to recite the novena. In the beginning I just recited the novena without much attention and faith. In the mean time my superior asked the vehicle from the parish priest to take me to hospital. Since the vehicle was taken for repair and would be back only after three days, the parish priest told us to go to the hospital after 3days. I continued my novena. The first day… second day… and the third day.  Nothing happened but when the fourth day came I felt something different. I didn’t feel any pain on my leg but I was afraid to look at the wounds because each day the wound was getting deeper and worst. And the fifth day i.e. Friday!  After finishing the supper, the community sisters forgathered for recreation. All my sisters were teasing me that I was going to get a new leg... That time my superior told me that parish priest had agreed to give vehicle on Saturday. As usual I smiled and told them that I don’t feel pain anymore. So they told me to show the leg, I just lifted my right leg and showed to them. They were so surprised that the wound had vanished from my leg. I was also confused, “Which of my legs had the wound?” So I showed them both the legs. Nothing was seen on my legs, not even a scar! It was really a miracle.  How powerful our God is! Thanks be to God that I was completely healed through the intercession of St Euphrasia. All of us were amazed and praised God for the healing touch that I experienced. Dear friends, I share with you the healing touch that I have experienced so that you may join with me in thanking the Lord that our faith in Him may be strengthened and my joy may be complete.



Shared by Rev. SR. GENEVIEVE




Saturday 29 August 2015

LET US LISTEN TO OUR INNER VOICE

LET US LISTEN TO OUR INNER VOICE


I was the class teacher of the 10th for section A the specialty of this section was that it had the smartest pupil of the whole school. The students of this section used to secure the best results in the academic field, consequently they were in the good records of the most of the teachers. One day the head master informed me that Jithin a boy of class 10 belonging to different section was shifted to the section to which I was the in charge. He was smart and handsome and the other students were bit disappointed with the arrival of the Jithin to the section A.
The following Monday I received a written complaint from the class about Jithin. Besides some of the students personally met me and shared with me that Jithin’ s character is not good, quarrel- some, drug addict and soon and so forth. Listening to those complaints and stories shared by some of the students about Jithin I was bit worried and said to myself what should I do? And how should i help him in the best way possible to come out of all these and live a better life. As I was pondering I heard a voice from the depth of my heart calling me to guide and mentor Jithin.The voice further gave me the assurance to empower me in guiding Jithin. Again I had heard a voice saying Jithin is that of mine and I shall work through you to make him as that of my instrument.
After gathering of the strength, as usual I began the class, after a while I called Jithin and told him to go and meet a particular teacher. Meanwhile, I began to motivate the rest of the students saying that we all need to help Jithin to set his life right. Further I told them that he comes from the broken family. His father was a drunkard and quarrel some. Jithin had a brother who was younger ten years younger to and he experiences that the parents show much love to the younger and while neglecting Jithin.Therefore, we should love him and need to help him so that he may secure the good results in the exam. Thus I urged my students to be compassionate toward Jithin. In the course of time I noticed Jithin being hyperactive. Therefore with the consent of his parents I sent him to the psychiatrist and he began to show much improvement in his conduct.
It was the fare well for the batch of Jithin and he wanted to talk during the programme but he was denied of the chance. He then approached the head master and he gave him the opportunity to talk. We were all anxious to listen to him, as he started to speak he expressed his gratitude to all those who had helped him to reach to that stage in his life.Tears began to roll down from the eyes of many. In a very special manner he mentioned my name in gratitude and praise. He bent over my feet expressing the gratitude for becoming an instrument in his life and asked me to bless him. I always cherish this incident in my life for having helped someone to find the right path and that satisfies me more than anything.

 By REV. SR. JOLLY
DVK STUDENT

Thursday 27 August 2015

GRABBING RUSTS OUR LIFE: THE LESSON OF A GARDNER

GRABBING RUSTS OUR LIFE: THE LESSON OF A GARDNER

 One day I was going on my bike to a village to offer the mass, the road I was travelling was not in a good condition the bike started to jump up and down. However I reached the  village and wanted to switch off my mobile before I start the celebration. I just put the  hands into the pocket of my cassock intending to take the phone and switch it off. But I  found that the phone missing then I thought that I might have left it in my room and I will surely find it when I reach the parish house. After having finished all my programmes I  reached the parish house by 4.00 pm and enquired the cook and the trustee if they had  seen my phone and they replied that they had not seen then  I began to suspect that it  might had slipped away  from my pocket. Then I made a call to my phone and to my  surprise it was ringing but nobody attended the call. I got disheartened and lost hope of  getting it back. But again I made a call this time the phone was attended by one person on the other side the voice sounded that of an elderly person and he asked me who it was? And I replied to him sir, this phone is that of mine and I lost it morning as I was going that way and I wanted to get it back. The man said to me in a very plain way if it is yours please come and collect it and he gave me some traces of the place. And he asked me to come within ten minutes since he was about leave that spot. Then I asked him how could I trace him upon my reaching there, he said that it would be easy. In a hurry I took my bike started towards that place on a high speed to reach the place before that man leaves that place. But I was too late and lost hope of reaching that place. Upon my reaching the place I found so many people standing on the same spot to which I was told to come, and I was hesitant to approach any of them, and I stood there with a disappointed heart.Meanwhile, a person from the crowd came toward me and asked if I were the person made a call asking for the lost phone. Then I said it was me but I do not know whom to approach and who has got it and immediately the man replied it’s me who has got that phone. And immediately he took out the phone from his pocket and at once kept it in my hands. I felt very grateful to him and before receiving I said thanks to him but the man told me  sir  why do you thank me  in fact you got back what is yours.  And what profit would I get if I have your phone with me. The man told me that the attitude of  grabbing rusts our life and character,desiring what is not ours would only danger our life.  And the man said that he had learned to be content with what he has and to my surprise  that man was a simple gardener.


Shared by Rev. Fr. Abi 
DVK Student - Bangalore

Tuesday 25 August 2015

In Everything God Works for Our Good…

On a fine sunny morning, a few youth leaders came to our school to ask permission to conduct a National Youth Meeting in our school ground. The meeting was to be conducted on a school working day and I didn’t yield to their request but there was a lot of pressure on me from all sides to grant them permission. Though unwilling, I had to consent to their request at the end.
From the time I said “yes”, I started to experience a kind of disturbance in my mind that clearly revealed to me that I have taken a wrong decision. The meeting was to be conducted on the next day and in no way I could tell them to find another alternative venue for the meeting.
I knew for sure that the meeting would disturb the students during their classes and if anything goes wrong during the meeting, it would affect the reputation of the school and I will be held responsible for the entire situation. I placed many demands before the youth committee for the smooth conduct of the meeting and the youth obliged to all my demands. The youth committee was supposed to get ready the ground only after the school commenced at 9am, the next morning.
I was so restless about the meeting that I explained to my community the entire episode. I said, “If this is my selfish intention that the meeting should not take place, let the meeting be conducted but if it is not God’s will that the meeting should be in our school, let there be a heavy shower in the morning so that they may be compelled to call off the meeting.” And we all prayed that God’s would be done in our lives.
I went to bed with a disturbed mind but with a prayer in my heart, “Let your will be done”. It was the patter of the rain that woke me up around 4 o clock in the morning. It was summer and there was no chance of rain. I couldn’t believe that it was raining. I got out of my room and Lo and behold! It was raining cats and dogs. I raised my heart to God in thanksgiving. It rained heavily for two and half hours and the school ground looked like a big lake. Students had to wade through the waters to go to their respective classes.
The youth leaders came in the morning and inspected the ground and found that in no way the meeting could be conducted in our ground. I just remained silent while they were discussing and rescheduling their programme. At the end of the discussion, they called off their meeting and I was greatly relieved.

I sat quietly in our chapel pondering over the whole episode. The decision that I made was not in accordance with His plan. But He saw the helplessness of His daughter and came to her assistance. When I took a wrong path, He let it known to me and came to my rescue. I believe that it was our inner disposition and desire for the will of God to be done in our lives made the miracle to happen on that day of God experience for me and my community. Yes, “In all things God works for the good with those who love Him” (Rom 8:28) and we can find Him everywhere and in every experience of ours, provided we look for Him.

           Shared by Biji Philip MSI
                                

      Shared by Biji Philip MSI