11 August

Around 5.00pm arrived Don Andrea the Rector Magnificus of UPS, Rome , Fr. Biji Michael, Regional of S. Asia accompanied by Fr. Bosco, Fr. Seby and By Sivy. They were given a warm welcome at the entrance adorning them with shawls, garlands and bouquet of flowers. The novices and sisters sang a welcome song after which a short prayer was said in the chapel. All of us enjoyed Tea in their company exchanging news. At our request Fr. Andrea spoke a few words. He is in the Synodal Committee in the Vatican. Hence he spoke on that topic. He began saying that he deems it a gift to be among us FMA. He reminisced the time he spent together in Mornese especially with Sr. Lucy Rose when he preached a retreat. Synod makes us feel that it is a challenge to understand better. Religious are not separated from lay-people. He questioned what it means to be with the young. It looks a paradoxical way of being together. Another question he put forth for our reflection is what the project of a religious is for the future. He said, “Abandon in the hands of God, to follow Him wherever He guides. Synodal Assembly invites us to become more and more aware of our identity and mission which is a paradoxical way of being in the Church. M. Provincial expressed our thanks to them as their presence made us feel a sense of belonging. There exists a Family Spirit between the Salesians and FMA. She extended warm greetings for the upcoming Synod Assembly.