URSULINE SISTERS OF TILDONK RANCHI INDIA
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URSULINE SISTERS OF TILDONK RANCHI INDIA |
"I Have come, that they may have life; and have it to the full." (Jn. 10:10)
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The
Commission of pastoral and evangelization of the province has tried to
work on different levels such as; School level - The Bible Quiz competition for Inter Ursuline Schools in 2007. It was very successful. All our Schools in the Province took part in it. Hostel level: The second competition was for the Inter College Hostellers, which was held on July 29, 2007. This was Bible Quotation Writing competition. Some 350 students from college hostel, working girls' hostel and Kumhartoli hostel took part. Bible Skit Competition: For the Workers of the Lace and Embroidery Section. Out of 100, 50 of them participated. They were divided into 5 groups. Each group presented their item as follows: (1)The fall of Adam and Eve in the garden. (2) The scene of Job's temptation. (3) The scene of Naomi and Ruth. (4) The scene of Annunciation. (5) The scene of Marriage feast at Cana. Seminar of Pastoral Care/Social Action: One day seminar was organized by the commission. Sr. Christine Minj osu gave the opening talk on "Jesus Lives." Rev. Fr. Hubertus Beck, Parish Priest of Ranchi gave his input on Social Action, social work and evangelization. Sr. Roshni stressed on our Vision, Goal and Policies saying that our vision is to build up the society of peace, justice and love bearing lasting fruits.
It becomes quite clear that the focus of the Ursuline Presence in Chota Nagpur has been "Evangelization through various forms of the work of education specially to women along with regular contact with people both poor and rich." Earlier the first stage of schooling started with catechumenates for old women, and young girls before marriage and children. From time to time catechumenates of about two weeks were organized for different groups separately. With childlike simplicity they learnt prayers and the most important truths of religion. They came to the convent with great eagerness as guests with their children. The first catechumenate began in Khunti with great success. Tongo, Rengarih and Noatoli followed suit. Ursuline Contribution in the Field of Catecheties Since 1923 "The Catechists' Training School" at "Tongo" has been preparing village catechists to assist the Parish Priests. It is a 2 year training programme open to the candidates recommended by the Parish Priest. It is a residential programme; each trainee has a small house to stay with his wife and a child or two. The Priest Director was in need of a Sister to occupy the wives of the catechists in giving them training useful to their state of life. In the very beginning those Sisters who assisted were part timers. Among the part-timers were :- Mother Anne Marie Rollandini - from 1923 to 1937 The following Sisters worked as part timers under Rev. Fr. Joseph
Staquet S.J. :- These Sisters were engaged in teaching the Bible History, Christian Doctrine and prayers. They were in charge of General Supervision too. Mother Wivine and Mother Majella took classes on Hygiene, Bably care and Nursing, also general supervision. Since 1961 Rev. Fr. Walter Pillen was the Director till 2000. From 1970 onwards the Ursuline Sisters could avail themselves on a full time basis, eg:- Sister Juliana Toppo
- from 1970 to 1980 They were involved in teaching Christian Doctrine, Bible History (Salvation History), hygiene, child care, needlework, herbal medicine, singing, cooking etc. They were in charge of clerical work and the supervision of garden and catechists' quarters. Sisters have an excellent opportunity to see to the formation of these women as leaders in the family, neighbourhood and in the local church to stand by their husbands in the establishment of God's Kingdom by their exemplary life and animation. It is a matter of pride that by this time they have been able to train about 650 women, wives of the catechists. Ursulines on the Ranchi Archdiocesan Catechetical Team For the teaching of Religion in the schools, in the area of Hindi speaking belt, simplified books in Hindi were needed. After Vatican II the first series of Catechism Books "Premdan" were printed. Mother Clara Ledoux OSU took the lead together with some Sisters going from Vicariate to Vicariate to explain the method of teaching to the teachers engaged in the teaching of religion. In the early 70s the next series, "God With Us" were received from Rome via N.C.B.L.C., Bangalore. This experiencial method of teaching was promoted all over India. It was in English and the first part of every lesson dealt with "Life Experience". For North Indian Christians of whom 10% were Hindi speaking tribals, this book needed to be adapted and translated into Hindi. In 1974 Sister Roshni Baxla and Sister Christine Minj joined the Catechetical Team at Navjyoti Niketan, Patna, the Catechetical Centre of Bihar. Both of them translated and rewrote the books for lower classes under the direction of the Director and the Team. In 1975 Ranchi Archdiocesan Catechetical Team was formed under the patronage of Archbishop Rev. Telesphore P. Toppo with Rev. Fr. Jonkheere as Director of the Team. Sisters Roshni and Christine were on the Team. Sister Roshni gave her services till 1979 and then again from 1986 till 1989. Later Sister Rose Ekka, sister Gemma Toppo, Sister Grace Kullu and Sister Clara Minj continued giving their services with committed edication. Sisters had to rewrite the manuscripts, do the proof reading and arrange appropriate pictures for the book. The Team organized seminars, went to the parishes initiating teachers and catechists into the method of teaching the New Catechism. The Team introduced the teaching of this New Catechism to the novices of the Ursulines, Daughters of Saint Anne, holy Cross and Jesuits, St. Albert's College Philosophers and Theologians also had their share before ordination. Parish Priests were also initiated into this programme. The catechists of "Tongo School of Catechists" followed the course almost every year. All the head catechists also joined them. In 1986 along with the catechetical seminar, Basic Charismatic Retreats were organized on the Diocesan level for the Dioceses of Tezpur and Hazaribagh; and in the Andamans and Chaibasa; also wherever the Christians of Chota Nagpur invited the Team. The members of the Catechetical Team have been a great help to Rev. Fr. Van Nuffel when he actually started the "Jeewan Prawesh" (Life Orientation) programme in Gumla for the students of class X. Earlier the Catechetical Centre at Navjyoti Niketan, Patna, under the direction of Rev. Fr. E. Daly S.J. has had the services of Mother Clara Ledoux and Sister Christine Minj on the staff. Thereafter, Sister Nirmala Minj, Sister Benigna Vadasseri and Sister Sushanti Horo have had the pleasure of giving their services as Registrar cum Receptionist at Navjyoti Niketan. sister Marina Ekka from Patliputra Colony was invited to give sessions or as moderator for the groups which came for various courses and programmes. Sister Scholastica Tirkey considers herself fortunate to be allowed to give her services in the catering department of Navjyoti Niketan, meeting and serving the Church Dignitaries, Priests, religious and laity belonging to different ranks from all over India. Sister Shalini Tigga worked as Joint Secretary in ALBICSA - "All Bihar Christian Schools Association." In the past in most of the communities Sisters were exclusively set apart for village ministry, to be with the people, bringing God's Word to them. Burning with love and zeal for God they surmounted all the hindrances bravely to witness to the Loving and Caring Father in Heaven. Now also there are strong bright sparks going around setting fire to thousands of hearts e.g. Sisters Cyrilla Baa, Louisa Ekka, Magdalen Kullu, Emiliana Bhengra, Margaret Mary Bara, Damiana Surin, Theophila Tuti, Kiran Kiro, Sushila Bhengra. Evangelization in the North East District The pressing need of the Church here is Evangelization and Faith Formation, hence the main apostolate. Either one or two Sisters in most of the communities are engaged in the work of Evangelization. Three Sisters preach Charismatic Retreat in the tea gardens and villages in different parishes of the Dioceses, throughout the year. Others give Faith Formation, catechize children and adults and prepare them for Sacraments, stay for 2-3 weeks in the villages. They visit the families, pray with them over the sick and the infirm. In 1986 Fr. Jim Borst M.H.M. started training a group of leaders, Priests, religious and laity to preach Faith through "Renewal Charismatic Retreats" in Ranchi. sister Celesta's charism blossomed forth; she got involved in direct evangelization, giving retreats, holding prayer meetings, Gospel sharing with groups, visiting hospitals, dispensaries, homes, praying over the sick for healing, counselling for eradication of drinking habits, preaching, singing hymns and bhajans, proclaiming the Good News with pictures, self made charts, black-board illustrations, conducting prayer meetings in the villages. The Ursuline sisters, laymen and laywomen and priests have been her co-team members who have been touring zealously in the tea gardens of Assam and West Bengal, the Andamans, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Orissa, Jharkhand, preaching 355 Charismatic retreats in 17 dioceses altogether, contacting 68,229 people who attended the retreats during the period from 1987 to 1996. Previous and recent records are not available, yet Sister Celesta keeps up the same dynamism at home and outside whenever she is called. Sister Bridhi Ekka is a born catechist from village Noadih Bandua in Barway. Before joining the Ursulines she was initiated into this beautiful ministry in Konbir Noatoli. Full of zeal and enthusiasm she has been proclaiming the Good News in the villages for about 6 years. She responded to God's call to be His messenger. She loves this ministry of being with God's people, living with them, praying with them, being with the sick, giving medicines, praying for healing. She identifies herself with them, loves them and they love her too. She holds meetings and preaches God's Word. She conducts Charismatic retreats, encourages them to attend Holy Mass and approach the Sacraments, she helps them to forgive and get reconciled in times of conflict with one another. She makes them aware of their human dignity and rights and demand for justice. She instructs them how to produce more from the fields, how to make a happy and healthy home. She has been touring all over the hilly country of Nagaland bringing the Good News to each and all. Languages and cultures were no barrier to her. She makes God known and loved through her goodness and kindness. Sister Beatrix Toppo from village Kereng, Barway, another dynamic disciple of Jesus, with all her life experiences in the tribal communities of Chota Nagpur and Zaire (Congo in Central Africa) volunteered to launch into this enviable ministry of Evangelization. To begin, together with Sister Celesta Nowrangi she has been in the tea gardens of Assam and West Bengal, engaged in the proclamation of the Word of God, preparing the way for the Lord like St. John Baptist, forming, renewing and deepening the faith of the people through Charismatic retreats. With such a deep love for God's people Sister Beatrix has set her heart to this Noble Mission and nothing can deter her from this. From 1988 to the present day she has been travelling around the Dioceses of Ranchi, Gumla and Simdega in Jharkhand, Raigarh and Raipur in Chattisgarh, Jalpaiguri in West Bengal, Tezpur, Dibrugarh and Diphu in Assam repeatedly. She has strengthened the faith of the people through retreats, instructions, meditations, adorations, Bible sharings, hymns and bhajans. At the same time people are made aware of the evils of drinking and witchcraft for better Christian family life enabling them to improve the standard of living. She already finds change of heart in many of them. There have been many defections resulting in faith growing shallow. Now it has given them a boost to rejuvenate. Sister Beatrix has been on the Team with Sister Celesta in 200 retreats. Alone she has conducted 70 Charismatic Retreats, and has been able to contact 61304 people who attended the retreats. Sister continues her mission with the same zeal and fervour. This tradition is now being passed on to the younger generation to be continued and to keep the spirit of the Founders alive. "Ranchi School of New Evangelization" The programme, "A Catholic School of Evangelization" of five months duration in Manila (Philippines) in 1991 was sponsored by Ranchi Archdiocese in view of preparing a team to train the members to start a "School of Evangelization in Ranchi." The School of Evangelization endeavours -
Sister James Soreng was fortunate to be sent by the Archdiocese of Ranchi to Lucena (Manila in the Philippines) for a six months' training programme on "NEW EVANGELIZATION" in 1991. After completing the programme, Sister James Soreng joined the staff of this very first "School of Evangelization" in Ranchi in 1993 to train a group of Hindi speaking priests, sisters, catechists, laymen and laywomen. Five such schools were conducted. Trained persons were sent back to the mission fields for a lived Christian experience and also to introduce New Evangelization at the grass-root level. As long as Sister James was on the staff of the School of Evangelization, together with the members of the team she gave several courses to priests, nuns, seminarians, teachers, catechists, village leaders, women, students, novices of different congregations, youths and children based on New Evangelization. Life Orientation The Life Orientation programme was initiated and conducted in 1980 by Rev. Fr. Paul Van Nuffel S.J. It developed out of the regular retreats to Matric students. He has been directing alone or in cooperation with some Sisters - Sisters Lutgardis Barla and Roshni Baxla OSU, and diocesan Priests. It derived the name "Jeewan Prawesh" in 1980. Ursuline Sisters - Late Janet Tigga, Gemma Toppo, Lucy Minj, Veronica Surin, Anna Minj and Sabina Tigga worked on the team in turn till 2001. This programme aims at imparting a solid psychologically adapted catechesis on the Sacraments, Prayer, the Commandments and Christian living in general. It leads the participants to a genuine conversion-experience, followed by a personal commitment to God, the Church and the Country. It frankly discusses and gives guidance on the main problems of adolescence. It emphasizes the social dimension of the faith and places before the participants a clear hierarchy of values based on the Gospel teachings. Life Initiation for Teenagers (LIFT) Non-Christian students are invited to lead a life of moral integrity and uprightness, fostered by personal prayer, and a sincere commitment to the creation of a more equitable, tolerant, caring and sharing society, where religious values go hand in hand with integral human development. The programme follows a personalized "Learning by doing", experience-oriented pedagogy, group-dynamic techniques and audio-visuals are made use of to captivate the attention of the adolescents. The programme is strictly residential and is conducted by a team of Priests and Women Religious and lay persons. This programme is for the students of class X. Separate programmes are held for boys and girls. Since 1990 the members of the Jeewan Prawesh Team are running follow up seminars on Christian Leadership for college students. Special seminars are also organized for teachers to acquire their active cooperation in the Faith Formation of the youth. These seminars highlight the prophetic role of the teacher in evangelizing their students. From experience the members of the team found this programme beneficial to this age group of boys and girls when they are just blossoming forth on the cross road of their life. The Sisters have been able to render a great service to them by touching the vital aspects of life unfolding to them in their physical, spiritual, moral, emotional and social dimensions. Sisters Anthony Soreng and Agnes Lugun rendered valuable services at the Ranchi Archdiocesan Vocation Bureau with dedication and zeal.
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