Search

ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017

ANNUAL REPORT 2016-2017

HANDMAIDS OF CHRIST

St. Alex Convent, Calangute-Bardez Goa. 403 516

Tel. 0832-2276093  e-mail: hcgen@ rediffmail.com

OUR JOURNEY: “The journey in Consecrated life is following the footsteps of Jesus. Following in Jesus’ footsteps is a constant challenge and it presents difficulties. But with Jesus as the centre of our lives, the difficulties are faced in different way. By following Jesus we will find joy which no one can take away.” Pope Francis

I grab this golden opportunity to re-live the challenging, yet delightful journey our Congregation has enjoyed in the year 2016- 2017 with the bounteous blessings of the Triune God and the constant intercession of our Heavenly Mother, the first Handmaid of the Lord.

BEGINNING ANEW: The XVIIIth General Chapter of our Congregation was held in May, 2016. Inspired and controlled by the Holy Spirit, the Capitulars elected the New General Team consisting of the following Members:

Superior General: Sr. Faria Barretto

General Councillors:

  1. Sr. Perpetua Vaz – Councillor for Spirituality
  2. Sr. Apollonia Cardozo – Councillor for Formation
  3. Sr. Lina Dias – Councillor for Education
  4. Sr. Tomacine D’Sa – Councillor for Social Welfare Apostolate
  5. Sr. Bernadette Furtado – Councillor for Finance and Construction

General Bursar: Sr. Rosy Dias

General Secretary: Sr. Sena Viegas.

Wrapped by the Divine Power we began anew with the theme: ‘Empowered by God’s Mercy to be at the service of all’. We desired to Experience God’s unremitting and merciful love in order to share the same with all in our Apostolate.

MELODIES OF GRATITUDE:  “Gratitude is the memory of the heart”

I express my sincere thanks to the outgoing General team: Our former Superior General-Sr. Jennifer Crasto and her Councillors-Sr. Amelia D’Souza, Sr. Joanita D’Sousa, Sr. Lina Dias, Sr. Tomacine D’Sa and Sr. Perpetua Fernandes. Their dedicated and untiring services to our Congregation and to each one of us will remain etched in the annals of our Congregation.

General Aspect of our Congregation: Our Congregation has 20 houses spread in the Archdiocese of Goa and 13 houses outside Goa. The total number of Sisters in the Congregation at present is 141. We celebrate the love, warmth, care and concern that exist among our Sisters. Assortment of contributions from my Sisters assists me in my discerning strides to move the Congregation to greater heights.

Spiritual growth: “When prayer goes up blessings come down”.

To foster spiritual growth of our sisters, the superiors of the Local Communities take the responsibility of arranging talks, monthly recollections, confessors, etc. Each Community Time-Table is designed in order to assist the sisters to be regular for prayers and spiritual exercises. The spiritual life of the sisters is nourished by the Eucharist, regular prayers, daily adorations, etc. Annual Retreats were organized for the sisters in 3 Batches. Being the Jubilee year of the 150th Birth Anniversary of our Founder Msgr. Herculano Gonsalves, all our programmes were geared towards the theme: “Fix your gaze in heaven, die to self and live for the other.”

Our Apostolic Activities: “Jesus proclaims his mission: to bring good news to the poor and the oppressed” Luke 4:16-21. 

The Spirit of God keeps inspiring us to remain faithful to the church’s option for the poor, in diverse ways as we carry out our apostolate in different villages/towns in Goa and in the other parts of India, especially in the Mission Areas. Sisters are concretely involved in the field of social services, protection of children and the aged and educational apostolate. The keen enthusiasm and zeal of our Sisters in various fields of apostolate is worth appreciating. Sisters are engaged in evangelizing activities, such as teaching catechism, distributing communion, conducting prayers, visiting families and the sick, administering first aid, hospital Ministry, conducting needle work classes, flower making courses, host Baking, candles, etc. The Sisters try to maintain harmonious relationship with people of other faiths. One Sister was appointed as the member of the Committee for the Celebration of Mother Theresa’s Canonization. One is actively involved in the NGO called COOJ and also in the prison Ministry. 

Social Apostolate: The Congregation runs three boarding homes, one hostel for working women, six homes for the aged, one home for the destitute and two orphanages. Under the able guidance of our Sisters, we conduct Tailoring classes aided by the Overseas employment Agencies- NRI. This enables them to earn/supplement their family income. Superior General paid a special visit to our Married Orphan Children with Christmas Sweets. A family atmosphere, a sense of belongingness, security and concern is being created and experienced in this Apostolate.

EDUCATIONAL APOSTOLATE: “To educate is to refine, to instil ideals of nobility, character, culture and social values like compassion, love, brotherhood and humanity.” With the interminable presence of our Divine Master, our sisters work incessantly in collaboration with other staff members to make our educational mission a success. They often invent friendly ways to influence the students positively in the teaching- learning process as well as in character formation. Bereft of values, success is meaningless. Believing in the power of prayer, we foster in our students a strong sense of connectivity to the creator. The Congregation has 4 High Schools, 5 Primary Schools and 11 Pre-Primary schools.

Renovation: The need was felt to renovate the Pre- Novitiate as it was in a debilitated condition and therefore our candidates were housed at St. Alex Convent and the Renovation work was started with a blessing on 21st March 2017, (death day of our Founder)

Updating ongoing formation: “An investment in Knowledge pays the best interest.” Sisters invested their time and energy and got trained in different aspects of formation. Sisters also updated themselves through various seminars and workshops.

Three Tertians successfully completed the course in Basic Theology and all five Tertians intensively prepared themselves for their final profession through an enriching one month Retreat and short term preparatory Courses. Timely Seminars were arranged for the Junior Sisters in order to make them proficient and adept for a holistic life and four juniors renewed their vows. One committed herself to the Lord through her first Profession in the Month of May.

One sister did 1 year Formators’ Course at Institute Mater Dei, Old Goa

General Team, Superiors, Formators and Local Bursars attended the General Body Meeting and formulated the general guideline for effective living in the Communities. They were given a talk on Merciful Consecrated Women Religious.

Superior General along with the General Secretary attended the following:

  1. The General Body Meeting of WRCRI held in Goregaon, Mumbai.
  2. The 48th Plenary Assembly of the Conference of Religious women of India (CRWI) at Old Goa, Cruz Milagres.
  3. Annual Meeting of the Major Superiors having Communities in Goa held at Old Goa, Cruz Milagres.

As far as possible, the Superior General keeps in contact with the Sisters through her circulars and personal visits. It has been our priority to make each sister feel loved and dignified in order to encourage them for an active and effective apostolate.

Intellectual Formation: “The purpose of our lives is to give birth to the best which is within us.” says Williamson, and the best within us is the Divine plan. Our Sisters are pursuing their studies through Degree Colleges as well as short term Courses in various field of education like BSW, B.A, M.A, Kindergarten Training, Computer, Music, Tailoring, etc.

FROM THE SHADOWS OF PAIN: ‘Those we love don’t go away; they walk beside us every day.’

A void was felt in the hearts of all of us at the loss our beloved Sisters

Sr. Mary D’ Cruz on 4th September 2016

Sr. Dorothy Sequeira on 5th December 2016

Sr. Conceicao Braganza on 2nd February 2017

Sr. Grace Rangel on 8th February 2017

Sr. Ramona Simoes on 6th April 2017.

We remain assured that they rest in peace and comfort in the blessed Saviour’s arms. The footprints they have left behind in our life’s journey are transformed into the unforgettable sculpture in our hearts.

JUBILATE! 150th BIRTH ANNIVERSARY: On 11th February, 2017 we commenced the 150th Birth Anniversary of our beloved Founder Msgr. Herculano Gonsalves. The following sisters are appointed to be in the Committee for the year round Celebration: Sr. Margarita Pereira (Co-ordinator), Sr. Perpetua Vaz, Sr. Adrianne Sapeco, Sr. Loretta Vaz, Sr. Wilber Coutinho and Sr. Patricia Pereira. In our beloved Founder, we see a holy man who navigated in the face of storm and articulated the vision for us his sisters.  It is indeed a year of grace and Jubilation.

SPECIAL HIGHLIGHTS OF THE JUBILEE YEAR:

  1. Inaugural Function/Eucharistic Celebration
  2. Release of two books:
  3. A Mendicant in red buttons- by Fr. Savio Rodrigues SJ
  4. The hidden treasures of our beloved Founder-by Sr. Adrianne H.C.
  5. Release of Calendar 2017
  6. Art Museum on the life and works of our Founder, Inaugurated at St. Alex Convent.
  7. Special Song on our Founder by Prince Jacob sung in the Drama ‘Padri Monis Noim?’
  8. Articles published on different Dailies/News Bulletins
  9. Seminars (in batches) for sisters based on Spirituality of our Founder- By Fr. Savio S.J.
  10. ACT OF CHARITY: A concrete act of charity keeping in mind the great event, we reach out to the poor children, women and those in need.

Conclusion:

In a dance, many people come together in rhythm, unison and harmony to create something beautiful. We reckon that we have accomplished a marvellous job during the academic year 2016-2017. I owe my deep sense of gratitude to your Grace, Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrão for your fatherly care and constant support in all our endeavors. I count on prayers and blessings upon each of our sisters and upon our Apostolate. I am deeply appreciative to the General Team for their enviable understanding, motivating guidance and constant encouragement. To my Sisters and our collaborators, well-wishers, and many others who have helped in the smooth sailing, I wish to say a big ‘thank you’. May God lead and guide us, Christ walk with us, and the Spirit hold us as we continue our journey through the years to come

Daily flow of superior performance adds up over time to a tidal wave of outrageous success. It is like dreaming big yet starting small. I look forward with expectations that the Small improvements over time will lead to stunning results and our Congregation to a greater height.

GOD BLESS US ALL!

Leave us a Comment