ANNUAL REPORT 2021-2022

HANDMAIDS OF CHRIST

ANNUAL REPORT 2021-2022

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

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

^“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

I am pleased to present to you the Annual Report of our Congregation for the year 2021-2022. It is time to be thankful to God for the blessings received in the past year, leaving our old failures behind and taking stock of all that is in accordance to the Plan of God through a leap of faith. It was yet another year which took us into a different world, consequently leading us to act differently! Reflecting and acting on the Pastoral Theme for the Year 2021-2022, for the Archdiocese of Goa and Daman: ‘STAY WITH US’ has strengthened us in our faith to be courageous witnesses in the face of the impending pandemic Covid-19. Keeping alive the spirit of our holy Founder, Msgr. Herculano Gonsalves, we, the Handmaids of Christ have tried our best to remain faithful to the Spirit’s inspiration, in order to execute the plan of God in and through our Apostolate and in diverse ways.

GENERAL ASPECT

Presently our Congregation has 21 houses in the Archdiocese of Goa and 11 houses outside Goa. The total number of Sisters is 138 including 4 Junior Sisters, 1 Novice and 3 Candidates.  We celebrate the miracle of living together and reaching out in fraternal charity to those whom we are called to serve. The assortment of contributions made by each Sister fostered the growth of the Congregation. Sisters are concretely involved in the field of Social Service, Protection of Children and the Senior Citizens and Educational Apostolate. The apostolic zeal of our Sisters, prayer life, financial status and the spirit of unity and joy within this community of faith, is quite enriching.  

APOSTOLIC ACTIVITIES

Sisters who were engaged in evangelizing activities, such as teaching Catechism, distribution of Holy Communion, conducting Prayer Services and SCC Meetings, visiting families and the sick, administering first aid, hospital ministry, attending funerals, host baking, candle making, etc. were held comparatively on a low tone due to the looming impact of Covid-19. Nonetheless, nothing has deterred our harmonious relationship with Church Authorities as well as with people of all faiths. 

SPIRITUAL GROWTH

To foster the spiritual growth of our Sisters, the Superiors of the Local Communities took the responsibility of arranging talks, monthly recollections, confessions, etc. Each Community Time-Table is designed in order to assist the Sisters to be regular for prayer and spiritual exercises. The spiritual life of the Sisters is nourished by the Eucharistic Celebration, Prayers, Adoration, etc. Due to the prevailing condition caused by the pandemic, Sisters were kindly requested to set time aside to do individual or online retreat as per their need. 

FORMATION 

Seminars and Workshops Sisters availed the opportunities to be trained in different aspects of formation in alternative forms particularly through correspondent courses. One Sister successfully completed Course in Formation at IMD, Old Goa. One Sister is pursuing her B.Th. in JDV, Pune. 

Programme/Renewal of Vows: The Junior Sisters will attend three days’ Workshop cum Recollection and renew their Vows at St. Alex Convent, Calangute from 1^st to 3^rd May 2022

EDUCATIONAL APOSTOLATE

Our Congregation has 4 High Schools, 5 Primary Schools and 11 Pre-Primary Schools. Sisters worked diligently in collaboration with the other staff members to offer online Education owing to Covid-19 in order to make our Educational Mission successful. Special attention was given to children from backward classes. 

Intellectual Formation 

Sisters are pursuing their studies through Degree Colleges as well as short term courses in various field of education like BSW, Counseling, Computer, Music, Tailoring, etc. One Sister has completed her Bachelor of Arts and one is pursuing her B.Com. and other two are doing B.Ed. We wish God’s blessings and success in abundance upon them.

It is a matter of great pride that our Sr. Sunita Barretto has been selected as Co-coordinating Teachers, to train other Computer teachers in Robotics and Coding at the SCERT level.  Sr. Sunita is also selected by the SCERT on the Team in designing Creative Art for ICT Hand book Curriculum for computer students of Std. VI and VII (regular and elective). 

SOCIAL APOSTOLATE

A special visit was made to 8 families of our married orphans with Christmas sweets. A family atmosphere, a sense of belongingness, security and concern is being created and experienced in this apostolate. One Sister continues to offer training in creativity for the inmates at New Creation in Calangute. Sr. Tomacina Desa represented the Congregation in the Covid-19 emergency relief project in Goa for the migrants under the direction of Fr. Joseph Nazareth SJ. 

FINANCE AND CONSTRUCTIONS

Constructions and Renovations: “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain.” Ps. 127:1

The new residence of St. Joseph Convent was blessed on 22^nd December 2021 by Most Rev. Filipe Neri Ferrão, Archbishop of Goa and Daman. It has been as blessing to our Congregation and to St. Joseph Community, in particular. St. Joseph Convent has providentially completed 75 years of its existence in Aquem-Alto, Margao in this year. 

MEETINGS

Superior General attended the Annual General Body Meeting AGM of the Western Region CRI which was held online on 7^th /8^th November 2020 with the theme: ‘Issues concerning our Nation and the Church’.

The Annual General Body (AGM) Meeting of the SSA was held 10^th Nov 2021. 

The AGM Meeting of the Educational Society of Handmaids of Christ was held on 10^th Nov 2021. 

The AGM Meeting of the Handmaids of Christ Trust was held on 10^th Nov 2021. 

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR

YouTube Channel 

The Congregation YouTube Channel Handmaids of Christ, Goa has been updated and the Communities were encouraged to send their videos to be uploaded on the YouTube Channel. A word of appreciation to all our Sisters for their well rendered videos at different occasions. 

50 Glorious Years of Religious Life!

We were truly delighted to celebrate the gift of 50 glorious years of love and joyful service of our dear sisters, Pulqueria D’Costa and Innocent Lobo, on the occasion of the feast of St. Alex on 17^th July 2021 at 9.30 a.m. at St. Alex Convent, Calangute. May they always carry love in your heart and remain a blessing to all. We rejoice with our dear Sisters – Sr. Genevieve Fernandes, Sr. Martin Fernandes, Sr. Josephine Fernandes, Sr. Nataline Fernandes and Sr. Adrianne HC at the completion of 50 years and also Sr. Anette Dias and Sr. Gracy Fernandes at the completion of 25 years of generous love and dedicated service and thank God for the amazing deeds He has worked through them in their Religious life.

Vocation Promotion

“Vocations aren’t the result of planning, but an encounter with God that changes your life.”- Pope Francis

On 19th September 2021, the Church in Goa celebrated Vocation Sunday. The Diocesan Office for the Promotion of Vocations (DOPV) had taken the initiative to invite Priests, Religious and Consecrated persons to share their Story and the Charism of Congregation/Society. The same was telecast on CCRTV throughout the Vocation Week, in which Sisters Karol Rodrigues and Kimberly Torcato represented our Congregation. 

Sr. Godwina Pereira has been appointed as the Executive Secretary cum Treasurer for DOPV and Sr. Justina Vaz has been appointed as a member of the Diocesan Centre for Social Communications Media (DCSCM)

On the same occasion, an attractive Vocation flyer was designed by Sr. Sunita Barretto HC and also an attractive and meaningful video was produced by Sr. Sunita Barretto HC with the script written by Sr. Bernadetta Furtado HC.

Final Profession

The final commitment of our Sisters, Paloma Martins and Priyanka Lobo was held on 13^th November 2021 and 20^th November 2021 respectively. Despite the external restrictions on the celebration imposed due to covid-19, the peace, joy and grandeur was experienced throughout both the ceremonies. May they continue to remain blest!

Indult of Exclaustration

With reference to the Article No. 306 of the Constitution of the Congregation of Handmaids of Christ, our Sr. Garcia Travasso has been granted indult for exclaustration for a period of six months from December 2021 to May 2022. We pray that Sr. Garcia remains open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and be strengthened in her vocation.

St. Alex Pre- Novitiate Community

A separate Community for St. Alex Pre- Novitiate was formed with effect from November 2021, with the following 3 members: Sr. Wilber Coutinho (Superior), Sr. Carmen Vaz and Sr. Annunciation Fernandes. 

The Grotto at Mottant

The Grotto was blest on 8^th December 2021 on the feast day of Immaculate Conception. The stunning statue of Mother Mary, which was earlier donated by Mrs. Asha Vas to St. Joseph Convent, Aquem, was reverentially brought and placed in the prior arranged glass case with fresh garland of flowers. On this beautiful occasion, our Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Polly Lobo, blessed the Grotto and all of us and kept the ambience spiritually enthralled through his prayerful presence.  On this same occasion, the Mottant Orchard, was very formally and officially declared as Herculano Bagh, the same name being inscribed on the Board simultaneously fixed on the Boundary wall. The words, ‘this place is under surveillance, God is watching you’ have also been inscribed on the Board, meaning, the property is being well protected under the mantle of Mama Mary and God will provide us as we rely on our Founder’s dictum ‘God who protected us will not abandon us’.  

Founder’s Day Celebration 

Birthday and Death Anniversary of our holy Founder Msgr. Herculano Gonsalves, was marked with great devotion. We spent few moments together in prayer and thanksgiving for the beautiful gift of his life every day in preparation for these occasions. We keep invoking the intercessions of our Founder in all our endeavours and encourage others for the same. 

Sr. Rosa’s Diary

While re-arranging the Archives of our Congregation, I came across Sr. Rosa’s Konkani handwritten Record Book (diary) of 300 pages along with a few other assorted documents in Portuguese, which I handed over to Sr. Adrianne HC and requested her to do the needful. Consequently she worked with unreserved dedication and presented the printed copies in the form of five booklets, namely: 1) Translation of Sr. Rosa’s Record book, 2) Sr. Rosa’s Record book at a glance (Series of Articles), 3) Important Miscellaneous letters (translated form), 4) Some Official Letters (translated form) and 5) Letters of the Founder at a Glance. All the five booklets along with soft copies will remain well placed in the Archives for further profitable use. Sr. Rosa’s Diary will be preserved in the Archives as a great Source Book.

I wish to express my deep sense of gratitude to Dr. Silvano Dias Sapeco who has willingly sponsored the printing cost of the booklet- ‘The Letters of the Founder at a Glance’. His enthusiasm and his admiration of Msgr. Herculano Gonsalves, is being highly expressed in his Nostalgic Memories, the copy of which is found hard bound in the Archives of our Congregation  and also in his eagerness in the translation of some important documents including the Homily Book of the Founder (part II) from Portuguese to English.

Impressive double Preparation

This year we are on an impressive double preparation; on one side our Holy Father invites us to the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in order to reflect on the theme: ‘For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation and Mission’. In view of this, our 3 Sisters participated in the Pre-Synodal Meeting, efficiently organised by our Archdiocese on 18^th and 19^th March 2022 at St. Joseph Spirituality Centre, Old Goa. At the same time our Congregation is at the intense preparation for the forth coming XIX General Chapter of our Congregation adopting the theme:‘Journeying together to Review, Renew and Relaunch’ to be held from 11^th May 2022 to 18^th May 2022 at St. Alex Convent, Calangute; echoing similar reflections to that of the Synod. 

Two days’ workshop: In view of the forthcoming XIX General Chapter, the delegates will attend two days’ workshop on 5^th and 6^th April 2022 at St. Alex Convent, Calangute; conducted Rev. Fr. Michael Fernandes SDB 

Logo and its Explanation: The Logo designed by Sr. Patricia Pereira HC has been sent to the Sisters on ‘handmaids’ WhatsApp group for intense preparation and reflection for the General Chapter along with its Explanation.

Feast of Annunciation

“May your word to me be fulfilled.” Lk, 1:38. 

Mary’s ‘fiat’ is a ‘yes’ which she would utter throughout her life. We renewed our commitment once again to the never-ending love of our God and allowed the music of Mary’s ‘yes’ echo in our own spirits on the feast of our Congregation, on 25^th March 2022 at St. Alex Convent, Calangute. 

On this feast day, the video on the Anthem of our Congregation, will be released after the Eucharistic Celebration. Thanks to Sr. Margaret Pereira and Sr. Perpetua Vaz for their genuine efforts in producing this video. Our Congregation remains indebted to Rev. Fr. Loiola Pereira who provided the music to the Lyrics composed by Sr. Perpetua Vaz HC. We also released the digital Annual Congregation Bulletin ‘Fiat’ on the same occasion. Also released on occasion the booklet: Letters of the Founder at a Glance 

Vocation Camp

“In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverb 3:6. 

A two days Vocation Camp was conducted for the girls who dare to submit to God’s plan at St. Alex Pre- Novitiate, Calangute, Bardez, Goa, with awe-inspiring activities.  

CONCLUSION

 “But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:41). 

Let us make deliberate choice to fill our hearts with hope in the Lord. Let us turn our eyes to Him and allow Him to surround us with his love and strength. When we turn our pain into praise we recognize that there is a purpose and in time, the One who loves us unconditionally will allow us to soar on eagle’s wings. We continue to hope in Him, for He never fails.

Dear God,

We thank you for the blessings received in the past year.

Assist us to leave our old failures behind.

And to stock of all that is new through a leap of faith.

May we experience the freshness of your loving presence.

Replace the anxiety within us with your lasting peace.

Thank you lord for assuring us

That we are in your safe hands

Help us to march ahead with confidence

Knowing that you ‘stay with us’