Mangalore: 'Sangam' Gets Under Way at Bethany Mother House
 
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (RD)
 
Mangalore, Jun 11: ‘Open wide the door, let Him enter now’ is the theme with which the Congregation of the Sisters of the Little Flower of Bethany (Bethany Sisters) founded by the Servant of God Raymond Francis Camillus Mascarenhas, entered its pre-centenary decade on July 16, 2011.
 
With a view to preparing well for the forthcoming centenary celebration in 2021, Sr Wilberta, superior general of the congregation, along with her team has planned many meaningful programmes at the congregational level. One among them is the renewal programme for the Sisters of the Congregation arranged province-wise. Accordingly, the six Provincial Superiors in India have succeeded in bringing together in batches the perpetually professed Sisters of their respective provinces for a Pentecostal experience.

The resource person chosen by the congregation to animate this renewal programme is Sr David Delaney, a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of St Joseph of Chambery (CSJ), based in Mumbai. She went round all six provinces and awakened in the Sisters the need to live their consecrated life as prophets and mystics. Already 12 batches of Sisters have gone through this renewal programme and the last batch arrived on Saturday June 9 for the same to Bethany Mother House, Mangalore. The speciality of this last batch is that they are exclusively junior Sisters of the congregation with temporary profession; they are indeed the Hope of Bethany. At present, their total number in six provinces is 248 of whom 160 are participating in this programme for four days, from Saturday June 9 to Tuesday June 12 in the city.
 
The inaugural programme commenced with prayer, followed by words of welcome by Sr Mariette, the Provincial Superior of Mangalore Province.
 
Sr Wilberta, the Superior General, then inaugurated the programme by unfolding the petals of a lotus and invited every participant to, “Open wide the door to Jesus, the Lord of Bethany”.
 
It was followed by the lighting of three candles (Trinity) placed inside the lotus by Sr Mariette Provincial Superior, Sr David Delaney, the resource person, and Sr Clara Jyoti, one of the participants.
 
Sr Wilberta delivered the keynote address during which she called on the Sisters to have Passion for Christ and compassion for humanity.

Sr Lellis, the assistant Superior General who is also the general co-ordinator for Formation and Sr Christella, the assistant Provincial Superior of Mangalore province, as well as the convenor of the renewal programme were present on the dais.

After the formal programme, Sr David Delaney captured the attention of the young and vibrant souls who are in love with Jesus, their master, and called on them to commit their lives to Him without compromises.