BANDEL: On 28th February 2019, visiting councilor Rev. Sr. Lucy Rose Ozhukayil and her secretary Sr. Veronica Kamei Pongtinei arrived for the Canonical Visitation to Auxilium Convent, Bandel. They were accompanied by Sr. Rose Ezarath the provincial and Sr. Teresa Adampakallel the vice provincial. Sisters, teachers and, students honoured them with a traditional grand welcome. Then all of us proceeded to the Chapel, there upon Sr. Lucy Rose was invited by Sr. Elizabeth Valliyil, the animator of the community to light the lamp and that was followed bya short prayer service.
At 4.00 pm the boarders welcomed her with a melodious song. During the conference Sr. Lucy Rose helped the sisters to meditate on wedding feast at Cana and, thereafter sisters were invited to share their own reflections. During the Good Night she once again reminded the sisters, of the attitude of Mary and Jesus and to be obedient like them.
The following day, the school children staged a programme on the proposed theme“The wedding feast at Cana”. At the end of the short programme, Sr. Lucy Rose extended the greetings of Mother General to the staff and students. In her inspiring speech she invited the students to have dreams that will help them to have a bright future and to build a good society. At 11.00 am she met the teaching staff. One of the teachers addressed her with a warm welcome speech.Sr. Lucy Rose appreciated their work and thanked them for their cooperation and collaboration and wished them a happy family life and offered them a souvenir.
In the evening she met the non-teaching staff and thanked them for their contribution which is important and without them our mission would be incomplete.They also received a token of gratitude.
During the Evening Prayer she presented to the Sisters, a passage from the Old Testamenton Prophet Eliza and the widow of Zeraphat. That enkindled in them to be ‘Signs of love, hope and joy.’
On the third day we had ‘Thanksgiving Day’. During the Holy Eucharistic celebration she offered a bowl of water symbolizing water turning into wine and, that in the same manner she has helped us to change ourselves and closer to God and one another.
At 11.00 am she met the House Council and enlightened them about their duties as a counselor by quoting Mary’s attitudes and duties. At 3.30 pm she met the Salesian Cooperators and the Past Pupils.
In the evening accompanied by Sr. Elizabeth Valliyil she visited Our Lady of Happy Voyage Shrine and paid a short visit to Don Bosco Seminary. Fr. E. J. Antony the rector welcomed her with a garland and the seminarians greeted her with a melodious song. She encouraged them to be faithful to the call of the Lord.
During the Evening Prayer, Sr. Lucy Rose helped us to understand the true significance of Tabour Experience by a Power Point Presentation. After the supper the community expressed their gratitude with a creative skit and song.Then theboarders entertained Sr. Lucy Rose with songs, dance and presented the Wedding Feast at Cana in a modern way. She brought home a messageby relatinga story on “Echo”. She invited them to become smart by making good use of every opportunity they receive.
On the following day we had a photo session near the little plant which Mother General had planted last year on her visit to Bandel before she left for Kalyani. Sr. Elizabeth Valliyil and, Sr. Rejina Adampakallel Joseph accompanied her.