1. Fiat retreat conducted by General Animators
2. One day seminar for strengthening in
faith
3. Retreat at Divine Retreat Centre
4. Didakke team
5. St. Alphonsa Spirituality course
6. Sacrari prayer
7. Spiritual batch gathering & Night
vigil
8. Empowerment programme & batch
gathering
9. KERIGMA-Gospelproclamation course
10. Vachanamrutham retreat in the schools,Parishes
& Balikabhavans
11. Reconciliation retreat
12. Diologue orientation course
13. FATRI course
14. Panambu gathering
15. Holy spirit retreat
16. Constitution retreat
17. 40 days retreat
18. Animators programme
19. Abba year prayer group
20. Goal awareness programme
21. Inner cell and Prayer group
22. Intercessory prayer group
23. One day seminar-St.clare spirituality
24. Renewal course &programme
25. Prayer life awareness course
26. Chain rosary &Adoration
27. Franciscan spirituality course
RENEWAL PROGRAMME IN THE APOSTOLIC
FIELD
1.
One day seminar for teachers in every
year
2.
Annual retreat for teachers
3.
Nursery teachers conference
4.
Value Education course
5.
Nurses guild
6.
Refreasher course for teachers
7. Inner healing retreat for the students
Spiritual Animation
for the Sisters
FCC
General Animators Team has formed in order to give the sisters necessary
inspiration and encouragement in spiritual life. These animators are trained
and equipped at the general level to bring about spiritual awakening in the
sisters through renewal programmes and retreats. The animators render their
service individually and collectively to the sisters in the spiritual and
psychological level in co-operation with the General and Provincial councils.
From each Province according to the strength of the members one to four
animators are selected who are spiritually and psychologically mature,
acceptable and able to do this ministry effectively and faithfully. They are
given initial training and formation for three months. These animators are
occasionally called in the Mission and in Kerala for evaluation and for further
plans. The General Core Team under the
guidance of the Superior General and the General Councillor in-charge plan out
renewal programmes suited to the needs of the time, execute and evaluate it.
A
group of trained and well prepared animators visited each community and
inspired the sisters to a life of holiness, thus sanctify our communities and
institutions so that the love of Christ will be more manifested through their
edifying and committed life. They stayed with the communities for one week and
helped the members to grow in holiness through their life examples, classes and
directions etc.
Franciscan
Spirituality, FCC Charism, Church Documents, Apostolic Encyclicals,
Exhortations and Letters, Socio-Political-Economic needs and problems,
contemporary Ecclesiastical studies and the celebrations of the Year of the Word
of God, Year of Youth, Year of Priests,
Year of Faith, Mission Year of the Syro-Malabar Church etc.
The following retreats are conducted
for the members:
40 days retreat
Constitution Retreat
Holy Spirit Retreat
Alphonsa Spirituality Retreat
Charism Retreat
Good Shepherd Retreat
Fiat Retreat
30 days retreat for the Novices in preparation for 1st
Profession
40 days retreat for the Junior sisters in preparation for
the Final Profession
ALPHONSA GARDEN A Life guidance Programme for
Children
The holy life of St.
Alphonsa who stood for Eternal values inspires the whole humanity to walk in
the path of holiness and firm faith in God. She has succeeded in keeping a
heart full of affection to embrace the whole world especially little children. Sr.
Alphonsa, the ordinary young nun with extraordinary inner strength and courage
has taught us all that we have the call to become a saint. The life of St. Alphonsa is a sign of the
enduring love of the good Lord for the present generation and it will serve as
a source of strength till the end of times.
Alphonsa Garden is a
life guidance programme which aims at the integral growth and development of
the school children. It is functioning very systematically, lively and actively
under the guidance of animators through the blessing and grace of St.
Alphonsa. All the schools run by FCC
have a unit of Alphonsa Garden which includes children of all age group
irrespective of cast or religion. The spirituality of St. Alphonsa which is
rooted in the love of God and love of brethren is imparted through this
spiritual garden. Alphonsa garden tries to inculcate a culture of love and
sacrifice among the students.
At the beginning of
every academic year, each unit gather under the leadership of their animators
and plan out the activities for the year. In the month of June new members are
added to the units. Prayer to St.
Alphonsa is being recited holding lighted candles.
The month of July is a
time of joy and enthusiasm among the students. The children prepare for nine
days for the Feast of St. Alphonsa by praying Novena. The statue of St.
Alphonsa is beautifully decorated during the novena days. The feast of St.
Alphonsa is celebrated on 28th July in a graceful and colourful
manner. In connection with the Feast verities of programmes and competitions
are conducted and prizes are distributed.
Some of the programmes
are:
Alphonsa corner - a class wise
competition - the arrangement and decoration of the classrooms
Drawing competition- picture of St.
Alphonsa or theme related to St. Alphonsa
Group music
Speech competition
Quiz
Skit
Writing the verses of St. Alphonsa
St. Alphonsa exhibition
Prayer service based on
the life of St. Alphonsa and procession
carrying the relic of St. Alphonsa is being conducted. Every week the members
of Alphonsa garden gather for prayer in the chapel or prayer room and also
share their experiences. The verses of St. Alphonsa is taught in this prayer
meetings. The books based on the spirituality of St. Alphonsa especially Gothampumani will be distributed.
Counselling facility is arranged for the students. Children share their
testimony, the favours and blessings received through the intercession of St.
Alphonsa in the gathering. To sustain
the relationship among the students during holidays and summer vacation special programmes are allotted to everyone.
Children are taught to keep up sanitation and cleanliness in the school campus
and premises and to make use of waste
paper and materials to add some collection to the school fund for the poor.
The Nativity of Lord
Jesus - Christmas is also celebrated by the children of Alphonsa garden in
schools. The members of the garden themselves take initiative to arrange
everything. A list of different programmes will be displayed on the notice board
in preparation for Christmas. Some outreach programme also conducted by the
children. Children are happy to collect some useful materials and visit poor
families, orphanages, poor people in the hospitals etc and share the message of
love and peace and also put up some programme to entertain them. It helps them to imbibe the spirit of being
with the poor and the marginalised. Before Christmas vacation one day is set
apart for Christmas celebration. Various competitions like preparation of crib,
star, Christmas cards, Santa clause and carol singing etc are conducted.
Christmas message will be delivered and distribute cake, sweets etc.
At the General level,
every year Alphonsa Garden Meet is being conducted for four days inviting
children from all over Kerala. 15 students from each province a total number
around 200 children participate in the Garden Meet. During the last four years
it has been conducted at Aluva, Pala, Changanassery and Bharananganam. Liturgy,
Classes, verities of programmes according to the importance and speciality of
the year and mutual sharing etc help the students to deepen their faith, a
vision of wisdom and sacredness of reality, a capacity of renunciation and
purification, an intense moral seriousness
and
enlighten their knowledge, understanding and co-operation. Students understand the value of suffering
and love for humanity. It is really a platform for healthy collaboration of the
children of different parts of Kerala. Children learn to sacrifice their needs
for sake of doing good to others with special intentions. Even a child, a
devotee of St. Alphonsa from one unit is enough to spread the glow of the
spirituality Alphonsa in her surroundings. Through a child we can win the whole
family. It is our hope that the intercession of St. Alphonsa will guard and
lead us in this endeavour to spread the love of God and humanity. General level
competitions also are conducted and Prizes are distributed for the winners and
consolation prizes for the participants. The animators are also encouraged and
appreciated for their meritorious and selfless services. Aluva Generalate,
Pala, Changanassery and Bharananganam
were the meeting places of
previous years.
The real spirit and
effective functioning of Alphonsa Garden certainly will help in disseminating
the fragrance of her holiness among the children, families, societies and thus
bring the whole humanity closer to God, the Eternal Truth. May her inspiring
example consumed in love and constant intercession enable the whole universe to
bring Peace, Love, Justice and Liberty to everyone through the life witness of
thousands of devotees of St. Alphonsa.
