PRAYER, PENANCE AND PERSEVERANCE

Our Community started its own time to reflect the love of God during this Lenten season like reading the Rule of Life, austere meals as well as more and intense prayers.

March 1^st is the first week of Lenten season in this year. We had several Community meetings of formation. Here villages are far to reach so every day Priests are going to celebrate Eucharist in the villages with Sacrament of Reconciliation in the beginning of Eucharist as well as Way of the Cross was conducted in their own villages guided by their “Prachar” (Catechist).

The World Cup Cricket matches were going on; on the other hand, the 10^th and 12^th Students are sitting for their final examination. It is always a temptation that during this time writing exams while whole country is worried about Cricket.

On 5^th Friday, the Way of the Cross was done in different groups, it is done by School in different time so the people are free to join in any one of the School for Way of the Cross. The following day was “Holi” festival of colour. It is very hard to go out for People were being mad of throwing colour water to anyone who passes by.  

On 9^th we started final exams in all the Schools. Sometimes it is very hard that students do not prepare because it has been told that all the students will pass; exams will be till 18^th of March.

On 11^th our new cat from parish gave birth to four kittens in the office room in the absence of Brothers at home. Soon after the examination Brothers were busy in correcting papers of students. It is very strange that students bring something for the Class-teacher: we do not know whether it is to thank the teacher for whole year teaching or to make him/her pass at the last moment. As there were exams going on, the Way of the Cross was not done in the Parish, so we did ourselves very piously in our Community.

Br Abhay was taking care of Fist Communion class in the absence of a regent Brother, later he was given some hours every day for preparation of First Communion.  There were around 60 boys and girls. They will be taking First Communion on April 11, in the absence of Br Abhay who will be doing Annual Retreat at that moment.

On 23^rd was a Government holiday, we had recollection day in our neighbor Parish of Tainser. The assistant parish priest welcomed us well; that day we spent there, in the evening we returned to our community.

On 26^th of Br Efra headed to Eluru Community for meeting of the Advisory Council, on the way our vehicle got punctured as the train was at night so we reached well; in our community we used to be there in the station before at least one or two hours before the arrival of Train.

On 27^th Sisters form AP came for Vocation promotion; they stayed in our house; Brothers were helping them in “fishing girls”. Following day it was Saturday Fr Bipin came for Holy Mass, these days were holiday everyday so a Brother accompanied them to villages. Last year they took a candidate from this place, now she is continuing.

On Palm Sunday many people came; there was a long procession, more than usual attended the Eucharist. Unlike previous year new priests were here in assisting priests in confession and in Eucharist. Sisters did not move anywhere rather they helped in kitchen in cooking.

Brother Superior arrived from Eluru on the last day of the month, so our Community is again complete. We are preparing ourselves for the celebration of the Holy Week, in particular for the Easter Triduum.