COMMUNICATION WEEK FOR THE NOVICES

An eight-day session was conducted on Communication for the novices of the four Indian Provinces by Sister Navya Neelam CSJ, the Coordinator of ICC (International Communication Commission of the congregation) at Fox Rock, Pachmarhi – at the interprovince Novitiate from March 28 to April 6, 2022. Twenty-four novices and six postulants participated in these sessions.

Communication is a way of life for the sisters of St. Joseph with a charism of Communion. We cannot live the charism without communication. The sessions focused on the fact that as human beings we are always communicating through all that we say and do.  “Communication is an important topic for the sisters of St. Joseph. To live our charism of Double Total Union we need to communicate, and it is very essential for us.” “Through proper communication skills, we can build up our relationship with others, with nature and God.”

WE COMMUNICATE USING OUR FIVE SENSES

“Through these classes, I became aware that we communicate right from the time we wake up till we go to sleep. We constantly communicate using our five senses.”

This class conducted by Sr. Navya was based on communication as our lifestyle: we communicate with others, with nature, with God, and with ourselves. Our relationship with God, with others, nature, and ourselves are immersed in the process of communication. We are in communication with God through our prayer. We are in communication with others through our relationship with them. We are in communication with nature through our interaction with nature. Our life itself is 24 hours of communication. 

“The evening was the best time of the day; the hour of adoration conducted by Sister Navya. Each day different ways of prayer were organized connected to the daily session and deepening our relationship with God with the help of variations in singing, music, videos, reflections, body movements, sharing, etc.” We were enabled to look at God as a loving Abba who loves to be in friendship with us, like a prodigal Father lavishing all His love upon us. We became aware that we often have the tendency to look at God as a shopkeeper giving us whatever we ask Him.

GROWING IN COMMUNICATION

“I came to know the reality of our world through the presentation we had in groups on the War between Russia and Ukraine.” “Learned how to browse the internet for the first time while doing the search for Russia-Ukraine war.” We had the opportunity to learn how to write news articles, profile stories, and opinion stories.

Various activities like Bible skits, group and individual presentations, group discussions, one-to-one sharing, photography, writing of articles, writing minutes of the day, reading practice for the days’ Eucharist and Gospel, video shooting for YouTube publication, kept us all interested and active throughout the time schedule. 

“My long-awaited dream came true when I got to hold the DSLR camera in my hands and learned to take pictures.” “These were joyful and happy moments for us.” “The class has helped me to grow in my communication with others, be creative in my communication style and experience God more intimately.”

The Novices - Interprovince Novitiate, Pachmarhi, India.