PILGRIMS OF HOPE - TANMAYA

PILGRIMS OF HOPE: WALKING TOGETHER

The batch gathering of members of the Fiery Group, comprising Sisters of Saint Joseph of Chambery (Tanmaya Province) who made their profession between 2001 and 2011, convened in Goa, India, for a spiritual renewal program. The three-day program was held on the banks of the Arabian Sea, (Baga beach) Goa, was a well-organized and long-awaited event that proved to be a delight to the eyes and a treat for the soul.

I am writing these lines with immense gratitude to God and to my congregation for providing an enriched time of grace and rejuvenation. Staying together enabled the members to revisit the past with gratitude and awe, renewing the present and rejuvenating each participant for the future.   

This was a time filled with communion, deep sharing, and vulnerability, acknowledging the members' identity as God's masterpieces. The program coincided with the start of the Jubilee Year of Hope, making it an apt time for reflection and renewal.

A FUTURE IMMERSED IN THE SPIRIT

The members had the spiritual privilege of visiting and receiving the blessings of St. Francis Xavier, whose mortal remains was available for public veneration. Special blessings were received during the daily Eucharist, meals, outings, and authentic sharing on various aspects of religious life, interculturality and scriptures.

These moments of communion inspired us to walk in the path of hope and await a future immersed in the spirit, connected with the world, and witnessing God's love. We recognized God's presence even in our vulnerabilities and chaos. Our hearts overflowed with gratitude for the opportunities and goodness we received in our lives as members of a religious family.

Sr. Betsy Xavier, Tanmaya Province/India