Independence Day Celebration

August 15, 2007.
Today our country marks 60 years of independence. A great day to rejoice and celebrate. It was also the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We had a solemn mass at the Auxilium chapel for all the communities around.
After the mass, we had a march-past around the basket ball court in our campus. The tricolour was hoisted by Varun, the youngest of the pre-novices. Later in the morning there was a basket ball match between two groups of the pre-novices. It was a lively show.
In the evening we were invited for a get-together to the RNDM formation house. It was a fun filled evening with games and riddles, singing and dancing and lot of laughing. They had also prepared a very sumptuous high tea. The beautiful evening came to a close with a meaningful prayer service organised in their well decorated chapel.

Arrupe Day

July 31 was the feast of St Ignatius, the founder of the Jesuits. We celebrated the day as Arrupe Day, remembering Fr Pedro Arrupe, SJ, former Superior General of the Society of Jesus, whose birth centenary is celebrated this year. We had a solemn Eucharist in the morning celebrated by Fr Sajeev. Sisters from some of our neighbouring communities joined us for the Eucharist. Sweets were distributed after the mass and some of the sisters joined us for breakfast.
The high point of the day was a prayer get-together at 11 a.m., during which Fr Carvalho shared with the guests, numbering about 35, some reflections on the life and times of Arrupe. The pre-novices put up an impressive short play on Arrupe’s vocation, written by Sch Sujith and directed by Sch Roshan. The performance exceeded our expectations, considering that the pre-novices are here for less than a couple of months struggling with their English. The get-together was followed by a sumptuous lunch.
There was a basket ball match in the evening, which everyone enjoyed. It was a good conclusion for a memorable day.

Roshan's Birthday

Today we celebrated the birthday of Sch. Roshan Tirky, the Assistant Director of the pre-novitiate. We had a special mass in the morning, which began with an introduction by pre-novice Varun, the beadle. He spoke humorously about Roshan’s family and his work here. During the mass, Roshan shared with us the story of his vocation to the Society of Jesus. It was quite touching and inspiring. Later during the breakfast, he cut a cake to the refrains of a birthday chorus.

Arunoday Community 2007-8

Fr Aloysius Carvalho, SJ, became a member of this community four years ago with the batch of 2003-4. This year is his fifth batch. But his association with the Calcutta Pre-novitiate goes far beyond these few years. It began when the pre-novitiate was temporarily housed in Bankura in 1995 till it moved to its present home in 2001. In all those years, Fr Carvalho was the Director of the Pre-novices. He now teaches English and Catechism.

Fr Sajeev Painunkal, SJ, is the Director of the Pre-novitiate. He is also the acting superior of the Jesuit community of Arunoday.

Sch. Roshan Tirky, SJ, is the Assistant Director of the Pre-novitiate. He also doubles up as the minister of the house. This is his first year of regency. Apart from teaching, he also looks after the material needs of the pre-novices.

Sch. Samir Ekka, SJ, prepares his BA in Philosophy at Morning Star College, Barrackpore, about 15 kms from Barasat. He is in his final year. Morning Star College is a Major Seminary run by the Arch diocese of Calcutta.

Sch Peter Durairaj, SJ, attends BPh classes at Morning Star College. He is also doing a BA in English Literature from Indira Gandhi Open University. Peter is in the final year of his BPh.

Fr Patrick Walsh, SJ, is an attached member of Arunoday Jesuit Community. He stays at Morning Star College, teaching English and giving Spiritual Direction to the seminarians. But he is always with us for any important programme.

The pre-novices with the scholastics: From left, Sch Roshan, Robin, Sch Samir, Abraham, Tony, Julian, Varun, Pradeep, Amar, Ignatius, Vinson, Ananta, Sch Peter, Jeevan, Ashish and John Paul.

A photo taken at Bandel

Towards the end of last year, we went for a pilgrimage cum picnic to

Bandel shrine. It was really fun. We used all modes of transport possible: train, bus, boat, rickshaw. We walked the last leg of the journey to feel that it was really a pilgrimage.

This photo was clicked there, inside the shrine.

Update June 2007

After five weeks of hibernation, Arunoday came back to life with the arrival of our prenovices - old and new. We started the year earlier this year so as to have a combined programme for the outgoing prenovices and the new ones. So they all started arriving on June 7. The older ones were with us till June 20 for a refresher course in English after which they left for their new home, the novitiate of Dhyan Ashram. Their presence provided a good initiation for the new comers in many ways.
The Academic Year was inaugurated on June 19 evening with a Mass celebrated by Fr Provincial. It was also the birthday of Fr Carvalho. A birthday match was organized between the community Jesuits and the outgoing prenovices. The seniors had a tough time beating the youngsters. Our new regent, Sch. Roshan Tirkey, reached on June 18. In the meantime we had Sch Thamacin to help us with the teaching. After some additions and subtractions we are left with lucky thirteen prenovices. A few more are expected in the coming days. Let us pray for more good vocations.