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.