Journey of a Missionary Rosary

The Core group for the missionary animation of the Province came together to plan out various activities for this special year 2019. The maiden activity was the pilgrimage of the missionary Rosary. In her opening address Sr. Mary George, invited each member to, “make an effort to journey along the missionary rosary helping everyone to pray for the entire universal Church, that all her children may experience freedom to practice, to express, to proclaim their faith and to pursue after holiness of life.”

Provincial House, Secunderabad: 1 November 2018 marked the commencement of the pilgrimage of the missionary rosary from the Provincial House, Secunderabad. Sr. Namitha Louis animated the moment and led the community into prayer, focusing the attention on Mission.

Communities: All the communities of the Province welcomed enthusiastically, prepared diligently and animated creatively the missionary rosary. Not just the sisters but all the inmates, teachers, students, staff in the hospitals and boarding, co-workers, were involved actively. At the parish level, different zones, sub stations, institutions, families, etc welcomed it whole-heartedly. The satellite presence at Banjara Mission had their own way of initiating it to the people of the locality. Although this presence is small and is situated in the periphery, the missionary spirit was fully alive and active.

1 November 2018 commencement of the missionary rosary at Nirmala House, Secunderabad

Formation Houses: The Formees were enlightened towards the specific vocation as missionaries. They also had the possibilities during this time to widen their horizons on mission ad gentes. Nevertheless, the places of formation were more creative in their way of praying, living and creating the missionary awareness.

MSI Lay Associates: Lay associates took active part in the programs that were organized. They joined the community sisters in carrying and in animating the missionary rosary in different places. It was also an inspiration for other people of the locality to join in our lay associates group. People also became aware that being the lay people they could spare time for the mission by being part of our charism.

Sisters expressed: To us the missionaries, it was a golden opportunity to awaken the missionary spirit and to transmit it to others. It was a moment to come together, to plan together, to live together, and to share together the missionary aspirations. Some of the communities prepared the handouts of the Missionary Rosary and distributed it to the people.

People expressed: For them, it was the new experience to hear for the first time about the Extraordinary Missionary Month. They were moved from within, after listening to the realities of different missions. They assured their prayers. There was lot of collaboration, support and encouragement from them. Jesus the untiring missionary touched them to feel both sympathy and empathy with all peoples of the world.

Madha TV telecasting: The Online Catholic Christian Channel in the State of Tamil Nadu called Madha TV (http://madhatv.in/aboutus.php) invited our Missionaries to pray online the missionary rosary. People from all walks of life and from all over the world joined us in praying it. It was followed by the sharing of the mission experiences by Sr. Rose Mary Michael, Mission returnee from Brazil and Sr. Vimala Francis, a missionary from PNG. This programme gave us the possibility to sow the missionary seeds in the digital arena.

The finale of this journey took place on 30 October at the Parish Church of ‘Our Lady of Perpetual help, Seethaphalmandi, Secunderabad.’ We thank God for the fruitful completion of this chain rosary and for all the experiences we could harvest during this Extraordinary Missionary Month October 2019.