May 13, 2018: Bethany Generalate, Bendur: 51 sisters from all over India and Tanzania attended a five days’ long Superiors’ Training programme from 13TH- 18TH May 2018, intended to develop second and third line of leadership in the Congregation. In her introduction and welcome speech Sr Lillis, the organizer of the programme, stressed on the importance of a local community and the local superior’s role in promoting the holiness of the Congregation.
Sr Rose Celine, the Superior General, spotlighted the three ‘s’ of Gospel leadership, namely, servant, shepherd and steward and expounded each aspect. Superior is the one who protects the charism of the Congregation, she emphasized.
The resource persons for day one were Sr Lillis, the Asst Superior General, and Sr ShantiPriya, the General Councillor . Sr Lillis dealt on topics, such as, Multiculturalism and Community life, Fr Founder, a model for enterprising steward leadership, whereas Sr ShantiPriya dealt on Constitution- the road map for a disciple of Christ; Tips for up keeping of the documents- the patrimony of the Congregation, and Tips for maintaining convent archives and holding community meetings.
The resource person for day two and three was Rev Fr. Philip msfs, the Vice Provincial of Guwahati Province, who dealt on personal empowerment to empower others. He dealt at length on Personality traits, Developmental stages, Stress management, Personal leadership styles, Conflict management, Generation gap and the methods of bridging it etc. Various exercises to assess one’s personal leadership style too were part of the programme.
On the fourth day Sr Mariette, the General Councillor, spoke on Drinking deep from the Charism and Spirituality of the Congregation and the Founder. On the fifth day Rev Fr Baptist Menezes spoke on discernment and spiritual direction and Sr Sneha, the Province Procurator of Western Province took practical sessions on Temporal Administration. She also was the assistant organizer of the programme.
Prayer at Fr Founder’s cottage, visit to the tomb of Fr Founder, prayer in the adoration chapel, organized recreation, evaluation , self introduction, the delicious dishes served, washing the dishes, prayer of anointing, made the Bethany lived in experience a memorable one.