Bethany 22,August:The annual meeting of the Pastoral Coordinators of the Congregation held on Aug 17, 2018 at Bethany Mother House, was organized by Sr Shanthi Priya, the General Coordinator for Pastoral Ministry. It was attended by six Provincial Superiors, 46 participants from all the seven provinces, and the members from Central Administration. This meeting was intended to rekindle the pastoral zeal, and recapture the pastoral vision of the Founder in today’s world and also to respond to the voice of the universal Mother Church. Fr Ronald Serrao, Professor at St Joseph’s seminary, Jeppu, Mangalore spoke on the latest apostolic exhortation of Pope Francis -“Rejoice and be Glad” (Gaudete et Exsultate) and its implications to pastoral ministry. It was also intended to refocus on the priorities of the last annual meeting in relation to the thrust of the XVI General Chapter -to intensify the home mission, family counseling and family apostolate, to offer Pastoral Care to the catholic migrant youth in the cities,to organize a convention of domestic aids and the BLAs, Pastoral care to the elderly in our communities, systematic plan to reach out to the married couples and, single parents and to collaborate with the diocesan pastoral plan in the care of the families and the youth.
On this occasion Sr Rose Celine, Superior General released the ‘BLA Handbook’ – of guideline for the animators and members of Bethany Lay Association. It was the unrelenting work of love of Sr Shanthi Priya, the General Coordinator.