The Teresian Association that set foot on Indian soil in the year 1973, marks its golden jubilee in India this year,2023. As invitations went out across the globe for the grand celebration in Honavar the theme specially coined for the golden jubilee ‘WITH ONE MINDAND ONE HEART: CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF GOD’S FAITHFULNESS WITH RENEWED HOPE AND COMMITMENT’ filled the air and vibrated in the hearts of members near and far.
The grand celebration began at the gate of the St Pedro Poveda church, Shantinagar, Honavar with a solemn procession. Bishop, priests, and members: both of the primary Association and ACIT Associations from different parts of India, parishioners and guests accompanied by the customary band playing joyful notes. The solemn Eucharistic celebration was celebrated by Bishop Derek Fernandes, the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Karwar and concelebrated by 20 priests. The introduction by Jennifer Fernandes remembered with fond gratitude the faithfulness of God who has walked with the T.A in India since its setting foot on Indian soil in 1973. Also very fondly were remembered the first members who brought the charism to our land and also all those from abroad and natives who tirelessly gave their lives for the rooting of the charism and in the service of the mission.
In his homily, the Bishop remembered St Pedro Poveda as a great martyr who sacrificed himself totally and was faithful to his vocation as ‘a priest of Christ’ to the very end and so he is an inspiration to us of self-giving, sacrifice and faithfulness to the mission God has entrusted to each one of us. Further congratulating the Teresian Association on its golden jubilee, the Bishop lauded the mission of the Teresian Association of being the salt of the earth to build the kingdom of God through her various projects, pastoral work and other endeavors not just in Honnavar but also in the entire diocese of Karwar and the other parts of the country. The bishop mentioned with gratitude the work being carried for women, the differently abled, youth and children through education and culture. The incumbent Parish Priest of St Pedro Poveda Church, Fr Alwyn Cardoza, while congratulating T.A India, welcomed all the T.A members and thanked the members for their valuable support and service to the Parish community.
Gratitude and joy were truly evident in the vote of thanks proposed by Nancy Fernandes. After the Eucharist everyone moved to the SARPI Center hall for the days program. The special dignitaries were ushered up on stage and felicitated, after which Bishop Derek Fernandes was very specially felicitated with flowers and a shawl by Goretti Gonsalves. Everyone was happy to hear from the T.A General President, Gregoria Ruiz as Nancy Fernandes read the congratulatory message.
Then was the time to give a listening ear to our dignitaries. Maria Goretti Gonsalves, the incumbent Sector Director of sector A-4, who also is the first native member while sharing her own personal vocational story on a personal note expressed her gratitude to God and fondly remembered the sacrifice, fortitude and love of the first members who came to this land like Mary Careaga, Nenita Tenefrancia etc and all the members who subsequently gave many valuable years of their life to the rooting of the charism in the country. Goretti also recalled the support of many persons very specially that of Bishop William D’mello, the previous Bishop of Karwar Diocese who was instrumental in welcoming the T.A to Honnavar. On a joyful note she welcomed all the members and guests from far and near and also made present the memory of those gone before us and those who could not make it for the celebration. Fr Valerian Sequiera, the first Parish Priest of St Pedro Poveda Church while congratulating the members of the Teresian Association expressed his admiration for the vision of St Pedro Poveda and mission of the Teresian Association through which culture and education are evangelized. Fr Valerian further added that his close association with the Teresian Association strengthened his own priestly vocation and also appreciated the zeal for the mission of the local vocations of Honavar. namely: Nancy, Elizabeth, Jennifer, Paskin, Sylvia and especially those from the St Pedro Poveda Parish namely: Flavia and Roopa. On a nostalgic note, Fr Valerian remembered the moments of the construction of the St Pedro Poveda church during which he received a lot of collaboration from the T.A members from far and near even for the fund-raising of the project. In his address at the gathering Bishop Derek stressed on the nature and identity of the Teresian Association as an International lay association of pontifical rite and underlined the vocation of being in the world but not of the world by being called to be the salt of the earth of the Gospel. Mr.Benedict Gonsalves, President of ACIT Honnavar in his address expressed his happiness and gratitude to all. The words of wisdom from the dignitaries on stage was followed by the release of the book of the history of the Teresian Association in India authored by Ana Maria Madrigal a Spanish T.A member who spent many years of her life in India, and co-authored by Verenne Viegas an Indian member. Pilar Ferrer, the Previous Sector Director, along with Verenne Viegas released the book and copies of the same were distributed to the dignitaries. This was followed by the release of a song on the life of St Pedro Poveda in Kannada made by Clinton Miranda, a Parishionor and group on the occasion of the Parish feast and Jubilee celebration . The song was released by Bishop Derek Fernandes. The audience was then treated to a rich cultural programme put up by various groups and projects of theTeresian Association such as dances by: SARPI balwadi students, Anand ACIT group, St Pedro Poveda Special school students, ACIT Honnavar group and also presentation of a song by the Pune group which was specially composed for the occasion: the lyrics written by Goretti Gonsalves and music by Elia Fleta, a Spanish member who had lived for several years in India earlier. A video message of Nenita Tenefrancia one of the first three members to arrive in India in 1973 was screened. The grand celebration came to an end with a family song by all the members together and a sumptuous meal for all. The finale of the programme was the solemn vote of thanks by Roopa Dsouza. All departed with a very deep sense of gratitude and joy. The celebrative mood continued as the T.A family gathered to share their profound feelings and listen together to the messages sent from far and near.
