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Guided by the Hand of God

31 May, Palamaner: Everyone is from God and is expected to return to God; however, the destiny depends on God’s unique calling and one’s personal choices here and now on earth. Towards each one’s unique purpose, the hand of the Lord is indispensable as the apostle of Christ, St. Paul expresses, “All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God” (Rom 8:14). So, as the children of God each one should allow God to work within, as He wants because His guidance is the surest hope of our destiny, the Father.

On the day of Pentecost 31st of May 2020 we, the nine novices, after a year of discernment came forward to make our first profession in the presence of the whole community of St. Louis friary, Palamaner. In fact, the day was memorable; even though we missed the presence of our Minister Provincial, Custos and the nearby communities, the liturgical day reminded of the coming of the Holy Spirit, by which we were strengthened to go ahead with the Holy Spirit for the mission of Christ. This symbolic experience made this event grand and meaningful. We are grateful to our Minister Provincial for his encouraging online-dialogue with us before the profession through Zoom.

After the year of probation with a proper discernment, we the nine novices were convinced to live the Gospel way of life. With the guidance of God as well as with the help and the examples of the living community, we grew in our life-aspirations, which are suitable to the Franciscan Vocation. During this year we learnt to live the life in its realities, not merely as the spectators but as the participants in the game of life.

It is the abiding Grace of God that led us to the day of our first profession without any break even though the common life of the entire world was disturbed by the pandemic. Fr. Charles, our Novice master, helped us to know and to understand the Evangelical Counsels which we were to profess. Fr. Johns guided us through a week’s retreat by which he made us to realize the importance of our vow to God.

With the Psalmist’s reminder, “Make vows to the Lord your God and perform them” (Ps 76:11), we approached the final day with the good understanding of God’s plan for each one of us. The community gathered together around the table of the Lord at 7.00 AM in the Main Chapel for the Eucharistic celebration. The main celebrant, Fr. Charles Arulanandam, reminded us through his homily the necessity of being led by the Spirit of the Lord and his Holy Manner of Living through the means of prayer, Word of God, Poor and Fraternity, which was the content of his whole year teaching to us. And with the same inspiration of the Holy Spirit we made our Simple Vows in the hands of Fr. Charles Arulanandam, the Provincial Delegate and the Guardian of the friary. The friars then expressed their greetings and wishes of peace and perseverance with their encouraging words and embrace. We also received the book of the Rule and the Constitutions of the Order of the Friars Minor, which we needed to carry, not in its physical form alone but also in our hearts without looking back, lest we become unfit for the Kingdom of God.

Finally, we reached the refectory where one of the novices expressed the words of gratitude to all the Friars in the community, who accompanied us in our journey. After the sumptuous breakfast, the Minister Provincial, the Custos, the Family members, some of the benefactors and well-wishers, who really supported us through encouraging words and prayers, wished us through phone. At this moment of grace, we remain with grateful heart to God, administration, Formators, friars, parents and well-wishers for the help they gave us and we ask you all to keep us in your prayers!

Br. Allwin  Karra

 

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