Every year, we conduct a training seminar for the newly appointed Province Coordinators and Diocesan Directors, alongside our Annual Meeting. This year, the event took place at Pilar, Goa, from November 13th to 15th. The central theme of the training, “Spirituality of the Way of the Heart,” was addressed by Fr. Jagdish Parmar SJ, the National Director, Fr. Xavier Tharamel SJ, the Kerala Province Coordinator, and Mr. Jesu Raj, a member of the National Team.
The event commenced on the morning of November 13th with an inauguration by Philip Neri Cardinal Ferrao of Goa, who lit the ceremonial lamp. During the inauguration, he also unveiled the South Asian Edition of the EYM Handbook. Concurrently, the Jesuit Provincial of South Asia (POSA) launched our new website, http://www.popesprayers.in, and introduced our social media presence on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. The E Bulletin 2023 was released by Frs. Philikutty and Naresh Lobo, VGs of the Belgaum and Lucknow Dioceses, respectively.
On the final day, Fr. Roland Coelho, the Provincial of Goa, celebrated Mass and distributed mementos to all attendees. The seminar included a half-day pilgrimage to Bom Jesu, Old Goa, where the body of St. Francis Xavier is enshrined.
The seminar was attended by 21 Diocesan Directors, including one Carmelite priest and two laymen, 9 Jesuit Province Coordinators with 2 laymen representing 2 Jesuit Provinces, and 8 members of the National Team, including the National Director of Sri Lanka.
On November 16th, two separate meetings were held: one for the Province Coordinators and Regional Directors, during which a Plan of Action was developed by representatives from the 9 CBCI Regions, and another for the National Team members for evaluation and follow-up programs.
The next meeting is scheduled for November 2024 at the Pastoral Centre in Lucknow. The conducive weather, pleasant location, and excellent food all contributed to a fruitful and productive training and meeting session.
Fr. Jagdish Parmar SJ
National Director, India,
South Asian Coordinator,
PWPN and EYM
