Vocation Promotion and Formation
As part of a long range plan for ensuring the continuity of our charism and mission, we have set aside four Sisters as full-time vocation promoters to live and function under the same roof and leadership.
During the school vacations, a special taskforce comprising of about 30 school teachers organized two residential programmes to promote vocations. These were conducted at regional levels and the Sisters were able to identify some children with an inclination towards the Consecrated life.
All recruiters of the different regions come together every three months to pray, evaluate their work and plan for the future. We keep our targets high – ten professed sisters annually. Our goal only shows our zeal and eagerness to cooperate with the Lord of the harvest. For, we believe that a vocation is purely a gift from the Master, whose providence has asked us to “Pray...”
St.Aloysius student house,Godella
The students’ House that was begun in 2000 continued during the past 6 years has now become a nursery for vocations. Those who enter after their G.C.E. O/L examination are given the opportunity to do their G.C.E. A/L examination in one of the schools managed by us. These children are introduced to the charism of the Congregation; they also get an exposure to the way of living of the Holy Angels Sisters. Thus the students’ house is virtually a “Come and See” programme. Even though these children are boarded here they are always free to join us or not. Though there are a fair number of regular dropouts, we are happy to have had a hand in their character formation as good Christian women of the world.
Decerning their vocation through meditations.
Decerning their vocation through prayers.
Aspirancy -St. Therese’s Convent, Elpitiya
In order to enable those who desire religious life to hear the call of Jesus to discipleship, candidates are brought to Elpitiya after their G.C.E. A/L examination, and given lessons in Catechism and Christian Doctrine, English, History of the Congregation, etc. Here again they are helped to grow in their vocation – to hear the call and respond to it with generosity. They also follow a course in computer studies to equip themselves to use modern day technology in the service of mission today. Growth in self awareness and personality building are nurtured side by side so that they may understand and interact with one another in Community in a healthy manner. An exposure to social graces and household duties add flavour to this stage of initial formation.
Pre-noviciate - St. Michael’s convent, Ganegama
Here the focus is on renunciation of things and giving up of all attachment to persons for the love of Christ. The pre-novices are helped gradually to get accustomed to religious life in Ganegama with the programme “Deny and Come.”
The Postulant Mistress accompanies the pre-novices to a deeper self-awareness and an understanding of the road signs of their Spiritual Journey.
Novitiate – Kurukulawa, Ragama.
The Holy Angels Spirituality based on the Spiritual Journey Retreat takes priority in the formation of the Novices. The theme of each year is also introduced to the Novices to enable them to incarnate our spirituality in today’s context.
Each year there has been two intakes as well as two professions. The Novices are helped in every respect to grow in their relationship with Jesus and root themselves in the charism of the Congregation. Thus, they make a study of the vowed life and the Constitutions of the Congregation. The experience of the vowed life, the mission of the Church and that of the Congregation are other essential elements that we focus on at this stage. Its purpose is to prepare the novices freely to commit themselves to their Lord, Master and Spouse, out of love for whom they pledge their lives by means of the vows.
Besides the activities of the curriculum we also make use of other opportunities as they come. So, we had two visiting resource personnel conducting programmes on self-awareness and personality building for the Novices. The purpose is not only growth in self-knowledge but also their accommodation to one another in Community.
Juniorate
The focus of the first three years is on the Evangelical Identity whereas the next three years would focus on their Pascal Identity. End of their 5th year they make their Spiritual Journey Retreat once again, thereby deepening their commitment as a stepping stone to their perpetual profession. By this time they have also had an opportunity to experience the different types of ministries of the church that the Congregation is engaged in. The annual get-together is a highpoint in the calendar of the Juniors. In addition to meeting peers, they have been enriched each year with something special, E. g. A study of the Pauline letters (2004); A programme on Non Violent Communication (2005); A session on Liturgy & Prayer of the Church (2006); Vowed Life and Prayer (2007); Self-awareness through Relaxation & Meditation (2008). In 2009, Patchwork and Cookery at Kildare Training Centre for the Junior-Juniors while the Senior-Juniors gathered in Kandy for an in-depth study of Vowed life and prayer.
Ongoing Formation
An ever more authentic spiritual life and a widening missionary vision are the goals towards which the finally professed Sisters are expected to keep journeying. Hence the Spiritual Animation team meets together every year to formulate a theme for the year along which to steer continual formation, deepening the understanding of the charism of our Congregation in every Sister. It has had a great impact on the Sisters as they come together every January to study and reflect on the theme which provided a direction for their growth, and deepened their love and commitment. This study and formulation of the annual theme and monthly recollection based on the same has undoubtedly been a great help also in the preparation of the annual retreats wherein the Sisters have gained and benefited much. Community building was given prominence in the retreats of 2005 - Our Eucharistic Marriage Covenant, our Eternal ‘Yes’, 2006 Communion in Community with Rev. Fr. Cyriac Nyrakkali OCD, a resource person from India. In 2007 the theme was Contemplative in Contemplation - of the Cross, in Cross and from Cross, 2008 the ‘Pascal Community’, and 2009 Identification with Christ based on Pauline theology.
In order to help Sisters live an authentic vowed life and come through crisis situations in life Sr. Vincy from India conducted two, five day sessions on Vowed life, Leadership and Mid-life Crisis. 80 of our Sisters who followed these sessions found them beneficial. Taking the field of renewal and awareness building into consideration, we had 7 Sisters participating in the Tertianship Programme at Lewella, and 12 following the Sister Formation course at the Aquinas University College, Colombo.
We have also had four Sisters following a Spiritual Direction Course at Haloluwa and 3 a course on Time Management at the OMI Retreat House - Mattakkuliya. 7 of our Sisters followed the Atmadarshan short course in Patna, and 2, the five months course. This included Integral Counseling and Psychotherapy, Inner child Workshop, A Journey into depth awareness etc. Seven of our Sisters followed a Programme in Personal Growth and Transformation in Pune. We were also able to train 2 Sisters as formators. About 50 senior Sisters followed the A.M.R. Programme to experience inner healing and peace within themselves. The resource persons came down from India.