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Silver Jubilee Celebrations at Manoharabad (INH)
Sacred Heart Novitiate, Manoharabad, Telangana, 11 January 2020: Sacred Heart Novitiate Manoharabad of the Province of St Joseph Hyderabad celebrated its Silver Jubilee of its existence on 11th January 2020.
The celebrations started with the Holy Eucharist presided over by Most Rev. Thumma Bala, the Archbishop of Hyderabad diocese, concelebrated by Rev. Father Thathireddy Vijaya Bhasker, Provincial, Father Jose Mathew the delegate for formation of South Asia, Father John Samala the first Novice Master, Father K.M. Sebastian and Father Sebastian John, the later Novice Masters, Father Noel the 3rd Provincial of Hyderabad Province, other Priests who worked in the Novitiate as administrators, as also other Salesian Priests and the priests as well as other religious.
The Holy Eucharist began at 10:15 am. There was a welcome dance by the Presentation novices followed by the words of introduction by Cleric Banka Sagar Babu the Practical Trainee of Novitiate. The Archbishop’s sermon was very challenging and thought-provoking. He invited the religious to put on the armour of Christ and serve the people with respect.
Instantly, felicitation ceremony began with the words of welcome by the present novice master Father Kannadipara Mathew. He gave a short history of the Novitiate and the number of Salesians who have passed out. He remembered and thanked Father Provincial and Father Economer for the wonderful renovation of the building. He also spoke about the pioneers of the Sacred Heart Novitiate especially Father Benjamin Puthota, the first Provincial of Hyderabad and Father John Lens the great Belgian Missionary who spent his last years of his life at Manoharabad. Instantaneously there was a floral homage paid to Father Benjamin Puthota and Father John Lens.
Father Provincial felicitated the Archbishop as he celebrated the Golden Jubilee of his priestly life. Later, Father Provincial in his message on the occasion of the Silver Jubilee, spoke about the Archbishop. He spoke about the love he has for the Salesians. He also mentioned the hard work of the former novice masters and the other Salesian staff members. He appreciated the present community for the hard work they put in for the success of the Jubilee celebration. He too felicitated the former novice masters, and the other Salesian staff members. He furthermore felicitated the 3rd provincial of the Hyderabad province Father Noel, and Father Jose Mathew the delegate for formation. He felicitated also the present novice master and the other staff members.
Father John Samala the first novice master shared his devotion to St Joseph and he mentioned three miracles that he had experienced at Manoharabad. Don Bosco novices as well as the Presentation novices stole the hearts of the audience with their winning steps. The felicitation programme was concluded with a hymn to our father and founder St. John Bosco. Finally there was a delicious Jubilee lunch served. After lunch, everyone moved out with happiness and joy. It was certainly an unforgettable jubilee celebration.
The beautiful singing of the Don Bosco Novices and the Presentation Novices under the guidance of Father Mattukoya Mariadas sdb and the new priest Father Naresh sdb bagged the attention of everyone. The hard work of the novices was seen in the beautiful decoration of the house under the guidance of Father Charan, the Dean and the Administrator of the house and of the Assistant Br. Banka Sagar. Father Pandicherry Joseph the confessor gave practice to the novices in all the readings.
One cannot forget the master of ceremonies Father Sandeep and Father Upendar. People appreciated the hard work of Father Sarath, the vocation Promoter, Father Thambi the Previous Administrator and Father Neerkishan the liturgical animator. Sister Biji and the community of Presentation sisters and Sister Vijaya and the community of JMJ decorated the stage and the altar with beautiful flowers. Their love for the Salesians and the Sacred Heart community was shown in their doing especially in the flower decorations and Mass arrangements.
The community was busy not only in the external preparations for one month but also in the spiritual realm. Father Kannadipara Mathew the Novice Master, a man of Prayer, led the whole community in a prayerful atmosphere with special prayers for the success of the Silver Jubilee celebrations. Novices recited special prayers for one month including a prayer prepared by Cleric Banka Sagar.
