SAC DARPAN: SUMMER PASTORAL THEOLOGICAL COURSE

St. Albert’s College in collaboration with Daughters of St. Anne Ranchi (DSA) organized the “Summer Theological Pastoral Couse” for Religious at. St. Anne’s Generalate, Loadih from April 29 to June 10, 2014. As many as 44 Religious Sisters from different congregations benefited from this. Rev. Sr. Linda Mary Vaughan, DSA Superior General of the Daughters of St. Anne, Ranchi inaugurated the programme on 1st May 2014. Sr. Rashmi Kanta Kiro who had earlier pursued MTh from SAC (at present a research scholar pursuing her PhD in Systematic Theology) was the chief coordinator of the programme and was ably supported by Sr. Tara Minj and the SAC staff.

The pastoral theological Course is specially designed for the laity and Religious by St. Albert's College Ranchi, the Pontifical Major Seminary. SAC has been offering this course since five years. For the last two years the same course has been offered at St. Anne’s Generalate under the supervision of the Superior General of the Congregation. Competent professors offered different courses during the programme. Fr. John Crasta – Moral Theology, Fr. Vincent Toppo S.J. – Church and Family life, Fr. Suman Ekka – Mariology, Sr. Rashmi Kanta Kiro DSA – Liturgy and Sacraments, Sr. Sujata Kujur DSA – Mission and Evangelization, Fr. Ignatius Tete S.J. – Scripture, Fr. Sudhir Kujur S.J. – Christology, Fr. Binay Guria CDF – Catechetics and Fr. Erik Breye S.J. – Faith and Revelation were some of the resource persons and the topics dealt with. The classes were held using modern gadgets, skills and technologies. Each day was special as the student enacted what has been learnt the previous day in the class. Timely evaluation, assessments, internalization and group discussion made the course a real pastoral one.

VALEDICTORY DAY

Valedictory and graduation day was held on 10th June at 5.45 p.m. in the Sargaon Conference Hall. Rev. Joseph Prasad Pinto OFM Cap., the patron of the programme, was the Chief Guest on the occasion. The Chief Guest conferred the Diplomas by issuing certificates to all the participants at the concluding ceremony. In his address he defined theology from three angles: “Theology is faith seeking understanding, theology is faith seeking transformation and theology is faith seeking union.” Further he said, “Mere faith is not enough. It needs to be reasoned out in order to have a better understanding of the self and others. It should transform our self and the society land, thus enable us to unite with the Beloved, the God. It should unite the people and the society.” Rev. sr. Linda Mary Vaughan DSA, the Superior General of the Congregation addressing on the occasion profusely thanked the organizing committee, professors and specially SAC for the programme. In her message she reiterated what Pope Francis had said, “Thing what would happen if there weren’t any sisters, if there weren’t any sisters in the hospitals, no sisters in the missions, no sisters in the schools. Think what the church would be like without sisters –no, that’s unthinkable.’ There is such a great need for their presence, which reinforces and renews the commitment to spreading the Gospel, Christian Education, Charity for the neediest, Contemplative prayer, the human and spiritual formation of the young and families, and the commitment to justice and peace in the human family. “Therefore,” Sr. Linda urged the congregation to be “the Salt of the earth and the Light of the world.’

Sr. Frida Toppo DSA in her thanks giving address gratefully remembered the professors and the organizers for their service. From her address it was amply clear that the participants benefited immensely from the programme.

Several other distinguished people were present on the occasion, like: Rev. Frs. John Crasta, Lucas Tirkey, Raju Felix Crasta and Rev. Sisters Mary Pushpa Tirkey (DSA Provincial of MP Province), Mary Jacita Kujur (DSA Provincial of Gumla Province), Teresita (DSA Provincial of Jalpaiguri Province), Julie Xaxa (Councillor of DSA Ranchi Province), Representatives of Bethany Provincial Ranchi, and Ursuline Sisters of Ranchi. Various cultural programmes and a sumptuous dinner electrified the occasion.