Parents' Day

The Brothers return from their Christmas holidays tomorrow evening.  We broke up for the Christmas vacations on December 16, 2012 and will be back in full swing tomorrow evening onwards.

The two days prior to the departure for holidays were busy with us celebrating also the Parents' day.  The Seminary hosted 54 parents and relatives of 15 (of the 23) third year students.  The annual feature by now of the Seminary to invite and celebrate a day or two with the parents was rescheduled from September to December this time. The combined celebrations of the community Christmas and Parents' presence made a good impression on all of us here.

Cutting the Christmas cake:
Fr Maliekal (the Rector), and the youngest
of the guests (nephews and nieces of the Brothers)

The specific highlight of this years' Parents' day was informal interaction we had with the Parents on December 15, in the afternoon prior to Mass and lunch.  After an initial talk by Fr Vatti Marreddy CSSR, he facilitated a sharing by the Parents.  During this sharing the parents expressed their hopes, desires and assured not just their sons but the staff and every member of the community their sincere prayers for all the good being done here.  On the part of the students, the Brothers asked the parents to continue supporting us all with their prayers and an exemplary Catholic family life. 

Parents' Day 2011

On September 2, 2011 the parents of the third year students along with a few of their relatives arrived at St John's Regional Seminary, Kondadaba for the Annual Parents' Day celebrations. This was the fourth year since its beginning in 2007. Nearly 87 parents and relatives were present for the next two days with the community. Planned and organised by the Second course Brothers with generous and active support from the first years, the event was truly a family moment. The animating presence of Bp Paul Maipan (of Khammam) too added grace to the occasion.

The celebrations commenced with a charismatic adoration service followed by a very informal and homely get together in the lawn. Using some innovative games and introductions, the second years helped the parents introduce their sons and their dreams to the community. The following day, there was a conference by the Bishop for the Brothers as well as their parents. He stressed the need to recognise the importance of the family support even though their sons are no longer in the families. It was followed by the Holy Eucharistic celebration presided over by the Bishop himself. "Children merely follow the footprints of the parents; so mind where and how you tread," were the challenging words of the Bishop to the parents. A colourful cultural programme followed; with a befitting meal thereafter.

The parents were delighted to see their wards active and involved in the various events of the seminary and were truly taken up by the hospitality and care the community extended to them. The finale was the Sunday morning Mass presided over by Fr Rector during which he symbolically asked the Parents to bring forward their sons to the altar during the offertory. Fr Wilson in his homily stressed the binding force of Christian love in our faith and vocation. (to view the photos of the day, click here)

Parents' Day 2010

"The family or home is the first seminary," stressed Bp Paul Maipan (Bishop of Khammam) and the special invitee on the occasion of the Parents' day (September 4, 2010) at St John's Regional Seminary, Kondadaba. The chief guest(s) were the Parents of the Brothers doing their third year of Philosophy. In all 111 guests (parents and relatives) spent nearly two memorable days enjoying the royal hospitality offered by the community, especially through the hard work and sacrifice of the second and first year course Brothers.

On the real day of celebration, the Bishop addressed the parents and brothers (only third course) in the morning. He beautifully spoke of the family as the cradle of faith and catechesis. While formation houses claim to be places where would-be Priests are trained, the real formation already takes place much before, in the mother`s lap and the fathers arms, he stated. The formation process merely builds upon this, he added. Later during the Holy Mass, he addressed the Brothers and exhorted them to let the formation sink in to their hearts and minds.

The felicitation programme organized by the Second and First course Brothers was a good occasion to honour and thank the Parents for their contribution to the Church and the community in the person of their sons. Besides the several songs and dances, there was also a skit enacted by the Brothers conveying the message of true Christian charity based on the model of the Holy Family of Nazareth. The programme concluded with a message by the Bishop and his blessing. Thanks to the Rector of the seminary, Fr KT Jose, each family received a token gift of some religious articles from the hands of the Bishop.

In the afternoon of the 4th of September 2010 there was time for the Brothers to gather as per their respective dioceses to interact with the parents and share news and views. The following morning the Holy Mass was celebrated by Fr Rector and animated by the third course brothers themselves. The offertory procession with the parents bringing their sons to the altar was a very moving one, especially for the third years and their parents.

The Mass on the day of arrival (September 3, 2010) was celebrated by Fr Sagili Devadas, the Spiritual director of the community. In his inaugural words he spoke of the need to be among the five sincere and committed Priests rather than the fifty 'good-for-nothing' priests in every diocese or congregation. He exhorted the parents to continue supporting their wards, especially by their prayers. The informal get-together organized after supper witnessed the Parents join in singing and playing games with the Brothers.

Besides visiting the seminary, the parents took this opportunity to have a tour of Vizag city or the beautiful Araku valley. Of course, they were accompanied by their sons. This is the third time the Parents' day is celebrated in the Seminary in as many years. The basic rationale behind this programme is to offer to parents an opportunity to interact with their wards in the concrete context of their life in the seminary. Furthermore this greatly helps in the formation process by way of increasing the motivation of the students and inspiring them to continue striving for higher and greater goals, on their journey to Priesthood and sanctity.