{"id":17046,"date":"2026-05-17T17:01:27","date_gmt":"2026-05-17T17:01:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/donboscoguwahati.org\/?post_type=province_news&p=17046"},"modified":"2026-05-18T04:36:26","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T04:36:26","slug":"annual-retreat-for-brothers-preparing-for-perpetual-profession-and-renewal-of-vows-begins","status":"publish","type":"province_news","link":"https:\/\/donboscoguwahati.org\/index.php\/news\/annual-retreat-for-brothers-preparing-for-perpetual-profession-and-renewal-of-vows-begins\/","title":{"rendered":"Annual Retreat for Brothers Preparing for Perpetual Profession and Renewal of Vows Begins"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Annual Retreat for brothers preparing for the Perpetual Profession and the Renewal of Religious Vows commenced on the evening of 17 May 2026 at the Provincial House, Panbazar, Guwahati. The retreat, themed \u201cRemain in My Love\u201d<\/em> (John 15:9), is being preached by Rev. Fr. Kuriala Chittattukalam, SDB, and has brought together Salesians for days of prayer, reflection, silence, and spiritual renewal.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

During the Goodnight Talk, Rev. Fr. Sebastian Kuricheal, SDB, Provincial of the Salesian Province of Mary Help of Christians, Guwahati, emphasized the importance of cultivating true inner silence in order to encounter God meaningfully during the retreat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fr. Sebastian explained that silence is not merely external but must also be interior. \u201cOutwardly we may remain silent, but if our minds are preoccupied with many things, we will never be able to listen to the voice of God or understand what the preacher is telling us,\u201d he said. He exhorted the brothers to maintain the spirit of silence throughout the retreat so that they may listen attentively to God and understand themselves more deeply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Provincial strongly encouraged the retreatants to avoid the use of mobile phones during the retreat days. He pointed out that constant attachment to mobile devices easily distracts the mind and prevents recollection and prayer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere is always a tendency to browse the mobile and remain connected with what is happening outside. We need to shut ourselves from these distractions and focus our minds on ourselves and on God,\u201d he remarked. He requested the brothers to hand over their mobile phones to the Vice-Provincial for safekeeping during the retreat, assuring them that any emergency communication could still be managed through the community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Calling the retreat \u201can opportune moment of intense silence and intense prayer,\u201d he reminded the participants that these five days are meant to help them become better persons and deepen their encounter with the Lord amidst their studies and apostolic activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Provincial also reflected on the approaching Feast of Pentecost and the Feast of Mary Help of Christians, highlighting the deep Marian devotion of Don Bosco. He recalled how Don Bosco always attributed all his achievements to Mary Help of Christians and pointed to Mary\u2019s total surrender to the will of God as a model for every religious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOne striking aspect of Mary\u2019s life is her total availability to God\u2019s plan. From the beginning until the end, she always said \u2018yes\u2019 to God,\u201d Fr. Sebastian said. He encouraged the brothers preparing for their profession and renewal of vows to imitate Mary\u2019s openness, surrender, and readiness for God\u2019s mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe too, through our religious profession, have said \u2018yes\u2019 to God and we continually renew that yes by making ourselves available to God\u2019s work and mission,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Encouraging the retreatants to use the retreat as a time of personal reflection, the Provincial invited them to examine whether they are truly following God\u2019s ways or merely pursuing their own plans. \u201cIf we seek our own ways, we may not succeed. But if we seek God\u2019s ways and God\u2019s plan in our lives, we will truly become successful,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He concluded by urging the brothers to seek the intercession and guidance of Mary Help of Christians during the days of retreat and the ongoing novena in preparation for her feast, so that they may grow into worthy followers of Christ in the spirit of Don Bosco.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Annual Retreat for brothers preparing for the Perpetual Profession and the Renewal of Religious Vows commenced on the evening of 17 May 2026 at the Provincial House, Panbazar, Guwahati. The retreat, themed \u201cRemain in My Love\u201d (John 15:9), is being preached by Rev. Fr. Kuriala Chittattukalam, SDB, and has brought together Salesians for days…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":17055,"template":"","meta":[],"class_list":["post-17046","province_news","type-province_news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":{"featured_image_url":"https:\/\/donboscoguwahati.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/DSC_9871-1024x683.jpg"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/donboscoguwahati.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/province_news\/17046","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/donboscoguwahati.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/province_news"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/donboscoguwahati.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/province_news"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/donboscoguwahati.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17055"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/donboscoguwahati.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17046"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}