Dear Friends,
Welcome to CJ Allahabad Province website which is an excellent means for
sharing our mission and concerns with our readers in the light of the
charism of our Foundress, Venerable Mary Ward, who guides us and gives us
her spirit to seek the greater glory of God, always looking for the magis – what more we can do to serve God and others.
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As companions of Jesus in mission, we are called to be people of hope
in order to bring hope to the world.’
‘The simple fact of being human should move us to care for the Earth of
which we are a part; our responsibility within creation, and our duty
towards nature and the Creator, are an essential part of our mission.’ May
the cry of the poor and the cry of the Earth move us to greater creativity
on how each one of us can respond and protect our Planet from peril.
We seek:
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to encourage and accompany people in their search for God
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to help others to realise God’s plan for them, with a focus on
empowering women and young people
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to care for the Earth -our Common Home so as to preserve the integrity
of Creation and the fraternity of the human family.
With this in mind, I invite and encourage each one of you to be a part of a
global movement-a 7-year Laudato Si’ Action- Plan, that is bringing hope
across the world (Laudato means praised be the Creator).’
Let us network and collaborate as stewards of the Earth, each according to
his/her own situation, experience, involvements and talents. Your
contributions will no doubt produce fruit in due time. Let us make an
effort to live the 7 Laudato Si’ goals:
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Respond to the Cry of the Earth,
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Respond to the Cry of the Poor,
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Ecological Economics,
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Adoption of Simple Lifestyles,
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Ecological Education,
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Ecological Spirituality,
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Community Involvement
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Participatory Action in our ministries.
May we find ways of living them creatively within the families, religious
and educational institutions , health centres, professional areas and
communities. Thank you very much for all that you are doing and will
continue to do as agents of integral ecology for a
sustainable living for all God’s children.
Pope Francis urges, “We are at the edge; we need to Care for nature, so
that nature may care for us. This is the moment to act.”
I pray that each individual, community, and ministry will find ways to
strengthen what is already in place as well as find ways to do MORE.
Let us joyfully embrace a simple lifestyle in the face of consumerism and
respond to the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor with a disposition
of Freedom , Sincerity , Justice , joy and affection for all good works in
order to co-create a hope-filled sustainable future for all.
Sr. Shweta C.J
Human spirit is elevated to the Divine by the panoramic view and the scenic beauty of this creation of the Almighty. By the same Almighty human beings are given a mandate to be co-creators and he is doing real wonders I must say as I pen these few lines for the CJ Website as the newly appointed Provincial Superior. I am sure it is because of man’s brain and intelligence that the modern technology such as Internet, Facebook, Twitter, blog etc are made available.
My predecessor Sr. Sumita C J launched the CJ Website for the first time at the closing of the fourth centenary of the foundation of our congregation. Now again at the revamping of the website, I am more than happy to say that it is another 4th centenary of the completion of the plan of the congregation namely the Just Soul vision by which Our Foundress was confirmed of the will of God for her and her companions.
It is apt to recall that Venerable Mother Mary Ward, the Foundress of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (now known as the Congregation of Jesus), grew up at a time when English Catholics suffered persecution, loss of property, honour and even life for the sake of their faith. Mary received much light from God on the excellence of religious life that she decided to embrace this state of perfection at a very young age. “To be wholly God’s” was all about what religious life was for Mary Ward. That expresses the way in which she understood God’s call to her.
Mary was given the courage to undertake a completely new and unheard of way of life for religious women and one that was to be rejected as an absurd challenge to the social order of the day. Mary earned many enemies for daring to be different. Institute was suppressed, herself imprisoned as a heretic, her schools closed, companions dispensed from vows- Mary stood firm for she knew for sure her dream would come true in the end.
God revealed His plans for her through the Gloria Vision in1609 which was the birth of the Institute. It belongs to our Institute heritage and it is at the root of our vocation to the CJ family. The only aim of her life was praise and glory of God in everything. The glory of God was to be her own end and that of her Institute—to live for the glory of God under the banner of the Cross.
Had Mary Ward been alive today, she would have been a dashing woman to communicate the love of Jesus to each and every one in need. Today the responsibility rests on our shoulders and all the advanced technology is at our door step. I wish all our ex-students, parents, well wishers, friends and benefactors for a stronger relationship, better connectivity, fruitful communication and renewed faith in one and all through the CJ Website - …… “CJ Allahabad Province.org.” to achieve ‘Union of hearts’ as Venerable Mary Ward desired.
God bless You.
Sr. Roshni CJ
Provincial Superior