Category Archives: Fr. Sabu

Candidates, CRI Dimapur, Fr. Benny James, Fr. Sabu, Priestly Life, Religious Life

Aspiring to be Missionaries in the Service of God

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Indeed we were delighted as we came together from different Congregations as one family to experience new things from each other on 3 November 2019 at Clare Bhavan, Kacharigaon. As FCC Congregation and Fr Benny SDB welcomed us with melodious song and words of welcome, we felt homely and overwhelmed with joy. We were helped and encouraged by the brothers and sisters to participate wholly and attentively through praise and worship. 

We were extremely excited to listen to our resource person Fr Sabu Channeckal who inspired us in many ways through his talk. We were exhorted to go deep within ourselves and to build a close relationship with each other and to go forward in our Spiritual journey and to be more human.  

Before confession Fr Sabu gave a brief talk about confession which helped some of us to get reconciled. We were so much taken up with these words “God listen to our sins once and throws it into a deep sea and never remember our sins again.” Lunch was delicious. We felt homely as Sisters had shown their love and concern for us. It also inspired some of us to imbibe this act if their life. 

As we sat for the third session the sharing of one’s own vocation story we were inspired by their grounded vocation call from different background and how they have nurtured their own vocation. It has helped us to persevere and to be genuine in our vocation and to take up every challenge willingly and accept every situation as it shapes and moulds our life. 

This gathering has brought a lot of blessing to all of us and we also suggest that it is good to have get together every year. We thank the programme organizer Rev Fr Benny SDB, the President CRI Dimapur Zone and all the members of organising team for giving us an opportunity to come and meet others those who are also aspiring to be missionaries in the service of God. 

By Student candidates UFS
Assisi Convent, Dimapur 

Candidates, CRI Dimapur, Fr. Sabu, Religious Life

Every Saint has a Past and Every Sinner has a Future

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The joy of being a candidate, preparing to enter in a religious life was the theme of Fr. Sabu Chenackal’s talk. 

He said in order to be joyful first we need to have a personal touch with God through personal prayer which we would not give up even in times of trials difficulties and temptations. He also gave his own example about his personal prayer, saying that he prays one Our Father and seven Hail Marys which is very powerful for him. 

He advised us to thank God constantly in any situation rather than grumbling over the reality by mentioning it (1Cor 15:10).

Taking examples of some successful persons in the society and in the Church he mentioned that it was the virtue of humility within them that led them to become successful persons in their lives. He also mentioned about a girl who left her religious vocation due to her ego and now she regrets for it. He advised us that proud nature will never be joyful but humility will make us forever joyful person. He said that humility and simplicity can make us the happiest person. 

In order to persevere in our vocation we need to detach ourselves from our possessions such as money, talents and intellectual pursuit etc. 

Peace and joy is the sign of a good religious. A person who doesn’t have peace within her/him can make the life of another person miserable. 

He also spoke about the Sacrament of Reconciliation and stated that even though we confess our sins darkness is always following us. He spoke about evil, evil knows everything about our life, what we are going to become and our past life and with that he will disturb us discouraging us through our past weakness. He added saying that every saint has a past and every sinner has a future and through this statement he helped us to realize that in order to receive the Holy Spirit we need to repent of our sins. He reiterated that without the Holy Spirit we would not be able to live our vocation. 

We were also inspired when he said that he goes to bed with a reconciled heart without any grudge feelings. We feel greatly privileged to have attended the programme which has enlightened us and have motivated us to be a better and a happy religious in the near future. 

We also extend our special thanks to the CRI Dimapur Zone for organizing such a programme to enlighten the student candidates.

By Student candidates UFS
Assisi Convent, Dimapur 

Candidates, CRI Dimapur, Fr. Benny James, Fr. Sabu, Religious Life

Another memorable day

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The candidates and others do appreciate the C.R.I of Dimapur Unit for the wonderful and meaningful gathering of the candidate that was organised on 3 November 2019. Rev. Fr. Sabu Joseph Chenackal, the director of the Pastoral Centre Dimapur, the special animator and Rev. Fr. Benny James SDB, the President of C.R.I Dimapur Unit, for animating the whole program and preciding over the Holy Mass and making the day a very fruitful and enriching.
We also appreciate the D .C sisters for their availability and sincere commitment in organising the programme in the absence of the secretary and treasurer. We would like to express sincere thanks to Sr. Dila Veronica FMA for beautifully introducing every event of the day.
The response from the candidates was so positive that many wanted to have the programme for longer hours. We want to thank each one sincerely for making our day another memorable occasion for ages to come.
By one of the candidate

Candidates, CRI Dimapur, Fr. Benny James, Fr. Sabu, President of CRI

The Joy of Being a Candidate Preparing to Enter Religious Life

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The  programme  for  the Candidates belonging to SABS, UFC, CM, FSMA, CMC, FCC, SCCG and MMS was held at Clare Bhavan, Kacharigaon on 3 November 2019. The programme began at 9. 45 am  with a prayer by Fr. Benny James SDB, the president of CRI, Dimapur  Zone. The  candidates of  FCC  Kacharigaon  presented a welcome song, followed by words of welcome from Fr. Benny. He welcomed the gathering and presented a small gift each to all those accompanied the candidates to the centre.

The praise and worship session by two young Salesians from Salesian College namely Cl. Kadena Elow Mario SDB and Cl. Kamei Gaisinrei Elias SDB brought life and freshness to the gathering . Sr. Dila Veronica FMA, who was the M.C. of the programme brought liveliness among the young aspiring candidates to priesthood and religious life.
Fr. Sabu Joseph Chenackal the Director of Pastoral Centre , Dimapur gave the main talk of the day on the theme “The Joy of being a Candidate Preparing to Enter Religious Life”. He started his talk  with one Our Father and  seven  Hail Marys which gave a lot of insight to the listeners. His  talks were very much touching and inspiring. He spoke from his own life experiences: about the devotion to Mother Mary, confession, holy vocation etc. He invited the candidates to have a constant touch with the Lord through prayers. He emphasised that only then a consecrated person can be happy in his/her vocation. He quoted Bible passages to bring home the message of perseverance and commitment to vocation. He stressed on the importance of the virtue of humility in one’s life. He warned the candidates that pride and lack of obedience can destroy Holy Vocations. 

The second talk  began  after 10  minutes of  the Praise and  Worship.  Fr. Sabu  talked  about how a religious person can be a burden to the community and the society by being  a proud person and not obeying  the will of God expressed through their Superiors. He beautifully explained  about  Confession comparing it with the life of saints and the temptation of the evil spirits. He  said, “Every  Saint  has a past  and  every  Sinner has a future”. Meanwhile, Fr. Benny James SDB made himself available for confessions.  After the talk  and confessions one of  the candidates thanked  Fr. Sabu  profusely and we moved to the residence of the sisters for lunch.

The  third  session started  at 01.50 pm with action songs. In the afternoon session  Fr. Benny  encouraged  the candidates to share  their own experiences of vocation and their experiences as candidates preparing to be a religious. There  were  85 candidates attending the programme from  8  communities in and around Dimapur. One  candidate from each community shared his or her vocation story. Every one’s vocation story was unique, interesting and inspiring. There were also some who shared on the spot about their  vocation to religious life. Fr. Benny pointed out the central points of each ones’ sharing and explained in a very meaningfully the uniqueness of God’s  call.

Fr. Benny James SDB, the president of CRI Dimapur presided over the Holy Eucharist at 3.00 pm.  The Holy Mass was celebrated meaningfully and with much devotion. The Gospel of the day was enacted to bring home the central theme of one’s vocation. There was offertory procession with a short prayer raised to God seeking His blessing and guidance.  After the Mass the candidate thanked Fr. Benny and the sisters at Clare Bhavan Kacharigaon.  The  photo session and tea marked the end of events of the day.
By Srs. Sumita DC, Anjali DC and Mothina DC