The 5th Asian Meeting of the Lay Associate of the Holy Family took place at Wennappuwa in Sri Lanka from 06th – 10th May 2009 and the theme was "Called to bring forth life". There were forty-seven participants from four countries – India 2, Pakistan 4, Philippines 5, Jaffna 17 and Colombo 19.
Asian Meeting of the Lay Associates
The 5th Asian Meeting of the Lay Associate of the Holy Family took place at Wennappuwa in
Sri Lanka from 6th – 10th May 2009 and the theme was “Called to bring forth life”. There were forty-seven participants from four countries – India 2, Pakistan 4, Philippines 5, Jaffna 17 and Colombo 19. The two provincials of Colombo and Jaffna Srs. Francisca Perera and Yolande Mathias, Fr. Emmanuel Fernando OMI – the speaker for the day and all the participants were welcomed in the Sinhalese traditional style with respect and joy.
The opening prayer brought everyone into a reflective mood. It helped all to be immersed in the meaning of the theme “Called to bring forth life”. The Provincials of Colombo and
Jaffna in their opening addresses respectively underlined that,
Ø “we as human beings are given the responsibility to care for God’s great gift of life and to enhance are ongoing transformation in collaboration with God”
Ø “living in a world of death culture, we need to be Christ’s messengers of hope, peace and love to this wounded world”.
Fr. Emmanuel Fernando’s talk made a tremendous challenge to all the participants to see the immense harm done by human beings to God’s creation. All were taken up by the responsibility each one has as a Christian to protect creation for the future generations. Sr.
Clare Fernando (Contemplative) focused the attention of the participants on the theme “Called to bring forth life as Associates of the Holy Family”. She made the connection between the Founder’s dream and our understanding of the cosmic vision. She used power point presentation of ‘the ancient love’ and ‘the cosmic walk’.
Discerning and planning for the next four years was the main focus of the evening session. Mrs. Regina Ramalingam facilitated this session and the action plan has been approved.
On May 10 was the very important task to choose the new Asian leader. The former Asian Leader Mr. Linus Manuelthamby was unable to join the group due to health reasons.
After going through the process of election, Mrs. Regina Ramalingam was unanimously accepted as the Asian Leader for the next four years. She was congratulated by the Provincials and others.
