The Independence Day Celebration in St. Charles Seminary used to begin on 14th evening with a variety of cultural program. However, due to Covid situation the academic year began one and a half month late, and therefore the cultural program could not be staged. The Sports department of the seminary organised a few matches of basketball and volleyball on 14th evening, which were welcome substitutes.
The twin celebration of the solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the 75th year of the Independence of our mother land began with chanting of the morning prayer followed by the solemn celebration of the Eucharist. The Philosophy brothers gathered in the Aula Manga and the Theology brothers were in the main Chapel, observing very strictly the covid protocol. Fr. Saju and Fr. Harixson were the main celebrants for the philosophy and theology brothers respectively.
Fr. Saju, in his well-prepared homily, shared certain unique thoughts on the dogma of Assumption and emphasized four following meritorious examples of Mary our Mother as: highly Favored by God, handmaid of the Lord, walking always with the Lord and the surrendered Woman. He recalled that our vocation is God’s favor and exhorted us, the brothers, that if we practice the examples of Mary then we too could receive a share in the glory of Mary our Mother.
Fr. Harixson in his homily shared some spiritual insights on two of the virtues of Mary, namely, holiness and humility. The hallmarks of her life were confirming her will to the Will of God and rendering her service in love. He illustrated these two points with relevant quotations from the Bible and pointed out how these were true in the lives of the saints, especially St. Theresa of Child Jesus. Mayr’s assumption is nothing but the triumph of her holiness and humility. We also prayed for the needs of the Church, our Nation and the sick through the intercession of the Mother of Jesus.
At the end of the Eucharist the fathers, sisters and brothers assembled in front of the Seminary for the unfurling of the national flag by the Rector, listen to the speech of Br. Lukas Sinku of second year philosophy, sing patriotic song and national anthem. The entire celebration was not only a fitting homage to Mother Mary but also a paying respect to the freedom fighters of India.
