Superiors, formators, and vocations personnel from the Congregation of Holy Cross’s jurisdictions in Bangladesh and India gathered August 21-25 for the Holy Cross Asian Formators’ Session 2015 at Holy Cross Pastoral and Retreat Center, Bhadun, in Bangladesh.

Forty-eight participants attended the meeting and workshop, including the following major superiors: Fr. Justine Diraviyam Gnanamuthu, C.S.C., Superior of the Vicariate of Tamil Nadu; Br. Harold Bijoy Rodrigues, C.S.C., Superior of St. Joseph Province; Br. Sesuraj Soosai, C.S.C., Superior of the Vicariate of Holy Cross Brothers in India; and Fr. James Cruze, C.S.C., Superior of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Province.

The main topic for this year’s session was “Consecrated Life: Our Call to Form and to Transform”. The Most Rev. Theotonius Gomes, C.S.C., Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Dhaka, gave the keynote address.

Learn about the mission of the Congregation

Other major presenters during the session were Fr. Mariaraj, C.S.C. (Province of North East India); Fr. Alexander Susai, C.S.C. (Vicariate of Tamil Nadu); the Most Rev. Lawrence Subrato Howlader, C.S.C., Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Chittagong; and Br. Stephen Binoy Gomes, C.S.C. (St. Joseph Province). Their presentations addressed the Process of Exteriorization, Motivation in Holy Cross Formation, Human Sexuality, and Confrontation Skill in Formation.

There was also a panel discussion that covered topics relevant to the Consecrated Life in Asia. Those themes included Formation in Prayer, Human Formation, Community Life, Intellectual Formation, Apostolic Life, Vowed Life, and Mass Media in Formation. In addition to all the major superiors in attendance at the session, the other panelists were: Fr. Joseph Kuzhikat, C.S.C., Sr. Pushpa Gomes, C.S.C., and Fr. Jimmy Mulayanikal, C.S.C.

Explore a vocation with Holy Cross

Finally, the vocations personnel present at the session gave short reports on vocations promotion in their respective sectors. A plan of action was presented by a special committee designated for that purpose.

The Holy Cross Asian Formators’ Session 2015 concluded with a special Mass of Thanksgiving in which the main celebrant was Fr. James Cruze, C.S.C.

Special thanks to Br. Stephen Binoy Gomes, C.S.C., in helping prepare this story.