Bengaluru, India. As has been the tradition since its very beginnings, the Institute of Consecrated Life – Sanyasa (ICLS) celebrated the Day of Consecrated Life by hosting a two-day National Seminar on 4 February 2024, on the theme, “Rediscovering the Prophetic Voice in VUCA India: A Challenge for the Consecrated Today.” This was the 20th such seminar organized by ICLS, and was attended by a capacity crowd of 275.
The choice of the theme was in response to the present context of growing fundamentalism, hypernationalism, and intolerance towards Christians and other minority groups in India and the feeble response of the Church towards the same. Sr. Shashinta Monteiro, president of the Bangalore Chapter of the Conference of Religious India, inaugurated the seminar. Renowned peace activist Fr. Cedric Prakash, SJ, presented a reality check on the current Indian scenario and the need for prophetic courage. Fr. José Cristo Rey Garcia Paredes, CMF, then dwelt on prophetic witnessing being intrinsic to the vocation of the consecrated. A practicing advocate, Sr. Julie George, SSpS, showcased various modern prophetic voices in the world, from whom the consecrated could learn. Fr. Xavier E. Manavath, CMF, episcopal vicar for religious in the Archdiocese of Bangalore, presented a roadmap for being prophetic in India. And finally, Dr. Kochurani Joseph, a laywoman who serves as the spokesperson for Syro Malabar Church and consultant to several congregations, spoke of how to form candidates into future prophets. The seminar ended with the holy Eucharist presided over by Fr. Sabu George, superior of the Province of Bangalore and president of ICLS.
The Seminar also included a poster presentation wherein students from formation houses presented creative posters on the theme of the Seminar. “The Spirit Widens Our Tent,” authored by José Cristo Rey and is the eleventh title in the Consecrated Life Series published by ICLS, was also released at the Seminar.
