DEACON GEORGE TOPNO ORDAINED PRIEST

Deacon George Topno was ordained a priest by Most Rev. Vincent Barwa, the Bishop of Simdega (Jharkhand) diocese on March 18, 2019 at his home parish of Jaldega.

The ordination ceremony had many rituals that is part and parcel of the tribal culture of Jharkhand – colourful dance procession, washing and wiping of hands, etc. George was helped to walk to the altar,  by his father and siblings, stepping into the baskets they  placed before him.

Fr. Jose Mathew, the Salesian Provincial of New Delhi and Fr. Naresh Kujur the Vice provincial and about 45 priests, most of them Salesians from the Chotanagpur area.

Fr. George Topno was member of the staff at Sumedha Centre for more than a year, as Administrator. Sumedha Centre was represented at the ordination by Fr. Jose Parappully, the Director of the Centre.

The ordination was followed by a felicitation ceremony and lunch for all.

The ordination ceremony and felicitation were held in a specially prepared (roof made of tree leaves) shamiana, next to the old parish Church.

On the 19^th March Fr. George said his first Mass at his home.

Fr. George will take up his first assignment as priest at Don Bosco Jokbhla as Administrator and Assistant Parish Priest.

Sumedha Centre conveys to Fr. George heartiest congratulations and best wishes and blessings for a very satisfying and fruitful priestly life and ministry.

BOSCONET AT SUMEDHA CENTRE

BoscoNet, the Delhi-based organization involved in raising resources for supporting Don Bosco works throughout India, held a training programme at Sumedha Centre from April 30 to May 4. 2019.

The participants were the staff from BoscoNet’s New Delhi office, leaders of BoscoNet teams from Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkota, Mumbai, Pune, and Trichy and the Salesian Directors of BoscoNet. There were 15 in all.

The first evening was devoted to introductions and learning to get to know one another.

The second day was devoted to Team-Building sessions. These were facilitated by Dr. Jose Parappully, Director of Sumedha Centre. Through input, experiential exercises and videos, Dr. Parappully provided understanding of the characteristics and dynamics of effective teams and helped participants analyze their own teams and strategise to enhance their effectiveness.

The training was well appreciated by the participants. Some participant comments:

The training was “very beautifully facilitated. It provided beautiful insights. An environment was created where we could have frank and free sharing.”

“Very, very interesting. There was freedom to speak out, which we could not have had otherwise. Helped to understand ourselves and our teams better.”

“The process was followed was very effective. It was step-by-step, interactive and participatory.”

“Extremely useful. Helped to be a team. Enhanced our effectiveness. Helped to identify problems and find solutions.”

“The dynamics presented useful not only in the team but also in other settings – like in my family relationships.”

“We need such useful training more often.”

The third and fourth days were devoted to organizational matters. These sessions were facilitated by Fr Noel Madichetty and Fr Vincent Thamburaj, the Director and Asst. Director of BoscoNet respectively.

The participants were highly appreciative of the atmosphere and the hospitality offered at Sumedha Centre.