Heralds of Good News Priests Renew Missionary Commitment at Annual Retreat in Tamil Nadu

SHENBAGANUR, Tamil Nadu, March 1, 2025: Forty priests from the Mary Queen of Apostles Province of the Heralds of Good News congregation participated in their annual retreat from February 24 to 28, 2025, at Sacred Heart College, Shenbaganur, Tamil Nadu. The retreat, organised by the provincial administration, held special significance as it coincided with the congregation’s Ruby Jubilee, marking forty years of missionary service. Led by Prof. Dr. Yesu Karunanidhi, the CCBI National Coordinator for Jubilee 2025, the retreat focused on deepening the priests’ commitment to evangelisation in preparation for the upcoming Jubilee Year.

Rev. Fr. A. Hermans Raj, Provincial Superior of the congregation, inaugurated the retreat, connecting it with the congregation's Ruby Jubilee. He emphasised how the mission of the Heralds of Good News congregation resonates with the spirit of the Second Vatican Council. He urged the priests to embrace their role as "pilgrims of hope" and to renew their missionary zeal through an inward journey of reflection based on the wisdom of the council's teachings.

The four days of the retreat were marked by profound scriptural reflections, theological expositions, and pastoral applications that led the 40 participating priests into an atmosphere of deep prayer and discernment. Prof. Dr. Yesu Karunanidhi conducted various sessions that delved into the theological, biblical, and pastoral dimensions of the Four Constitutions of the Second Vatican Council. Each of the four constitutions of the Council was presented in a way that connected the doctrinal insights of the Council with contemporary pastoral challenges. These sessions provided the priests with a clear vision for their pastoral ministry.

Several priests who participated in the retreat mentioned that the sessions enriched their knowledge and helped reinforce their commitment to their mission. One of the participants, Rev. Fr. Gnanasekar Kulandai, remarked that the retreat helped participants understand the relevance of the teachings of Vatican II for contemporary missionary work. Another participant, Rev. Fr. Selvakumar, shared how Sacrosanctum Concilium (the Vatican II Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy) deepened his understanding of the Eucharist, inspiring him to make liturgical celebrations more participatory in his parish.

As the retreat concluded, the priests collectively pledged to be ‘pilgrims of hope’ in their pastoral missions. The retreat provided the participants with spiritual renewal and enabled them to rediscover their vocation in the light of the Church’s teachings and the urgent demands of the modern world.

By Catholic Connect Reporter