The 102 Temporary Professed Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Shillong Province gathered at FMA Outreach Shillong from 29 July – 2 August 2022 for the renewal course and renewal of the vows. The Sisters were able to meet for such meeting after a gap of two years due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Salesian Fr. Biji Thomas of Kolkata Province, Sr. Elizabeth George provincial, Sr. Celine D’ Cunha and Sr. Christina Kharkongor animated the Sisters through various sessions.

The gathering of the Sisters commenced with the introductory talk by Sr. Elizabeth George, provincial and followed by a prayer service animated by the 2018 profession batch. The first three days were dedicated for Bible Study animated by Fr. Biji Thomas through his innovative ways of teaching. The participants commented that they have received doses of tablets and capsules on the Holy Scripture, which they have digested during the course of the sessions. They were taught the quick and easy learning of the Bible content with logic and proper reasoning. Everyone was interested in learning by heart at least 1-5 quotations from each book of the Bible. True enough, it was an amazing work of the Holy Spirit.

On the last day of the animation programme, the Sisters had a session on “choices to be prioritized by the Temporary Professed Sisters and mature in conviction” by the Provincial, Sr. Elizabeth George. Sr. Celine D’ Cunha dealt with the topic of fidelity and perseverance and Sr. Christina Kharkongor shared with the Sisters the practical ways of living the Salesian Assistance. Each day concluded with meaningful and value-laden goodnight thought from the provincial.

The climax of the gathering was the renewal of vows of the 69 Sisters in a Eucharistic celebration presided over by Fr. James Thyrniang SDB Provincial Economer of Shillong Province on 2 August 2022. The Sisters spent the day in recollection and prayer the whole day and in the evening they renewed their commitment to the Lord in the hands of Sr. Elizabeth George, delegate of the Superior General and witnessed by Sr. Iris Suchiang and Sr. Euginia Laloo. The day concluded with a thanksgiving programme and felicitations of the 16 Sisters to be perpetuals coordinated by the profession batch 2017.