On 9 January 2016, the Provincial Team Members gathered at Mary Our Help Training Centre, Bellefonte –Shillong for a half-day programme as an orientation for the year’s activities. Sr. Shadap Agatha the General Coordinator initiated the same with a short prayer based on the theme song for the Year of Mercy.

After a brief welcome speech by her, Sr. Marvella Shangpliang the Vice Provincial gave a short message in which she thanked the team members for their contribution in the province and she also exhorted them to continue giving their best. Sr. Shadap Agatha took the first session on the topics: Working in a team through a PowerPoint presentation and on ‘Why Team Work?’ Sr. Agatha’s presentation clearly stated the various steps and factors that bring about successful teamwork. At 02:00 pm a Biblical Perspective on Team Work was a session taken by Rev. Fr. Jose Varickasseril, SDB from Mawlai Parish. The handout that he distributed to all is a very important material for point of reference in which he had printed the fruit of his research on the given topic. He highlighted the truth that teamwork has Trinitarian dimension in its nature and functions. This is evident in the New Testament, especially in the Acts of the Apostles and Pauline writings. The same is based on the Old Testament literature too. After this session, the members got into their own team for a short meeting in which they were asked to clarify and clear doubts and also to review their future plans.

The team members were enriched in a unique way through the meeting and were sufficiently boosted to implement the year’s annual plan. It was a short meeting, yet very rich and inspiring inputs were given to them.